Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.31 | Aug 9 2017

TOP STORY

Lactobacillus reuteri Induces Gut Intraepithelial CD4⁺CD8αα⁺ T Cells

L. reuteri did not shape double-positive intraepithelial T lymphocyte (DP–IEL)–TCR repertoire, but generated indole derivatives of tryptophan that activated the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor in CD4⁺ T cells, allowing ThPOK downregulation and differentiation into DP IELs. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Parapoxviral Virion Protein Inhibits NF-κB Signaling Early in Infection

Scientists describe a NF-κB inhibitory virion protein of orf virus, ORFV073, which functions very early in infected cells. Infection with ORFV073 gene deletion virus led to increased accumulation of NF-κB essential modulator, marked phosphorylation of IκB kinase subunits IKKα and IKKβ, IκBα and NF-κB subunit p65, and to early nuclear translocation of NF-κB-p65 in virus-infected cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Impact of Prior Flavivirus Immunity on Zika Virus Infection in Rhesus Macaques

Researchers evaluated the impact of heterotypic flavivirus immunity on Zika virus (ZIKV) titers in biofluids of rhesus macaques. Animals previously infected with dengue virus (DENV)2, DENV4, or yellow fever virus were compared to flavivirus-naïve animals following infection with a Brazilian ZIKV strain. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article | Press Release

B Cell Requirement for Robust Regulatory T Cell Responses to Friend Retrovirus Infection

The authors used the Friend virus (FV) model of retroviral infection in mice to investigate how viral infections induce regulatory T cells (Tregs). They showed that B cells provide essential signals for Treg expansion during FV infection. [MBio] Full Article

Mucosal Vaccination with Pili from Group A Streptococcus Expressed on Lactococcus lactis Generates Protective Immune Responses

Researchers showed that mucosally delivered L. lactis expressing Group A Streptococcus pili generates specific antibody responses in rabbits. Rabbit anti-pilus antibodies were shown to have both a neutralizing effect on bacterial adhesion, and immunized rabbit antiserum was able to facilitate immune-mediated killing of bacteria via opsonophagocytosis. [Sci Rep] Full Article

The H7N9 Influenza A Virus Infection Results in Lethal Inflammation in the Mammalian Host via the NLRP3-Caspase-1 Inflammasome

Scientists demonstrated that mice deficient for nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing receptor, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome components, including NLRP3, caspase-1, and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, were less susceptible to H7N9 viral challenge than wild type controls. [Sci Rep] Full Article

sIgM–FcμR Interactions Regulate Early B Cell Activation and Plasma Cell Development after Influenza Virus Infection

The authors explored the underlying mechanisms of secreted IgM (sIgM)-mediated IgG response regulation during influenza virus infection. Generating mice with normally developed μs-deficient B cells, they demonstrated that sIgM supports IgG responses by enhancing early Ag-specific B cell expansion, not by altering B cell development. [J Immunol] Abstract

HIV

α3-Deletion Isoform of HLA-A11 Modulates Cytotoxicity of NK Cells: Correlations with HIV-1 Infection of Cells

Compared with β2-microglobulin and HLA-A11, the heterodimer of HLA-A11svE4 and HLA-A11 protected target cells from lysis by NK cells more effectively. HLA-AsvE4 expression was upregulated by HIV-1 in vivo and by HSV, CMV, and hepatitis B virus in vitro. [J Immunol] Abstract | Full Article

HIV-1 Selectively Targets Gut-Homing CCR6⁺CD4⁺ T Cells via mTOR-Dependent Mechanisms

In an effort to identify mechanisms governing HIV-1 permissiveness/persistence in gut-homing Th17 cells, investigators analyzed the transcriptome of CCR6⁺ versus CCR6^– T cells exposed to the gut-homing inducer retinoic acid and performed functional validations in colon biopsies of HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy. [JCI Insight] Full Article

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Principles of Broad and Potent Antiviral Human Antibodies: Insights for Vaccine Design

The author outlines the approaches to isolating and studying human antiviral mAbs and discusses the common principles underlying the basis for their activity. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract

Monoclonal Antibodies against Zika Virus: Therapeutics and Their Implications for Vaccine Design

Scientists present a complete picture of the Zika virus monoclonal antibodies and then focus on the neutralizing mechanisms and immune hot spot uncovered through structural studies, which provide insight for therapeutics and vaccine design. [J Virol] Abstract | Full Article

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FDA Approves Mavyret for Hepatitis C

The FDA approved Mavyret to treat adults with chronic hepatitis C virus genotypes 1-6 without cirrhosis or with mild cirrhosis, including patients with moderate to severe kidney disease and those who are on dialysis. [FDA] Press Release

CDC Invests More than $200 Million to Help States Respond to Infectious Disease Threats

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded more than $200 million through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases cooperative agreement to help states, cities, counties, and territories prevent, detect, respond to, and control the growing threats posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] Press Release

Thousands across India March in Support of Science

Thousands of scientists, university students and science enthusiasts gathered in dozens of Indian cities to march in support of science — lamenting their country’s low levels of funding for research, and complaining about government promotion of ‘unscientific ideas’. [Nature News] Editorial

FDA Cracks Down on Pioneering Doctor Who Created a Three-Parent Baby

The New York-based doctor who helped a couple have a child using DNA from three people has been told by the U.S. FDA that he can’t go ahead with clinical trials meant to test the technique. [MIT Technology Review] Editorial

CRISPR Patent Battle in Europe Takes a ‘Wild’ Twist with Surprising Player

MilliporeSigma, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA of Darmstadt, Germany, has become a new major player in the complicated European patent battles over CRISPR, the revolutionary genome-editing tool. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: T Cell Dysfunction, Cancer and Infection
January 16-20, 2018
Breckenridge, Colorado, United States

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NEW Faculty Positions – Host-Pathogen Interactions (University of Chicago at Illinois)

Junior Professorship – Systems Biology of Human Parasites (Universität Hamburg)

Senior Bioinformatician – Malaria Genomics (Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute)

Mouse Scientist – T Cell-Based Therapy (Tessa Therapeutics Pte. Ltd.)

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

Full Faculty Member – Immunology (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Fellow – HIV/AIDS Research (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute)

Infectious Disease Outcomes Epidemiologist – Transfusion Safety Research (University of California, San Francisco)

Postdoctoral Position – Cell Biology and Innate Immunity (Molecular Infection Medicine Sweden)

Postdoctoral Position – Infectious Diseases Pathogenesis (Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School)

Lab Aide – Infectious Disease Sciences Program (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Staff Clinician Position – Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

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