Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 3.30 | Aug 12 2015

Type I IFN Induction via Poly-ICLC Protects Mice against Cryptococcosis
Investigators sought to determine the role of type I IFN induction in host defense against cryptococci by treatment of Cryptococcus neoformans infected mice with poly-ICLC, a dsRNA virus mimic. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Herpes Virus Entry Mediator Licenses Listeria Infection Induced Immunopathology through Control of Type I Interferon
Researchers found that herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) plays an important role for Listeria infection induced lymphocyte apoptosis. HVEM is partially required for Listeria induced interferon-I production in the spleen, particularly in macrophages. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Asymptomatic Helminth Infection in Active Tuberculosis Is Associated with Increased Regulatory and Th-2 Responses and a Lower Sputum Smear Positivity
Scientists investigated whether asymptomatic intestinal helminth infection alters the clinical signs and symptoms as well as the cell mediated immune responses in patients with active tuberculosis. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

HIV

Exposure to SIV In Utero Results in Reduced Viral Loads and Altered Responsiveness to Postnatal Challenge
Researchers hypothesized that fetal exposure to HIV may render the fetus tolerant to the virus, thus reducing damage caused by immune activation during infection later in life. To test this hypothesis, fetal rhesus macaques were injected with the attenuated virus SIVmac1A11 in utero and challenged with pathogenic SIVmac239 one year after birth. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

Breakthrough of SIV Strain smE660 Challenge in SIV Strain Mac239-Vaccinated Rhesus Macaques despite Potent Autologous Neutralizing Antibody Responses
Investigators determined serum neutralizing antibodies titers against breakthrough transmitted/founder SIVsmE660-derived envelope glycoprotein variants from 14 rhesus macaques immunized with SIVmac239-based DNA-prime/modified vaccinia virus Ankara-boost vaccine regimens that included GM-CSF or CD40L adjuvants and conferred significant but incomplete protection against repeated low-dose intrarectal challenge. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Full Article | Press Release

Epigenetic Mechanisms, T-Cell Activation, and CCR5 Genetics Interact to Regulate T-Cell Expression of CCR5, the Major HIV-1 Coreceptor
Scientists demonstrated that a unifying mechanism for wide variations of expression levels of CC chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) between T-cell subsets and among individuals is differences in constitutive and T-cell activation-induced DNA methylation status of CCR5 cis-regulatory regions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA]
Abstract | Full Article

Molecular Insights into the Inhibition of HIV-1 Infection Using a CD4 Domain-1-Specific Monoclonal Antibody
The authors report on an anti-CD4 mAb (15A7) that displays a unique binding specificity for domain 1 of CD4, whose epitope partially overlaps with the gp120 binding region. Moreover, 15A7 displays a much stronger binding affinity to CD4⁺ cell lines after HIV infection. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

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Syncytial Apoptosis Signaling Network Induced by the HIV-1 Envelope Glycoprotein Complex: An Overview
Investigators present a detailed and curated map of the syncytial apoptosis signaling network, aimed at simplifying the whole mechanism that they have characterized at the molecular level in the last 15 years. The simplification of this complex network paves the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to eradicate HIV-1 infection. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

The Role of Th17 and Treg Responses in the Pathogenesis of RSV Infection
Two subsets of the cellular immune response, the T helper 17 cell (Th17) and the regulatory T cell (Treg), and more particularly the balance between these two subsets, might play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. [Pediatr Res] Abstract

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NAFDAC Grants License for the Importing of the Proprietary Patented Therapy Lodonal™ as an Adjunct Treatment for HIV/AIDS and Opportunistic Infections
Immune Therapeutics Inc. announced that they have received approvals from the Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for the importation of Lodonal™. [Immune Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

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NEW Senior Scientist – Cellular/Viral Immunology (Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Molecular Microbiology/Immunology (The University of Tennessee)

Research Associate – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Viral Immunology (Emory University)

Postdoctoral Position – HIV Cure Research (University of Washington)

Research Assistant – Immunotherapy for HIV Infection (California Institute of Technology)

Postdoctoral Position – Translational Immunology (University of Utah School of Medicine)

PhD Studentship – Veterinary and Animal Sciences (University of Milan)

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

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