Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 4.33 | Aug 24 2016

TOP STORY

Antibody-Mediated Protection against SHIV Challenge Includes Systemic Clearance of Distal Virus

Scientists administered a fully protective dose of the broadly neutralizing antibody PGT121 to rhesus monkeys and challenged them intravaginally with simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-SF162P3. In PGT121-treated animals, they detected low levels of viral RNA and viral DNA in distal tissues for several days following challenge. [Science] Abstract

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Neutrophil Pyroptosis Mediates Pathology of P. aeruginosa Lung Infection in the Absence of the NADPH Oxidase NOX2

Scientists sought to determine the specific mechanisms regulating neutrophil pyroptosis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PAO1 lung infection and to identify the pathological role of this process. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Subunit Vaccine H56/CAF01 Induces a Population of Circulating CD4 T Cells that Traffic into the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-Infected Lung

Lung-resident T cells had reduced KLRG1 and increased CXCR3 expression, an intermediate state of Th1 differentiation that has been associated with M. tuberculosis protection. Importantly, KLGR1⁻ CXCR3⁺ cells were also enriched in the lung vasculature and peripheral circulation of vaccinated animals, but not controls. [Mucosal Immunol] Full Article

NK Cell Responses to Human Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection

Investigators performed a longitudinal analysis of the human NK cell response to tick-borne encephalitis virus infection in a cohort of infected individuals from the onset of severe clinical symptoms to the convalescence phase. NK cell activation, as measured by expression of Ki67, was apparent at the time of hospitalization. [J Immunol] Abstract

Diversity of Human and Macaque Airway Immune Cells at Baseline and during Tuberculosis Infection

Researchers compared profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells of humans and cynomolgus macaques before and after Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. A simple gating strategy effectively defined BAL T-cell and phagocyte populations in both species. BAL from Mtb-naive humans and macaques showed similar differential cell counts. [Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol] Abstract

HIV

Human T_h17 Cells Lack HIV-Inhibitory RNases and Are Highly Permissive to Productive HIV Infection

The preferential loss of T helper 17 (T_h17) cells has been attributed to high CD4, CCR5, and CXCR4 expression. Investigators showed that Th17 cells also exhibit heightened permissiveness to productive HIV infection. [J Virol] Abstract

CAR-T Cells Guided by the Single-Chain Fv of a Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Specifically and Effectively Eradicate the Reactivated Virus-Latently-Infected CD4⁺ T-Lymphocytes Isolated from HIV-1-Infected Individuals Receiving Suppressive cART

The authors demonstrated that VC-chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells induced T cell-mediated cytolysis of cells expressing HIV-1 Env proteins and significantly inhibited HIV-1 rebound after removal of antiviral inhibitors in a viral infectivity model in cell culture which mimics the termination of the combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in clinic. [J Virol] Abstract

Differential Effects of HIV Transmission from Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells vs Monocytes to IL-17⁺CD4⁺ T Cells

Researchers investigated HIV transmission from monocyte-derived dendritic cells vs monocytes to helper T cell (Th)17 and Th1 cells using an allogeneic coculture model. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

Immune Activation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-Infected and -Uninfected Subjects

The authors investigated the influence of M. tuberculosis infection on immune-activation biomarkers, both in HIV-infected and -uninfected subjects. [J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr] Abstract

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Memory γδ T Cells–Newly Appreciated Protagonists in Infection and Immunity

The authors discuss recent reports of memory-type responses attributed to γδ T cells and assess this underappreciated facet of these enigmatic cells. [Trends Immunol] Abstract

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ViiV Healthcare Launches Phase III Program Evaluating a Two-Drug Regimen Combining Dolutegravir and Lamivudine for HIV-1 Treatment

ViiV Healthcare announced the start of a Phase III program to support regulatory filings for a two-drug regimen of dolutegravir and lamivudine as a treatment for HIV-1 infection in adults who have not received prior antiretroviral therapy. [ViiV Healthcare] Press Release

Institute of Human Virology (IHV) Awarded $14.4M for HIV Vaccine Research

The IHV at the University of Maryland School of Medicine announced a $14.4 million grant from the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to tackle a significant scientific global challenge in HIV vaccine research – the inability to produce long-lasting antibodies to protect against HIV infection. [Institute of Human Virology] Press Release

Xenetic Biosciences Announces Collaboration with Excivion Ltd., UK, to Develop a Novel Combined Zika and Dengue Vaccine

Xenetic Biosciences, Inc. announced that it has commenced a collaboration with Excivion Ltd. to develop a vaccine against Zika and dengue viruses. [Xenetic Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Regeneron Announces Agreement with BARDA for the Manufacturing and Testing of New Antibodies against MERS Virus

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced an agreement with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to manufacture and study two antibody therapies for the potential prevention and treatment of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). [Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

A Tale of Two Governments: The Politician Behind Argentina’s Science Growth

Lino Barañao, the only minister to stay in power after last year’s elections, lays out his plans. [Nature News] Editorial

Spiking Genomic Databases with Misinformation Could Protect Patient Privacy

Large genomic databases are indispensable for scientists looking for genetic variations associated with diseases. But they come with privacy risks for people who contribute their DNA. A 2013 study showed that hackers could use publicly available information on the Internet to identify people from their anonymized genomic data. [Nature News] Editorial

UK Government Gives Brexit Science Funding Guarantee

British scientists say they’re relieved by a government promise to guarantee them funding for existing EU research projects, even after the country leaves the European Union. But the reassurance only partly allays concerns about Brexit’s effect on UK science. [Nature News] Editorial

Candidate Cancer Drug Suspected after Death of Three Patients at an Alternative Medicine Clinic

A new type of cancer drug developed at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, but not yet tested in clinical trials may have triggered the deaths of three patients who were undergoing an alternative cancer treatment by a nonmedical practitioner in Germany. Germany has many such practitioners, and the field is loosely regulated. The public prosecutor in Germany is now investigating whether the case constitutes involuntary manslaughter. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Obama’s Science Legacy: Uneven Progress on Scientific Integrity

Many researchers who watched Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2009 were thrilled by his pledge to “restore science to its rightful place”. But scientists and legal scholars say that, in many ways, Obama has failed to live up to that lofty promise. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 5^th Australian College for Infection Prevention and Control (ACIPC) 2016 Conference
November 20-23, 2016
Melbourne, Australia

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

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Translational Immunology (University of Eastern Finland)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Clinical Lecturer – Pediatric Emergency Medicine with Infectious Diseases (University of Bristol)

Postdoctoral Fellow(s) – Biomedical Diagnostics and Global Health Technologies (Cornell University)

Faculty Position – Immunology (Vanderbilt University Medical Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal Immunology (University of Utah)

Research Chair – Immunology and Infectious Disease (University of Edinburgh)

Scientist – Infectious Disease (Infectious Disease Research Institute)

PhD Positions – Infection Biology and Immunology (ZIBI Graduate School)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Quantitative Infectious Disease Methods (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Senior Researcher – Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Infectious Disease (Metabiota)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Malaria Genetics (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

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