Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.06 | Feb 15 2017

TOP STORY

Sterile Protection against Human Malaria by Chemoattenuated PfSPZ Vaccine

Investigators assessed immunization by direct venous inoculation of aseptic, purified, cryopreserved, non-irradiated Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites (PfSPZ) to malaria-naive, healthy adult volunteers taking chloroquine for antimalarial chemoprophylaxis. [Nature] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

CD8⁺ T Cells Orchestrate pDC-XCR1⁺ Dendritic Cell Spatial and Functional Cooperativity to Optimize Priming

Scientists examined plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) spatiotemporal dynamics during viral infection to uncover when, where, and how they exert their functions. They found that pDCs accumulated at sites of CD8⁺ T cell antigen-driven activation in a CCR5-dependent fashion. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

Defining B Cell Immunodominance to Viruses

Investigators showed that B cells and serum antibodies from inbred mice demonstrated a reproducible immunodominance hierarchy to the five major antigenic sites in the influenza A virus hemagglutinin globular domain. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Systems Analysis of Protective Immune Responses to RTS,S Malaria Vaccination in Humans

The authors applied a systems biology approach to study immune responses in subjects receiving three consecutive immunizations with RTS,S, or in those receiving two immunizations of RTS,S/AS01 following a primary immunization with adenovirus 35 vector expressing circumsporozoite protein. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

CD8⁺ T Cell Cytotoxicity Mediates Pathology in the Skin by Inflammasome Activation and IL-1β Production

Using murine models of inflammation induced by the protozoan parasite leishmania, and data obtained from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis, researchers uncovered a previously unrecognized role for NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β release as a detrimental consequence of CD8⁺ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, ultimately resulting in chronic inflammation. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Ebola Virus Infection Induces Autoimmunity against dsDNA and HSP60

Using mouse and non-human primates which survived Ebola virus challenge, ELISA, western blot, mass spectrometry and flow cytometry were used to screen for autoantibodies, identify their main targets, investigate the mechanism behind their induction and monitor autoantibodies accumulation in various tissues. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Type I IFN Augments IL-27-Dependent TRIM25 Expression to Inhibit HBV Replication

Scientists report that interleukin-27 (IL-27) has a critical role in interferon (IFN)-induced TRIM25 upregulation. TRIM25 induction requires both STAT1 and STAT3. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

Baculovirus Directly Activates Murine NK Cells via TLR9

The authors investigated the involvement of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in the process of baculovirus (BV) recognition by natural killer (NK) cells. They found that BV directly stimulated NK cells, induced the expression of the activation marker CD69 and promoted interferon-gamma production and cytotoxicity. [Cancer Gene Ther] Abstract

Hypoxia Determines Survival Outcomes of Bacterial Infection through HIF-1α–Dependent Reprogramming of Leukocyte Metabolism

In the context of acute hypoxia, both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae infections rapidly induced progressive neutrophil-mediated morbidity and mortality, with associated hypothermia and cardiovascular compromise. [Sci Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

HIV

Gene Variation in IL-7 Receptor (IL-7R)α Affects IL-7R Response in CD4⁺ T Cells in HIV-Infected Individuals

Researchers examined potential mechanisms explaining the association between rs6897932 and CD4⁺ T cell recovery. Ten T-allele homozygosity and 10 C-allele homozygosity in rs6897932 HIV-infected individuals matched on gender, age, and nadir and current CD4⁺ T cell counts were included in a cross-sectional study. [Sci Rep] Full Article

HIV-Specific Granzyme B, but not Interferon-γ Secreting T Cells Are Associated with Reduced Viral Reservoirs in Early HIV Infection

HIV reservoirs in peripheral CD4⁺ T cells measured by cell associated proviral DNA and viral outgrowth cultures were determined at baseline and 48 weeks of cART. At baseline, Granzyme B and IFN-γ ELISpot assays were performed with peptides spanning the HIV proteome. [J Virol] Abstract

Down-Regulation of CD73 on B Cells of Patients with Viremic HIV Correlates with B Cell Activation and Disease Progression

Peripheral and lymph nodal B cells of patients with HIV at different stages of disease as well as uninfected individuals were analyzed via multicolor flow cytometry with regard to expression of CD39 and CD73 and differentiation, proliferation, and exhaustion status. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

Immune Regulator ABIN1 Suppresses HIV-1 Transcription by Negatively Regulating the Ubiquitination of Tat

Investigators identified A20-binding inhibitor of NF-κB activation (ABIN1) as a suppressor of HIV-1 transcription since transient knockdown of ABIN1 led to increased HIV-1 replication both in transformed Jurkat T cell line and in primary human CD4⁺ T lymphocytes. [Retrovirology] Full Article

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Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Therapy for Infectious Diseases: Learning from the Cancer Paradigm

The use of monoclonal antibodies directed against the antigen-experienced T-cell marker programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 in the context of chronic infectious diseases are reviewed. [Int J Infect Dis] Abstract | Full Article

Effector Mechanisms of Neutrophils within the Innate Immune System in Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

The authors provide evidence to support the idea that neutrophils, while sometimes damaging, can also be an important component in warding off M. tuberculosis infection. This is exemplified in immunocompromised individuals, such as those with human immunodeficiency virus infection or Type 2 diabetes mellitus. [J Clin Med] Full Article

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Janssen Announces Two-Drug Combination of Dolutegravir and Rilpivirine Demonstrates Efficacy in Maintaining Viral Suppression in Phase III Clinical Studies

Janssen Sciences Ireland UC announced positive results from the full data read out for two Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of switching virologically suppressed patients from a three- or four-drug antiretroviral regimen to the two-drug regimen of dolutegravir and rilpivirine. [Press release from Janssen Sciences Ireland UC (PR Newswire Association LLC.) discussing research presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Seattle] Press Release

Theratechnologies Announces New Data from the Pivotal Phase III Trial of HIV Monoclonal Antibody and Long-Acting Investigational Antiretroviral Ibalizumab

Theratechnologies Inc. announced that additional secondary efficacy and safety endpoint results from the 24-week ibalizumab Phase III trial, TMB-301, were presented. [Press release from Theratechnologies Inc. discussing research presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI), Seattle] Press Release

Inovio and ApolloBio to Collaborate on Development and Commercialization of HPV Pre-Cancer Immunotherapy VGX-3100 in Greater China

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that it has entered into a collaboration and license agreement providing ApolloBio Corporation with the exclusive right to develop and commercialize VGX-3100, Inovio’s DNA immunotherapy product designed to treat pre-cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), within greater China. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Merck’s Doravirine, an Investigational Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI) for the Treatment of HIV-1 Infection, Met Primary Efficacy Endpoint in Pivotal Phase III Trial

Merck announced results of a pivotal Phase III clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of doravirine, an NNRTI. [Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.] Press Release

Gilead Announces 144-Week Data Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Genvoya^® for Treatment of HIV-1 in Treatment-Naïve Adults

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced 144-week data from two Phase III studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of Genvoya^® for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in treatment-naïve adults. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Vaxart Announces Positive Phase I Study of Oral Norovirus Vaccine

Vaxart, Inc. announced that its norovirus tablet vaccine met the primary and secondary endpoints for safety and immunogenicity in a Phase I clinical trial. [Vaxart, Inc.] Press Release

Spotlight Innovation Licenses Additional Anti-Zika Virus Compounds

Spotlight Innovation Inc. announced that it has entered into a second license agreement with the Florida State University Research Foundation for the development and commercialization of additional anti-Zika virus compounds. [Spotlight Innovation Inc.] Press Release

Broad Institute Wins Bitter Battle over CRISPR Patents

A panel of US Patent and Trademark Office judges have determined that a series of patents granted for CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing to the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard will stand. [Nature News] Editorial

German Scientists Regain Access to Elsevier Journals

A stand-off in which dozens of German universities declined to pay for access to journals from publishing giant Elsevier has been partially resolved. [Nature News] Editorial

Debate Erupts over Plan to Create Another Online Destination for Biology Preprints

A plan to create a new repository for biomedical and biology preprints has earned the endorsement of nearly a dozen major science funders, including government agencies, major foundations, and research charities. But it also has sparked a debate about whether an existing preprint repository, bioRxiv.org, should be the natural home for such material. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Canadian Association for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (CACMID) 2017
May 3-6, 2017
Toronto, Canada

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

NEW Research Investigator – Immuno-Oncology (Bristol-Meyers Squibb)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation Automation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation & Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies, Inc.)

Junior Research Group Leaders – Infectious Disease Research (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)

Research Fellow – Immunology (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

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 – 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)

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