Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 4.12 | Mar 30 2016

Regulatory T Cells Are Essential to Promote Proper CD4 T-Cell Priming upon Mucosal Infection
Following herpes simplex virus-2 infection, mice lacking regulatory T cells (Tregs) fail to control viral replication, pointing to a role for Tregs in facilitating productive immune responses. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Curcumin Enhances Human Macrophage Control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection
An in vitro human macrophage infection model was used to determine the effects of curcumin on M. tuberculosis (MTB) survival. Researchers found that curcumin enhanced the clearance of MTB in differentiated THP-1 human monocytes and in primary human alveolar macrophages. [Respirology]
Abstract | Press Release

A Novel Approach for Emerging and Antibiotic Resistant Infections: Innate Defense Regulators as an Agnostic Therapy
Researchers showed that the lead clinical innate defense regulator, SGX94, has broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial infections caused by intracellular or extracellular bacteria and also complements the actions of standard of care antibiotics. [J Biotechnol] Full Article | Press Release

HIV

Multiplexed Affinity-Based Separation of Proteins and Cells Using Inertial Microfluidics
The authors present a method for rapid and multiplexed, yet inexpensive, affinity-based isolation of both proteins and cells, using a size-coded mixture of multiple affinity-capture microbeads and an inertial microfluidic particle sorter device. They used the technique to isolate low abundance antibodies specific to different HIV antigens and rare HIV-specific cells from blood obtained from HIV⁺ patients. [Sci Rep] Full Article

HIV-1-Mediated BAFF Secretion in Macrophages Does Not Require Endosomal TLRs, Type-I IFN, and Nef, but Depends on the Cellular Phenotype Status
Researchers investigated the ability of fully competent HIV-1 to induce BAFF production by monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). They demonstrated that HIV-1 drives BAFF production in MDMs in a type-I IFN– and TLR-independent manner. [J Immunol] Abstract

HIV Protease Inhibitor–Induced Cathepsin Modulation Alters Antigen Processing and Cross-Presentation
Investigators showed that HIV protease inhibitors prescribed to HIV-infected persons variably modulate cathepsin activities in human APCs, dendritic cells and macrophages, and CD4 T cells, three cell subsets infected by HIV. [J Immunol] Abstract

FOXP3⁺Helios⁺ Regulatory T Cells, Immune Activation and Advancing Disease in HIV Infected Children
Scientists evaluated regulatory T cells (Tregs) subsets by FOXP3 co-expressed with either CD25 or Helios and their association with HIV disease progression in perinatally-infected HIV positive children. Identifying Tregs by FOXP3 coexpression with Helios rather than CD25 revealed markedly higher Treg frequencies, particularly in HIV⁺ children. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract

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Aduro Biotech Helps Launch New Immunotherapy, Vaccine Effort
UC Berkeley cancer immunologists are teaming up with colleagues working on infectious disease to create a new Immunotherapeutics and Vaccine Research Initiative, fueled by $7.5 million in funding from Aduro Biotech Inc. [University of California, Berkeley] Press Release | Video

Temple Researchers to Explore Ability of Novel Compounds to Protect Brain against HIV Infection with New NIH Grant
A group of compounds known as cannabinoid receptor type 2 agonists may be able to stop HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder from developing, and, thanks to new funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University are poised to investigate that possibility. [Temple University] Press Release

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NEW Research Associate – Susceptibility and Resistance to Helminth Infection (University of Glasgow)

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