Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.00 | Jan 4 2017

TOP STORY

HIV-1 Blocks the Signaling Adaptor MAVS to Evade Antiviral Host Defense after Sensing of Abortive HIV-1 RNA by the Host Helicase DDX3

Investigators showed that HIV-1 actively arrested antiviral immune responses by dendritic cells, which contributed to efficient HIV-1 replication in infected individuals. They identified the RNA helicase DDX3 as an HIV-1 sensor that bound abortive HIV-1 RNA after HIV-1 infection and induced dendritic cell maturation and type I interferon responses via the signaling adaptor MAVS. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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Targeting Dendritic Cells to Accelerate T-Cell Activation Overcomes a Bottleneck in Tuberculosis Vaccine Efficacy

Investigators showed that pulmonary delivery of activated Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-primed dendritic cells into vaccinated mice, at the time of M. tuberculosis exposure, can overcome the delay in accumulation of vaccine-induced CD4⁺ T-cell responses. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

The Tyrosine Kinase Src Promotes Phosphorylation of the Kinase TBK1 to Facilitate Type I Interferon Production after Viral Infection

Scientists investigated the mechanism by which the kinase activity of TBK1 is stimulated in response to viral infection. They found that the tyrosine kinase Src promoted the phosphorylation of TBK1 on Tyr¹⁷⁹ upon viral infection of RAW264.7 macrophages. [Sci Signal] Abstract

Long-Term Maintenance of the Influenza-Specific Cross-Reactive Memory CD4⁺ T-Cell Responses following Repeated Annual Influenza Vaccination

Researchers assembled a unique cohort of healthcare workers who received a single AS03-adjuvanted H1N1pdm09 vaccine in 2009 and subsequently either repeated annual vaccination or no further vaccination during 2010-2013. Blood samples were collected prior to the influenza season or vaccination to assess antibody and T-cell responses. [J Infect Dis] Abstract

Neutrophilic NLRP3 Inflammasome-Dependent IL-1β Secretion Regulates the γδT17 Cell Response in Respiratory Bacterial Infections

Scientists highlighted an unexpected key role for neutrophils as accessory cells in innate interleukin (IL)-17A production by lung resident Vγ6Vδ1⁺ T cells via nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain receptor, pyrin-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-dependent IL-1β secretion. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

A20 Curtails Primary but Augments Secondary CD8⁺ T Cell Responses in Intracellular Bacterial Infection

To study the T cell-specific function of A20 in bacterial infection, the authors infected T cell-specific A20 knockout and control mice with Listeria monocytogenes. A20-deficient pathogen-specific CD8⁺ T cells expanded stronger resulting in improved pathogen control at day seven p.i. [Sci Rep] Full Article

NKG2C/E Marks the Unique Cytotoxic CD4 T Cell Subset, ThCTL, Generated by Influenza Infection

Investigators showed that, in mice, NKG2C/E identifies the ThCTL that develop in the lung during influenza A virus infection. ThCTL express the NKG2X/CD94 complex, in particular the NKG2C/E isoforms. [J Immunol] Abstract

Chronic Plasmodium chabaudi Infection Generates CD4 Memory T Cells with Increased TCR Sensitivity but Poor Secondary Expansion and Increased Apoptosis

To determine the functional capacity of CD4 T cells generated by chronic infection, on re-exposure to parasite, the authors compared their responses to known features of classical Tmem. Representation of cytokine producing T cells increased after infection in the polyclonal population, suggesting an increase in pathogen-specific T cells. [Infect Immun] Abstract

HIV

The Loss of CCR6⁺ and CD161⁺ CD4⁺ T-Cell Homeostasis Contributes to Disease Progression in SIV-Infected Rhesus Macaques

Researchers investigated how the homeostasis of CCR6⁺ and CD161⁺ CD4⁺ T cells contributes to SIV disease progression and the mechanisms responsible for their loss from circulation. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Efficient Transduction of Human and Rhesus Macaque Primary T Cells by a Modified Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1)-Based Lentiviral Vector

Scientists tested whether HIV-1 vectors packaged by a packaging construct containing capsid substitutions could efficiently transduce both human and rhesus primary CD4 T cells. To accomplish this, they made LNEIE mutations in the packaging construct CEMΔ8.9, and generated recombinant HIV-1 vectors packaged by ∆8.9 WT or ∆8.9 LNEIE. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

CD4⁺IL-21⁺T Cells Are Correlated with Regulatory T Cells and IL-21 Promotes Regulatory T Cells Survival during HIV Infection

Thirty-four HIV treatment-naïve patients were enrolled and the relationship between CD4⁺IL-21⁺T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) were studied. The effects of IL-21 on CD4⁺CD25⁺CD127^low Tregs’ apoptosis, proliferation, and CTLA-4 and TGF-β expression in HIV-infected patients was investigated and compared with the effect of other common γ-chain cytokines. [Cytokine] Abstract

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Modeling Viral Infections Using Zebrafish: Innate Immune Response and Antiviral Research

The authors review current knowledge of the antiviral innate immune response in zebrafish by considering the main molecules that have been characterized and the infection models used for the in vivo study of the antiviral innate immune response. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

The Regulation of Acute Immune Responses to the Bacterial Lung Pathogen Legionella pneumophila

The authors compile the understanding of the various molecular and cellular pathways stimulated upon infection with L. pneumophila and considered recently published advances that focus on the immune response to L. pneumophila in the lungs of mice. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

The Immune Response to Astrovirus Infection

The author summarizes the current understanding of the immune response to astrovirus infection and highlights some of the key questions that stem from these studies. A full understanding of the immune response to astrovirus infection is required to be able to treat and control astrovirus-induced gastroenteritis. [Viruses] Full Article

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

BioNet Received Thai FDA Approval of the World’s Only Available Recombinant Monovalent Acellular Pertussis (aP) Vaccine

BioNet-Asia announced that its first recombinant acellular Pertussis booster vaccine containing a proprietary genetically-detoxified Pertussis Toxin, received Marketing Authorization Approval from the Thai Food and Drug Administration. [BioNet-Asia (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Rebiotix Treats First Patient in Phase I Study of RBX7455, an Orally Delivered Broad-Spectrum Non-Frozen Microbiota Capsule for Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection

Rebiotix Inc. announced that the first patient has been treated in a Phase I study of RBX7455 for the prevention of recurrent C. difficile infection. [Rebiotix Inc. (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Argentina’s Researchers Occupy Science Ministry

Hundreds of young researchers occupied Argentina’s science ministry in Buenos Aires last month, angry at budget cuts that they say have denied them permanent jobs at the country’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council. The occupation was the most extreme action yet by Argentinian scientists after months of protests at last year’s budget, the first under President Mauricio Macri. And the occupation seems to have paid off, in part: many of those involved have been offered extensions to their fellowships. [Nature News] Editorial

Scientists in Germany, Peru and Taiwan to Lose Access to Elsevier Journals

Thousands of scientists in Germany, Peru and Taiwan are preparing for a new year without online access to journals from the Dutch publishing giant Elsevier. Contract negotiations in both Germany and Taiwan broke down in December, while Peru’s government has cut off funding for a licence. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW ISSCR Annual Meeting 2017
June 14-17, 2017
Boston, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Leishmania Host Interactions (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

NEW Academic Appointments – Infectious Diseases (Imperial College London)

NEW Senior Scientist Virology – Infectious Diseases Unit (Sanofi)

NEW PhD Opportunities – Infection Research (Helmholtz Association)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology/Epigenetics/Infection Biology (CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (University of Toronto)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vaccine Research (Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc.)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Virus-Host Interactions (University of Zurich)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – HIV Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Pre-Clinical In Vivo Studies and Immunology (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – CAR T Cell Therapy for HIV Infection (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Viral Infection Modeling (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunology of HIV-1 and Cancer (University of Alabama at Birmingham)

Postdoctoral Research Scientist – Infection (Rush University Medical Center)

Faculty Position – Senior Immunologist (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

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

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