Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 2.33 | Aug 27 2014

Circulating Mucosal Associated Invariant T Cells Are Activated in Vibrio cholerae O1 Infection and Associated with Lipopolysaccharide Antibody Responses
Researchers found that blood MAIT cells are activated during cholera, and that in children, blood MAIT cells are decreased in number during the course of disease. They also found that the mucosal associated invariant T cell response correlates with the antibody response to V. cholerae O1 lipopolysaccharide, which in the past has been shown to be an important determinant of protection. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

Internalization and TLR-Dependent Type I Interferon Production by Monocytes in Response to Toxoplasma gondii
Investigators show that inflammatory monocytes (IMs), but not neutrophils, produce interferon (IFN)-β in response to T. gondii infection. They also show that expression of IFN-β requires phagocytic uptake of the parasite by IMs, and signaling through toll-like receptors and MyD88. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Mast Cells as Rapid Innate Sensors of Cytomegalovirus by TLR3/TRIF Signaling-Dependent and
-Independent Mechanisms
Researchers investigated the conditions for mast cell (MC) activation and the consequent degranulation in response to host infection. The data revealed two temporally and mechanistically distinct waves of MC activation: an almost instant indirect activation that depended on TLR3/TRIF signaling, and delayed activation by direct infection of MCs that did not involve TLR3/TRIF signaling. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

HIV

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Suppress HIV in the Persistent Viral Reservoir
Investigators show that several HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies (in particular, PGT121, VRC01, and VRC03) potently inhibited entry into CD4⁺ T cells of HIV isolated from the latent viral reservoir of infected individuals whose plasma viremia was well controlled by antiretroviral therapy. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Provirus Activation Plus CD59 Blockage Triggers Antibody-Dependent Complement-Mediated Lysis of Latently HIV-1-Infected Cells
To purge latently HIV-1-infected cells, the authors combined a provirus stimulant with a blocker of human CD59, a key member of the regulators of complement activation, to trigger Ab-dependent complement-mediated lysis. [J Immunol] Abstract

Neutralizing Antibodies Inhibit HIV-1 Infection of Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells by an FcγRIIa Independent Mechanism and Do Not Diminish Cytokines Production
Investigators determined the activity of anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies and non-neutralizing inhibitory antibodies on the infection of primary plasmacytoid dendritic cells by HIV-1 primary isolates and analyzed cytokines and chemokines production. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Novel HIV IL-4R Antagonist Vaccine Strategy Can Induce Both High Avidity CD8 T and B Cell Immunity with Greater Protective Efficacy
Researchers developed a novel HIV vaccine that co-expresses a C-terminal deletion mutant of the mouse IL-4, deleted for the essential tyrosine required for signaling. When the IL-4C118 adjuvanted vaccine was used in an intranasal prime-boost immunization strategy, greatly enhanced mucosal/systemic HIV specific CD8⁺ T cells with higher functional avidity, expressing IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 and greater protective efficacy were detected. [Vaccine] Full Article

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UAB Researcher Granted $1 Million to Study Deadly Bacteria Passed to Babies from 25 Percent of Mothers
Narayana Sthanam, Ph.D., has been awarded a four-year, $1 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to further Group B Streptococcus research. [University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)] Press Release

Phase I Grant to Develop a Rapid Assay Version of Sedia’s HIV-1 LAg-Avidity EIA Could Expand HIV Incidence Testing in Resource Constrained Settings and Provide Additional Patient Information for Improved Case Management.
Sedia Biosciences Corporation announced that it has received a Notice of Award from the National Institutes of Health for a Small Business Innovation Research Grant to develop a Rapid HIV-1 Incidence (or Recency) Assay that will determine recency of HIV-1 infection in as little as 20 minutes from less than a single drop of blood. [Sedia Biosciences Corporation] Press Release

Novartis Provides Drug Candidate Compounds to TB Alliance
Novartis has signed an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with the Global Alliance for Tuberculosis Drug Development (TB Alliance) for compounds to fight TB that have been discovered at the Novartis Institutes for Tropical Diseases. [Novartis AG] Press Release

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Research Associate – Bacterial Pathogenesis (Imperial College London)

PhD Candidate – Infection Biology and Immunology (ZIBI Graduate School Berlin)

PhD Candidate – Viral Immunology (Pompeu Fabra University)

Postdoctoral Scholar – Immuno-Virology (University of California)

Postdoctoral Position – Macrophage Functions (Cochin Institute)

Postdoctoral Position – Host Pathogen Interactions (Inserm)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Virology (Cardiff University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – HIV Research (University of Pennsylvania)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Allergic Inflammation and Immunity in Bacterial Infection and Cancer (Dalhousie University and IWK Health Centre)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Human Immunology (University of Pennsylvania)

Principal Investigator Positions – Systems & Synthetic Biology (Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer)

Scientist – Recombinant Molecules and Antibodies (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Pluripotent Stem Cell Media Development, High Throughput Screening (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Cell Culture Support Products (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Immunology/Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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