Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 3.24 | Jun 24 2015

Chronic Morphine and HIV-1 Tat Promote Differential Central Nervous System Trafficking of CD3⁺ and Ly6C⁺ Immune Cells in a Murine Streptococcus pneumoniae Infection Model
Researchers explored the role of opportunistic systemic infection with S. pneumoniae in the recruitment of peripheral leukocytes into the central nervous system and its contribution to HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders in opioid-dependent individuals. [J Neuroinflamm] Abstract | Full Article

Measles Virus Hemagglutinin Triggers Intracellular Signaling in CD150-Expressing Dendritic Cells and Inhibits Immune Response
Researchers analyzed the effect of measles virus hemagglutinin interaction with CD150-expressing dendritic cells (DCs) on the DC signaling pathways and consequent phenotypic and functional changes in the absence of infectious context. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

HIV

HIV-1 Neutralizing Antibodies Induced by Native-Like Envelope Trimers
Investigators showed that a soluble recombinant HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimer that adopts a native conformation (BG505 SOSIP.664) induced neutralizing antibodies potently against the sequence-matched Tier-2 virus in rabbits and similar but weaker responses in macaques. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

Cellular Immune Correlates Analysis of an HIV-1 Preexposure Prophylaxis Trial
Researchers showed that HIV-1–specific T-cell immunity can be detected in exposed but uninfected individuals and that these T-cell responses can differentiate individuals according to infection outcomes. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Cocaine-Mediated Impact on HIV Infection in Humanized BLT Mice
Scientists infected humanized mice with HIV-1 following acute cocaine exposure to assess the impact on infection. Stimulant exposure resulted in increased inflammatory cytokine expression, accelerated HIV infection, while blunting effector function of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. [Sci Rep] Full Article | Press Release

Spontaneous HIV Controllers Exhibit Preserved Immune Parameters in Peripheral Blood and Gastrointestinal Mucosa
Investigators found that HIV controllers have a conserved frequency of most immune cell populations in peripheral blood and gut associated lymphoid tissue, but a reduced percentage of CD4⁺ T cells. [JAIDS] Abstract

A Conserved Glycan in the C2 Domain of HIV-1 Envelope Acts as a Molecular Switch to Control X4 Utilization by Clonal Variants with Identical V3 Loops
The basis for HIV-1’s initial dependence on CCR5, the selective force(s) that drive CXCR4-utilization, and the evolutionary pathways by which it occurs are incompletely understood. The authors describe five clonal variants with identical V3 loops but divergent CXCR4 use. [PLoS One] Full Article | Press Release

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Cell Based Gene Therapy against HIV
The authors briefly discuss previous landmark studies on engineering stem cells or T cells that have been explored for therapeutic efficacy against HIV. They also analyze potential benefits and pitfalls of some studies done recently and will share their opinion on emerging trends. [Gene Ther] Abstract

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Tekmira Provides Update on TKM-Ebola-Guinea
Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation announced that the Phase II clinical trial of TKM-Ebola-Guinea has reached a predefined statistical endpoint and enrollment has been closed. The endpoint indicated that continuing enrollment was not likely to demonstrate an overall therapeutic benefit. [Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corporation] Press Release

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NEW Faculty Positions – Immunology/Infectious Disease (The Wistar Institute)

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

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientific Marketing Specialist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Senior Scientist – Immunology Research (Bavarian Nordic GmbH)

Postdoctoral Scientist – HIV Immunology (Gilead Sciences)

PhD Position – Molecular Immunology (VIB – Ghent University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immune Tolerance (Stanford University)

PhD Position – Microbial Immunology (Hans Knöll Institute)

Principal Investigator – Virology and Immunology (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

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