Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.04 | Feb 1 2017

TOP STORY

Discovery Helps Explain Why Only Some People Develop Life-Threatening Dengue Infections

New research has begun to reveal why certain people are more vulnerable to these dangerous secondary infections. The findings could lead to better strategies to identify and better treat those most at risk. [Press release from The Rockefeller University discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

mTORC2 Signaling Regulates M2 Macrophage Differentiation in Response to Helminth Infection and Adaptive Thermogenesis

Investigators showed a critical role for mTORC2 signaling in the generation of alternatively activated macrophages (M2). Abrogation of mTORC2 signaling in macrophages by selective conditional deletion of the adaptor molecule Rictor inhibits the generation of M2 macrophages while leaving the generation of classically activated macrophages intact. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Tissue Reservoirs of Antiviral T Cell Immunity in Persistent Human CMV Infection

The authors investigated human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cells, virus persistence and CMV-associated T cell homeostasis in blood, lymphoid, mucosal and secretory tissues of 44 CMV seropositive and 28 seronegative donors. CMV-specific T cells were maintained in distinct distribution patterns, highest in blood, bone marrow, or lymph nodes, with the frequency and function in blood distinct from tissues. [J Exp Med] Abstract

Critical Role of CXCL4 in the Lung Pathogenesis of Influenza (H1N1) Respiratory Infection

The authors showed that platelet-derived chemokine ligand 4 (CXCL4) is associated with pulmonary influenza infection and has a critical role in protecting mice from fatal H1N1 virus respiratory infection. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

M2 Macrophages or IL-33 Treatment Attenuate Ongoing Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Researchers determined whether lung type 2 immunity induced by allergen sensitization and challenge could affect the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection. They used two different protocols in which sensitization and allergen challenge were performed before or after M. tuberculosis infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The Proportion of Different IL-17-Producing T Cell Subsets Is Associated with Liver Fibrosis in Chronic Hepatitis C

The in vivo IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-17 levels were positively correlated with both alanine aminotransferase levels and hepatic lesions. When compared with the control group, chronic hepatitis C patients showed lower proportion of IL-17-secreting T cells capable of simultaneously producing IL-21. [Immunology] Abstract

GRAIL and Otubain-1 Are Related to T Cell Hyporesponsiveness during Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

Investigators found increased “gene related to anergy in lymphocytes” (GRAIL) expression at the early stages of infection, coinciding with the peak of parasitemia, with these findings correlating with impaired proliferation and poor IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion in response to plate-bound antibodies. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

HIV

Siglec-1 Initiates Formation of the Virus-Containing Compartment and Enhances Macrophage-to-T Cell Transmission of HIV-1

Researchers demonstrated that virus-containing compartment formation does not actually require infection of the macrophage, but can be reproduced through the exogenous addition of non-infectious virus-like particles or infectious virions to macrophage cultures. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Dysregulation of Systemic and Mucosal Humoral Responses to Microbial and Food Antigens as a Factor Contributing to Microbial Translocation and Chronic Inflammation in HIV-1 Infection

Scientists addressed whether the depletion of CD4⁺ T cells in HIV-1-infected individuals results in altered humoral responses specific to antigens encountered at mucosal surfaces. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

Potent and Broad HIV-Neutralizing Antibodies in Memory B Cells and Plasma

HIV-1–specific memory B cell flow sorting and proteomic identification of anti-membrane-proximal external region (MPER) plasma antibodies from an HIV-1–infected individual were used to isolate broadly neutralizing distal MPER broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) of the same B cell clonal lineage. [Sci Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News.

Programmed Cell Death as a Defense against Infection

The authors discuss the role of different cell death pathways in innate immune defense against bacterial and viral infection: apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis and NETosis. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

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

Pfizer Announces Positive Top-Line Results from Phase II Study of Investigational Clostridium difficile Vaccine for the Prevention of C. difficile Infection

Pfizer Inc. announced that the Phase II study evaluating the company’s C. difficile vaccine candidate, PF-06425090, provided positive data, based on a pre-planned interim analysis. The randomized Phase II study examined the safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of the vaccine in healthy adults 65 to 85 years of age. [Pfizer Inc.] Press Release

MRIGlobal Wins $13.7 Million NIH/NIAID Quality Assessment Contract for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

MRIGlobal has been awarded a contract from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support its M. tuberculosis Quality Assessment requirement. [MRIGlobal] Press Release

On 22 April, Empiricists around the Country Will March for Science

The grassroots team coordinating the March for Science on Washington, D.C., have now set a date: 22 April. And they are inviting organizers in cities around the world to lead parallel demonstrations. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Meet the Scientists Affected by Trump’s Immigration Ban

Order barring citizens of seven countries from entering the United States has left many confused and afraid. Nature spoke to more than 20 researchers affected by the new policy, who described their feelings of fear, shock and determination. [Nature News] Editorial

Trump Agenda Threatens US Legacy of Science Diplomacy

A newly minted leader with no experience governing at home or establishing policy abroad now oversees the United States’ vast diplomatic enterprise. US President Donald Trump has a deep bench of scientific and technical expertise to tap across multiple government agencies — but it is not clear that he will use it. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 30^th Annual Canadian Society for Immunology (CSI) Conference
April 7-10, 2017
Banff, Canada

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

NEW Research Fellow – Immunology (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Otto-von-Guericke-Universitat Magdeburg)

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

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 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)

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

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

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.