Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.10 | Mar 15 2017

TOP STORY

Immune Molecule Protects against Zika Virus Infection in Animal Models

A molecule naturally produced by the immune system protects mice and monkeys against Zika virus infection, researchers have found. Administering the molecule, called 25-hydroxycholesterol or 25HC, to pregnant mice reduced Zika virus infection in the fetal brain and protected against Zika-induced microcephaly. [Press release from National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases discussing online prepublication in Immunity] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Recombinant BCG Expressing ESX-1 of Mycobacterium marinum Combines Low Virulence with Cytosolic Immune Signaling and Improved TB Protection

By heterologously expressing the esx-1 region of M. marinum in BCG, researchers engineered a low-virulence, ESX-1-proficient, recombinant BCG that induces the cGas/STING/TBK1/IRF-3/type I interferon axis and enhances AIM2 and NLRP3 inflammasome activity, resulting in both higher proportions of CD8⁺ T cell effectors against mycobacterial antigens shared with BCG and polyfunctional CD4⁺ Th1 cells specific to ESX-1 antigens. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Zika Virus Infection of Rhesus Macaques Leads to Viral Persistence in Multiple Tissues

Investigators report herein the results of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection of adult rhesus macaques. Following subcutaneous infection, animals developed transient plasma viremia and viruria from one to seven days post infection that was accompanied by the development of a rash, fever and conjunctivitis. Animals produced a robust adaptive immune response to ZIKV, although systemic cytokine response was minimal. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

Experimental Vaccine Induces Th1-Driven Immune Responses and Resistance to Neisseria gonorrhoeae Infection in a Murine Model

Female mice were immunized intravaginally with gonococcal outer membrane vesicles plus microencapsulated interleukin-12, and challenged using an established model of genital infection with N. gonorrhoeae. [Mucosal Immunol] Full Article

M2e-Tetramer-Specific Memory CD4 T Cells Are Broadly Protective against Influenza Infection

Intranasal immunizations of Balb/c mice with CTA1-3 matrix protein 2 ectodomain (M2e)-DD-generated M2e-specific memory CD4 T cells that were I-A^d restricted and critically protected against infection, even in the complete absence of antibodies, as observed in JhD mice. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Exosomes Function in Antigen Presentation during an In Vivo Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

Investigators used Rab27a-deficient mice which showed diminished trafficking of mycobacterial components to exosomes as well as M. tuberculosis strains that express recombinant proteins which traffic or fail to traffic to exosomes. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Eosinophils Promote Antiviral Immunity in Mice Infected with Influenza A Virus

The transfer of eosinophils from the lungs of allergen-sensitized and challenged mice into influenza virus–infected mice resulted in reduced morbidity and viral burden, improved lung compliance, and increased CD8⁺ T cell numbers in the airways. [J Immunol] Abstract | Full Article

Identification of Zika Virus Epitopes Reveals Immunodominant and Protective Roles for Dengue Virus Cross-Reactive CD8⁺ T Cells

Scientists identified 25 HLA-B*0702-restricted epitopes and 1 HLA-A*0101-restricted epitope using interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot and intracellular cytokine staining in Zika virus-infected IFN-α/β receptor-deficient HLA transgenic mice. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract | Press Release

HIV

Delineating CD4 Dependency of HIV-1: Adaptation to Infect Low Level CD4 Expressing Target Cells Widens Cellular Tropism but Severely Impacts on Envelope Functionality

To explore evolutionary paths that allow HIV-1 to acquire a wider host cell range by infecting cells with lower CD4 levels, the authors dissected the evolution of the envelope-CD4 interaction under in vitro culture conditions that mimicked the decline of CD4^high target cells, using a prototypic subtype B, R5-tropic strain. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Heterologous Prime-Boost Vaccination with DNA and MVA Vaccines, Expressing HIV-1 Subtype C Mosaic Gag Virus-Like Particles, Is Highly Immunogenic in Mice

In this study immune responses to the DNA-Gag^M and MVA-Gag^M vaccines were evaluated in homologous and heterologous prime-boost vaccinations. The DNA homologous prime boost vaccination elicited predominantly CD8⁺ T cells while the homologous MVA vaccination induced predominantly CD4⁺ T cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Emerging Avian Influenza Infections: Current Understanding of Innate Immune Response and Molecular Pathogenesis

The authors summarize influenza viral pathogenesis of gallinaceous and non-gallinaceous avian species. Then they discuss innate immune response against influenza infection, cytokine storm, differential host immune responses against different pathotypes, and response in different avian species. [Int Rev Immunol] Abstract

The Type I Interferon Response and Age-Dependent Susceptibility to Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

Researchers review the contribution of the type I IFN response to controlling herpes simplex virus type 1 infection, and differences in the early host response between adults and newborns that may contribute to the increased susceptibility to infection and central nervous system disease in newborns. [DNA Cell Biol] Abstract

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

Stellar Biotechnologies and Matrivax Sign Agreement to Transfer Vaccine Technology

Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc. and Matrivax Inc. announced that the companies have entered into a technology transfer and purchase agreement related to Stellar’s proprietary Clostridium difficile technology. [Stellar Biotechnologies, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Grants Orphan Drug Designation to CSRA’s DynPort Vaccine Company for Plague Vaccine

CSRA Inc. announced that a plague vaccine being developed by its subsidiary, DynPort Vaccine Company LLC (DVC), was granted Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). DVC is developing the recombinant rF1V plague vaccine on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense. [CSRA Inc.] Press Release

‘Zombie’ Patent Fights over Mutant Mice Return

Like a zombie that keeps on kicking, legal battles over mutant mice used for Alzheimer’s research are haunting the field once again — four years after the last round of lawsuits. In the latest case, the University of South Florida in Tampa has sued the US National Institutes of Health for authorizing the distribution of a particular type of mouse used in the field. [Nature News] Editorial

U.K. Scientists Prepare for Impending Break with European Union

For months after the United Kingdom (U.K.) voted last June to leave the European Union (EU), many British scientists clung to hopes of a “soft Brexit,” which would not cut them off from EU funding and collaborators. But Prime Minister Theresa May, who is expected to trigger the two-year process of exiting the European Union, has signaled the break will be sharp. U.K. researchers are now facing up to the prospect that they won’t be able to apply for EU funding or easily recruit students and colleagues from the rest of Europe. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 35^th Annual Meeting of the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID 2017)
May 23-27, 2017
Madrid, Spain

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Autophagy Viral Infection & Antiviral Immunity (AstraZeneca)

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

Lecturer – Infectious Diseases (Virology)

PhD Student Position – Infection and Aging Biology (Karolinska Institute)

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

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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