Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 2.45 | Nov 19 2014

Cutaneous Innate Immune Sensing of Toll-like Receptor 2-6 Ligands Suppresses T Cell Immunity by Inducing Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells
Researchers found suppression of immune responses due to cutaneous infection with Gram-positive S. aureus, which was based on bacterial lipopeptides. Skin exposure to Toll-like receptor (TLR)2-6-binding lipopeptides, but not TLR2-1-binding lipopeptides, potently suppressed immune responses through induction of Gr1⁺CD11b⁺ myeloid-derived suppressor cells. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

A Human Vaccine Strategy Based on Chimpanzee Adenoviral and MVA Vectors that Primes, Boosts, and Sustains Functional HCV-Specific T Cell Memory
Investigators show that hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific T cells induced by ChAd3 are optimally boosted with modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA), and generate very high levels of both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ HCV-specific T cells targeting multiple HCV antigens. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

The Staphylococcal Toxins γ-Hemolysin AB and CB Differentially Target Phagocytes by Employing Specific Chemokine Receptors
Researchers identified the chemokine receptors ​CXCR1, ​CXCR2 and ​CCR2 as targets for γ-hemolysin AB, and the complement receptors ​C5aR and ​C5L2 as targets for γ-hemolysin CB. The receptor expression patterns allow the toxins to efficiently and differentially target phagocytic cells. [Nat Commun] Abstract

Basophil-Mediated Protection against Gastrointestinal Helminths Requires IgE-Induced Cytokine Secretion
Using mixed bone marrow chimeras, scientists found that activating Fc receptors on basophils were required for protective immunity but not for regulation of basophil homeostasis. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Caspase-1 Autoproteolysis Is Differentially Required for NLRP1b and NLRP3 Inflammasome Function
Scientists investigated whether nucleotide-binding domain and leucine rich repeat pyrin containing (NLRP)3 and/or apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) were required for caspase-1 activation upon lethal toxin stimulation in the BALB/c background. The NLRP1b inflammasome activation was assessed in both macrophages and dendritic cells lacking either ASC or NLRP3. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Full Article

HIV

TLR7 Induces Anergy in Human CD4⁺ T Cells
As chronic infection with RNA viruses such as human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) induces profound dysfunction of CD4⁺ T cells, researchers investigated the role of Toll-like receptor (TLR)7-induced anergy in HIV-1 infection. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Activation of HIV Transcription with Short-Course Vorinostat in HIV-Infected Patients on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy
Investigators performed a single arm, open label, proof-of-concept study in which vorinostat, a pan-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) latency and histone deacetylase inhibitor, was administered orally once daily for 14 days to 20 HIV-infected individuals on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Differences in Coreceptor Specificity Contribute to Alternative Tropism of HIV-1 Subtype C for CD4⁺ T-Cell Subsets, Including Stem Cell Memory T-Cells
Researchers quantified the susceptibility of naïve and memory CD4⁺ T-cell subsets, including stem cell memory T-cells, to infection by HIV-1 subtype C strains from treatment-naïve subjects who progressed from chronic to advanced stages of disease whilst either maintaining CCR5-using viruses, or who experienced emergence of dominant CXCR4-using strains. [Retrovirology] Full Article

HIV-Specific ADCC Improves after Antiretroviral Therapy and Correlates with Normalization of the NK Cell Phenotype
Scientists investigated natural killer (NK) cell function, as measured by antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), in HIV-1 positive individuals before and six months after highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) initiation. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract

Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells from HIV-1 Elite Controllers Maintain a Gut-Homing Phenotype Associated with Immune Activation
Scientists found that during progressive HIV-1 infection plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were depleted in peripheral blood compared to seronegative controls, and, correlating with plasma viremia, the remaining pDCs upregulated the gut-homing marker, α4β7. [AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses] Abstract

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NIH-Sponsored Study Identifies Superior Drug Regimen for Preventing Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
For HIV-infected women in good immune health, taking a three-drug regimen during pregnancy prevents mother-to-child HIV transmission more effectively than taking one drug during pregnancy, another during labor and two more after giving birth. [The National Institutes of Health (NIH)] Press Release

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LSU Health New Orleans Research Targets Deadly Intra-Abdominal Infections
Mairi Noverr, PhD has been awarded a $1.8 million grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The funding will support research to reduce the death rate from intra-abdominal infections caused by both fungal and bacterial pathogens. [Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (EurekAlert)] Press Release

Infectious Diseases Researcher Wins $1.225 Million Fellowship
Dr. Marc Pellegrini is one of three researchers to be awarded a 2014 Sylvia and Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Senior Medical Research Fellowship. Pelligrini said the five-year fellowship would allow him to focus on progressing his research into chronic infections such as HIV, hepatitis B and tuberculosis. [The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research] Press Release

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Innate Immune Responses to Virus Infection or Autoimmune Diseases (Houston Methodist Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Parasitology (Institut Pasteur)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Universal Influenza Vaccine Development (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Postdoctoral Fellow – B Cell Responses Induced by HPV Vaccines (Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Viral Pathogenesis (The Scripps Research Institute)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Host Genetic Factors and Activity of Endogenous Retroviruses (Medical Research Council)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immune Responses to HSV (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Associate Professor – Molecular Immunology (Chiba University)

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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