Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.07 | Feb 22 2017

TOP STORY

Modified mRNA Vaccines Protect against Zika Virus Infection

To offset a theoretical concern of Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccines inducing antibodies that cross-react with the related dengue virus (DENV), scientists designed modified prM-E RNA encoding mutations destroying the conserved fusion-loop epitope in the E protein. This variant protected against ZIKV and diminished production of antibodies enhancing DENV infection in cells or mice. [Cell] Abstract | Graphical Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infects Regulatory B Cells in Human Neonates via Chemokine Receptor CX3CR1 and Promotes Lung Disease Severity

Scientists analyzed the B cell compartment in human newborns and identified a population of neonatal regulatory B lymphocytes that produced interleukin 10 in response to respiratory syncytial virus infection. [Immunity] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Resveratrol Treatment Reveals a Novel Role for HMGB1 in Regulation of the Type 1 Interferon Response in Dengue Virus Infection

The authors examined the antiviral activity of resveratrol (RESV), a phytoalexin secreted naturally by plants, against dengue virus infection. They showed that RESV inhibits the translocation of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a DNA binding protein that normally resides in the nucleus, into the cytoplasm and extracellular milieu. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Specific Pathways Mediating Inflammasome Activation by Candida parapsilosis

Investigators showed that C. parapsilosis induces caspase-1 activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in THP-1, as well as primary, human macrophages. IL-1β secretion was dependent on NLRP3, K⁺-efflux, TLR4, IRAK, Syk, caspase-1, caspase-8 and NADPH-oxidase. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Dengue Virus NS1 Protein Activates Immune Cells via TLR4 but not TLR2 or TLR6

Researchers used mouse gene knockout macrophages and antibodies blocking toll-like receptor (TLR) function in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to show that recombinant non-structural protein 1 (NS1), expressed and purified from eukaryotic cells, induces cytokine production via TLR4 but not TLR2/6. [Immunol Cell Biol] Abstract

Differential Expression of Innate Immune Response Genes in Clinical Phases of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Scientists investigated innate immune gene expression in clinical phases of chronic hepatitis B infection, including immune tolerant; immune active; inactive carrier; and hepatitis B e antigen-negative phases, as well as healthy controls. [J Viral Hepat] Abstract

HIV

Mucosal Stromal Fibroblasts Markedly Enhance HIV Infection of CD4⁺ T Cells

The authors report that primary stromal fibroblasts isolated from endometrium, cervix, foreskin, male urethra, and intestines significantly increase HIV infection of CD4⁺ T cells–by up to 37-fold for R5-tropic HIV and 100-fold for X4-tropic HIV–without themselves becoming infected. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

Superiority in Rhesus Macaques of Targeting HIV-1 Env Gp140 to CD40 versus LOX-1 in Combination with Replication Competent NYVAC-KC for Induction of Env-Specific Antibody and T Cell Responses

Investigators compared the HIV-1-specific immune responses generated by targeting HIV-1 envelope protein (Env gp140) to either CD40 or LOX-1, two endocytic receptors on dendritic cells, in Rhesus macaques primed with a poxvirus vector (NYVAC-KC) expressing Env gp140. [J Virol] Abstract

Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA)-DQB1*03:02 and HLA-A*02:01 Have Opposite Patterns in Their Effects on Susceptibility to HIV Infection

Researchers sought to elucidate the association between the presence of HLA alleles, as well as killer immunoglobulin receptor genotypes, and the susceptibility to HIV infection in a Spanish cohort of HIV-exposed seronegative individuals. [HIV Med] Abstract

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Prospects for a Zika Virus Vaccine

The authors review the current state of Zika virus (ZIKV) vaccine development. They discuss different vaccination strategies and highlight challenges facing clinical evaluation of ZIKV vaccine candidates. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release

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

Halloran Consulting Group Advises SEEK in Preparation for First Trial of Vaccine to Protect against Mosquito-Borne Diseases, Including Zika and Malaria

Halloran Consulting Group announced the successful submission of an Investigational New Drug application by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, for a novel vaccine designed to prevent infection of mosquito-transmitted disease, such as Zika, malaria, West Nile virus and dengue, and to hinder transmission of such infections. [Halloran Consulting Group] Press Release

Windtree Therapeutics’ Aerosolized KL4 Surfactant Reduces Lung Inflammation and Improves Survival in a High-Pathogen Avian Influenza Preclinical Study

Windtree Therapeutics, Inc. announced that data from a preclinical influenza study showed that aerosolized KL4 surfactant reduced lung inflammation and improved overall survival in a well-established preclinical animal model. [Windtree Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Firing of Veteran NIH Scientist Prompts Protests over Publication Ban

At least two dozen junior and senior researchers are stuck in scientific limbo after being barred from publishing data collected over a 25-year period at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab. The unusual ban follows the firing last summer of veteran neurologist Allen Braun by the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for what many scientists have told Science are relatively minor, if widespread, violations of his lab’s experimental protocol. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Why British Universities Are Unlikely to Accept Invitation to Set Up Campuses in France

A consortium of academic institutes near Paris is hoping to lure British universities to create research campuses in France, dangling as bait the possibility of access to European Union research funds after Brexit. [Nature News] Editorial

Ebola Funding Surge Hides Falling Investment in Other Neglected Diseases

Global funding for research on neglected diseases — which include tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria — is at its lowest level since 2007, according to the annual G-FINDER investment report by Policy Cures, a health-policy analysis firm in Sydney, Australia. [Nature News] Editorial

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Says a ‘Vaccine Safety’ Commission Is Still in the Works

The vocal vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is still talking with President Donald Trump’s administration about establishing a commission to look into vaccine safety, Kennedy said at a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. [Science Insider] Editorial

NEW 27^th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)
April 22-25, 2017
Vienna, Austria

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

NEW PhD Student – Infection and Cancer Immunology (Heinrich-Heine University)

NEW PhD Student Position – Infection and Aging Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

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

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

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)

PhD Opportunities – Infection Research (Helmholtz Association)

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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