Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.02 | Jan 18 2017

TOP STORY

T Cells Join the Fight against Zika

New research lays the groundwork to parse how the Zika virus interacts with its host and causes disease by pinpointing CD8⁺ T cells, a subset of T cells more commonly known as cytotoxic or killer T cells, as important gatekeepers that control Zika infection or limit the severity of disease. [Cell Host Microbe] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Systems Approach Reveals MAVS Signaling in Myeloid Cells as Critical for Resistance to Ebola Virus in Murine Models of Infection

The authors applied a systems approach to mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS)^−/− mice infected with either wild-type or mouse-adapted Ebola virus (EBOV). MAVS controlled EBOV replication through the expression of IFNα, regulation of inflammatory responses in the spleen, and prevention of cell death in the liver, with macrophages implicated as a major cell type influencing host resistance. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Extrinsic MAVS Signaling Is Critical for Treg Maintenance of Foxp3 Expression following Acute Flavivirus Infection

Researchers sought to determine if intrinsic mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) signaling is required for participation of Tregs in anti-West Nile virus (WNV) immunity. Despite evidence of increased Treg cell division, Foxp3 expression was not stably maintained after WNV infection in MAVS-deficient mice. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Perturbed CD8⁺ T Cell TIGIT/CD226/PVR Axis Despite Early Initiation of Antiretroviral Treatment in HIV Infected Individuals

Scientists report that T cell immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT) expression increased over time despite early initiation of antiretroviral treatment. HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells were almost exclusively TIGIT⁺, had an inverse expression of the transcription factors T-bet and Eomes and co-expressed PD-1, CD160 and 2B4. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Notch Ligand Delta-Like 4 Promotes Regulatory T Cell Identity in Pulmonary Viral Infection

Investigators outlined the role of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) in regulatory T cell differentiation, stability, and function in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. They found that Dll4 was expressed on CD11b⁺ pulmonary dendritic cells in the lung and draining lymph nodes in wild-type BALB/c mice after RSV infection. [J Immunol] Abstract

Intracranial Injection of Dengue Virus Induces Interferon Stimulated Genes and CD8⁺ T Cell Infiltration by Sphingosine Kinase 1 Independent Pathways

The authors aimed to define SK1-dependancy of dengue virus (DENV)-induced disease and the associated innate responses in vivo. The lack of a reliable mouse model with a fully competent interferon response for DENV infection is a challenge, and they used an experimental model of DENV infection in the brain of immunocompetent mice. [PLoS One] Full Article

Protection against Plasmodium falciparum Malaria by PfSPZ Vaccine

Scientists demonstrated for the first time to their knowledge that Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite (PfSPZ) vaccine can protect against a 3-week heterologous controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) in a limited group of malaria-naive adult subjects. A 3-dose regimen protected against both 3-week and 24-week homologous CHMI in this population. [JCI Insight] Full Article

HIV

SUN2 Silencing Impairs CD4 T Cell Proliferation and Alters Sensitivity to HIV-1 Infection Independently of Cyclophilin A

Investigators confirm that HIV infection of primary CD4 T cells is compromised in the absence of endogenous SUN2, and they extend these findings to additional viral strains. However, they find that CypA is not required for the decreased infection observed in SUN2 silenced cells, and conversely, that endogenous SUN2 is not required for the well-documented positive modulation of HIV infection by CypA. [J Virol] Abstract

TCR Clonotype-Specific Differences in Inhibitory Activity of HIV-1 Cytotoxic T Cell Clones is Not Mediated by TCR Alone

To define the role of individual TCR clonotypes in differential antiviral CD8⁺ T cell function, scientists performed detailed functional and mass cytometric cluster analysis of multiple CD8⁺ T cell clones recognizing the identical HLA-B*2705-restricted HIV-1 epitope KK10. [J Virol] Abstract

Increased Natural Killer Cell Activation in HIV-Infected Immunologic Non-Responders Correlates with CD4⁺ T Cell Recovery after Antiretroviral Therapy and Viral Suppression

Researchers analyzed natural killer (NK) cell number, subset, and activation by expression of CD107a and NKG2D and co-expression of CD38 and HLA-DR. NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against uninfected CD4⁺ T cells was tested in vitro. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Current Views on the Potential for Development of a HIV Vaccine

The authors summarize past HIV vaccine efficacy trials and current vaccine strategies as well as new approaches about to move into first-in-human trials. [Expert Opin Biol Ther] Abstract

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

European Commission Grants Marketing Authorization for Gilead’s Vemlidy^® (Tenofovir Alafenamide, TAF) for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the European Commission has granted marketing authorization for Vemlidy^® 25 mg, a once-daily tablet for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in adults and adolescents. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Protein Sciences Zika Vaccine Shows Good Results in Preclinical Testing

Protein Sciences Corporation announced that its lead protein based Zika vaccine candidate had good safety results and induced strong neutralizing antibodies against the Zika virus in preclinical studies. [Protein Sciences Corporation (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Pulmatrix Drug Candidate Receives “Qualified Infectious Disease Product” (QIDP) Designation from the FDA

Pulmatrix, Inc. announced that its drug candidate for treating fungal infections in the lungs of CF patients, PUR1900, has been designated as a QIDP by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Pulmatrix, Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Abandons Controversial Consent Proposal on Using Human Research Samples

Federal officials have dropped a controversial plan to impose new rules that researchers say would have made it much harder to use patient blood and tissue samples in research. The final Common Rule omits these provisions, but leaves other changes intact. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Rigorous Replication Effort Succeeds for Just Two of Five Cancer Papers

The first results of a high-profile effort to replicate influential papers in cancer biology are roiling the biomedical community. Of the five studies the project has tackled so far, some involving experimental treatments already in clinical trials, only two could be repeated; one could not, and technical problems stymied the remaining two replication efforts. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences – Tropical Infectious Diseases
March 12-17, 2017
Galveston, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – Mucosal Infection and Inflammation (Linköping University)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Responses in the Controlled Human Malaria Infection Model (Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre)

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

Academic Appointments – Infectious Diseases (Imperial College London)

Senior Scientist Virology – Infectious Diseases Unit (Sanofi)

PhD Opportunities – Infection Research (Helmholtz Association)

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

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (University of Toronto)

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

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – HIV Immunotherapy (Fred Hutchinson 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)

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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