Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 4.26 | Jul 6 2016

TOP STORY

A Quick Trip to HIV Protection?

Researchers showed that a quick response with the potential to form a template for an HIV vaccine is possible. They looked at immune responses to HIV in infants and saw that broadly neutralizing antibodies, the specialized immune proteins that may be able to ward off many HIV variants, can arise within a year after infection — and with less honing than previously thought. [Press release from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Neutrophils Mediate Salmonella Typhimurium Clearance through the GBP4 Inflammasome-Dependent Production of Prostaglandins

Scientists report that zebrafish guanylate-binding protein 4 (Gbp4), an IFNγ-inducible GTPase protein harboring a C-terminal CARD domain, is required for the inflammasome-dependent clearance of Salmonella Typhimurium by neutrophils in vivo. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Dendrimer-RNA Nanoparticles Generate Protective Immunity against Lethal Ebola, H1N1 Influenza, and Toxoplasma gondii Challenges with a Single Dose

Researchers developed a rapid-response, fully synthetic, single-dose, adjuvant-free dendrimer nanoparticle vaccine platform wherein antigens are encoded by encapsulated mRNA replicons. To their knowledge, this system is the first capable of generating protective immunity against a broad spectrum of lethal pathogen challenges, including H1N1 influenza, Toxoplasma gondii, and Ebola virus. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

A Human Trypanosome Suppresses CD8⁺ T Cell Priming by Dendritic Cells through the Induction of Immune Regulatory CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ T Cells

Using an in vivo assay that eliminated multiple variables associated with antigen processing and dendritic cell activation, investigators found that injection of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells exposed to Trypanosoma cruzi induced regulatory CD4⁺ Foxp3⁺ T cells that suppressed the priming of transgenic CD8⁺ T cells by peptide-loaded BMDC. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Antibody-Dependent Enhancement of Dengue Virus Infection in Primary Human Macrophages; Balancing Higher Fusion against Antiviral Responses

The authors offer novel insights in the molecular mechanism of antibody-mediated enhancement of dengue virus infection in primary human macrophages. No differences were observed in the number of bound and internalized DENV particles following infection in the absence and presence of enhancing concentrations of antibodies. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Human Cytomegalovirus pUL10 Interacts with Leukocytes and Impairs TCR-Mediated T-Cell Activation

Preincubation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with purified pUL10 ectodomain results in significantly impaired proliferation and substantially reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production, in particular in CD4⁺ T cells upon in vitro T-cell stimulation. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

HIV

Envelope-Specific B-Cell Populations in African Green Monkeys Chronically Infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus

The authors defined features of the African green monkey (AGM) Ig loci and compared the proportion of Env-specific memory B-cell populations to that of HIV-infected humans and simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus monkeys. Furthermore, AGM gp120-specific monoclonal antibodies displayed robust antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and CD4-dependent virion capture activity. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Kynurenine Reduces Memory CD4 T-Cell Survival by Interfering with IL-2 Signaling Early during HIV-1 Infection

Researchers showed that the increased production of kynurenine correlates with defective IL-2 signaling in memory CD4 T-cells from HIV-infected subjects. Defective IL-2 signaling in these subjects, which drives reduced protection from Fas-mediated apoptosis, was also associated with memory CD4 T-cell loss. [J Virol] Abstract

Establishment and Reversal of HIV-1 Latency in Naïve and Central Memory CD4⁺ T Cells In Vitro

Investigators used a primary cell model of HIV-1 latency that utilizes direct infection of highly purified naïve (T_N) and central memory (T_CM) cells to address differences in the establishment and reversal of HIV-1 latency. Consistent with what is seen in vivo, they found that HIV-1 infected T_N cells less efficiently than T_CM cells. [J Virol] Abstract

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The Role of MHC Class Ib-Restricted T Cells during Infection

The authors discuss the role of MAIT and NKT cells during infection but also the contribution of less studied major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib-restricted T cells such as Qa-1-, Qa-2-, and M3-restricted T cells. They focus on describing the types of antigens presented to non-classical T cells, their response and cytokine profile following infection, as well as the overall impact of these T cells to the immune system. [Immunogenetics] Abstract

Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immunology of infectious disease research field.

Cerus Corporation, the Transfusion Service of the Swiss Red Cross, and the University Hospital of Basel Receive a Grant of 2 Million Swiss Francs from the Swiss Red Cross Humanitarian Foundation for Whole Blood Pathogen Inactivation for Africa

Cerus Corporation announced that the Swiss Red Cross Humanitarian Foundation has awarded a grant of 2 million Swiss Francs to Cerus, the University Hospital of Basel, and the Swiss Transfusion SRC to complete the necessary clinical studies to develop a whole blood pathogen inactivation system for use in Africa. [Cerus Corporation] Press Release

SLU to Conduct Zika Research

Saint Louis University vaccine researchers have received $1.3 million in federal funding to study Zika, as part of a multi-site study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health. [Saint Louis University] Press Release

South Africa’s Bid to End AIDS

South Africa has more people living with HIV, an estimated 6.6 million, than any country in the world. About half are now receiving antiretroviral treatment, which has greatly stressed the country’s health care system. Now, South Africa plans to encourage all infected people to learn their status and start treatment as part of the drive to end its epidemic. [Science] Editorial

NEW International Hepatitis B Cure Workshop 2016
November 9, 2016
Toronto, Canada

Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the immunology of infectious disease community.

NEW Resource Technologist (The University of Pennsylvania)

Research Associate – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – T Cell Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Scientist – Bioengineering (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Research in HIV-Host DNA Repair Interactions – HIV-1 Infection of Macrophages and Monocytes (Johns Hopkins University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Modelling of the Immune Response to Ebola Vaccine (Inserm)

Research Associate – Smart Phone-Connected Tests for Emerging Infectious Diseases (University College London)

Two Postdoctoral Positions – Viral Hepatitis (Inserm)

Assistant, Associate, and Full Professor – Infectious Diseases (University of Washington)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Immune Focused In Vitro Research (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – HIV Vaccine Research (Universitätsklinikum Essen)

Pharmacologist/Toxicologist (The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immune Response to Infection (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Principal Investigators – Infectious Diseases (CCID)

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