Immunology of Infectious Disease News 4.36 September 14, 2016 | |
| |
TOP STORYPriming HIV-1 Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Precursors in Human Ig Loci Transgenic Mice The authors tested the ability of the VRC01-class bnAb germline-targeting immunogen eOD-GT8 60mer to activate appropriate precursors in mice transgenic for human immunoglobulin loci. Despite an average frequency of at most ~1 VRC01-class precursor per mouse, they found that at least 29% of singly-immunized mice produced a VRC01-class memory response, suggesting that priming generally succeeded when at least one precursor was present. [Science] Abstract | Press Release | |
| |
PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Scientists report the 3.4-Ã…-resolution cryo-EM reconstruction of the human coronavirus NL63 coronavirus spike glycoprotein trimer, which mediates entry into host cells and is the main target of neutralizing antibodies during infection. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a tumor virus that establishes lifelong infection in most of humanity, despite eliciting strong and stable virus-specific immune responses. EBV encodes at least 44 miRNAs, most of them with unknown function. Researchers showed that multiple EBV miRNAs modulate immune recognition of recently infected primary B cells, EBV’s natural target cells. [J Exp Med] Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis Exploits the Formation of New Blood Vessels for Its Dissemination Investigators used a transcriptomic approach to investigate the host cell gene expression profile in M. tuberculosis–infected human macrophages (ΜΦ). They identified 33 genes, encoding proteins involved in angiogenesis, for which the expression was significantly modified during infection, and they showed that the potent angiogenic factor VEGF is secreted by M. tuberculosis-infected ΜΦ, in an RD1-dependent manner. [Sci Rep] Full Article B7-H1 plays a key role in dysfunction of dendritic cells during chronic HBV infection, but the expression mechanism of B7-H1 remains unclear. One hundred and twenty-nine patients with chronic HBV infection were categorized into either the immune tolerance phase, the immune clearance phase, or the inactive carrier phase. [Lab Invest] Abstract HIVTailored Immunogens Direct Affinity Maturation toward HIV Neutralizing Antibodies Scientists report the development of boosting immunogens designed to guide the genetic and functional maturation of previously primed VRC01-class precursors. Boosting a transgenic mouse model expressing germline VRC01 heavy chains produced broad neutralization of near-native isolates and weak neutralization of fully native HIV. [Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Induction of HIV Neutralizing Antibody Lineages in Mice with Diverse Precursor Repertoires The authors describe a mouse vaccination model that allows a germline human IGHV1-2*02 segment to undergo normal V(D)J recombination and, thereby, leads to the generation of peripheral B cells that express a highly diverse repertoire of VRC01-related receptors. [Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Sequential Immunization Elicits Broadly Neutralizing Anti-HIV-1 Antibodies in Ig Knockin Mice A vaccine that elicits broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV-1 is likely to be protective, but this has not been achieved. To explore immunization regimens that might elicit bNAbs, researchers produced and immunized mice expressing the predicted germline PGT121, a bNAb specific for the V3-loop and surrounding glycans on the HIV-1 spike. [Cell] Full Article | Graphical Abstract HIV Vaccine Design to Target Germline Precursors of Glycan-Dependent Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies Investigators employed mammalian cell surface display to design stabilized HIV envelope (Env) trimers with affinity for germline-reverted precursors of PGT121-class supersite broadly neutralizing antibodies. The trimers maintained native-like antigenicity and structure, activated PGT121 inferred-germline B cells ex vivo when multimerized on liposomes, and primed PGT121-like responses in PGT121 inferred-germline knockin mice. [Immunity] Full Article Researchers present 3.5-Ã…- and 3.9-Ã…-resolution crystal structures of the HIV-1 Env trimer with fully processed and native glycosylation, revealing a glycan shield of high-mannose and complex-type N-glycans, which they used to define complete epitopes of two broadly neutralizing antibodies. [Nat Struct Mol Biol] Abstract Broad Activation of Latent HIV-1 In Vivo The authors use single-genome sequencing to find that the RNA transcripts observed following latency-reversing agents administration are genetically diverse, indicating activation of transcription from an extensive range of proviruses. Defective sequences are more frequently found in cell-associated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 RNA than in HIV-1 DNA, which has implications for developing an accurate measure of HIV-1 reservoir size. [Nat Commun] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News. | |
| |
REVIEWSSending a Message: Extracellular Vesicles of Pathogenic Protozoan Parasites The authors explore recent insights into the biology of extracellular vesicles from human infectious protozoan parasites, including Trichomonas vaginalis, Plasmodium spp. and kinetoplastids, such as Trypanosoma spp. and Leishmania spp. [Nat Rev Microbiol] Abstract Screening and Diagnosis of HBV in Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries HBV testing and diagnosis of HBV-related liver disease in low-income and middle-income countries differs substantially from that in developed countries in terms of access to resources and expensive technologies requiring highly specialized staff. [Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immunology of infectious disease research field. | |
| |
INDUSTRY NEWSBD Obtains FDA Clearance for the BD MAX CT/GC/TV Assay on the BD MAX™ System Becton, Dickinson and Company announced that it obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for the BD MAX™ CT/GC/TV assay, which is also CE marked in Europe, Canada and Australia and launched there in spring of 2015. The BD MAX CT/GC/TV assay provides health care providers the ability to detect for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) from a single specimen in just one test. [Becton, Dickinson and Company] Press Release LEUKOCARE Grants License to US Vaccine Company PaxVax LEUKOCARE AG, and PaxVax, Inc. announced that both partners have entered into a licensing agreement granting PaxVax access to LEUKOCARE’s proprietary SPS® formulation technology platform for the clinical development and subsequent commercialization of one of PaxVax’s live viral vaccine products. [LEUKOCARE AG] Press Release | |
| |
POLICY NEWSA Shady Market in Scientific Papers Mars Iran’s Rise in Science Iran’s parliament, the Majlis, is expected to take up work on a bill that would outlaw shady practices in scientific publishing. [Science] Editorial Medical Nobel Prize Committee Deals with Surgical Scandal In an unprecedented move, the group that selects the winners of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine — the Nobel Assembly — has asked two of its members to resign following a scandal at the institute that supplies the assembly’s members. [Nature News] Editorial
| |
EVENTSNEW Keystone Symposium: Cellular Stress Responses and Infectious Agents NEW Cell Culture and Downstream Processing World Congress NEW World Advanced Therapies and Regenerative Medicine Congress Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
| |
JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Research Associate – Infectious Disease Dynamics (University of Cambridge) Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Senior Scientist – Immunology and Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Faculty Positions – Microbiology (University of Pennsylvania) Postdoctoral Position – B Regulatory Cells (Inserm) Postdoctoral Researcher – Translational Immunology (University of Eastern Finland) 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) PhD Positions – Infection Biology and Immunology (ZIBI Graduate School) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
| |
Have we missed an important article or publication in Immunology of Infectious Disease News? Click here to submit! Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here. | |
|
Home Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 4.36 | Sep 14 2016