Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.43 | Nov 1 2017

TOP STORY

Closest Look yet at Killer T-Cell Activity Could Yield New Approach to Tackling Antibiotic Resistance

In a study that could provide a roadmap for combatting the rising threat of drug-resistant pathogens, researchers discovered the specific mechanism the body’s T cells use to kill bacteria. [Press release from the University of Michigan discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Distinct Microbial Communities Trigger Colitis Development upon Intestinal Barrier Damage via Innate or Adaptive Immune Cells

The authors compared the ability of a diverse set of microbial communities to exacerbate intestinal inflammation after chemical damage to the intestinal barrier. Transfer of distinct colitogenic communities in gene-deficient mice revealed that they triggered disease via opposing pathways either independent or dependent on adaptive immunity, specifically requiring antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Protective Role of γδ T Cells in Cigarette Smoke and Influenza Infection

Scientists found that mice exposed to chronic cigarette smoke recovered poorly from primary influenza A pneumonia with reduced type I and II interferons and viral-specific immunoglobulins, but recruited γδ T cells to the lungs that predominantly expressed IL-17A. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Development of a Novel CD4⁺ TCR Transgenic Line that Reveals a Dominant Role for CD8⁺ Dendritic Cells and CD40 Signaling in the Generation of Helper and CTL Responses to Blood-Stage Malaria

Researchers describe an MHC class II–restricted TCR transgenic mouse line that produces CD4⁺ T cells specific for Plasmodium species. Using PbT-II CD4⁺ T cells and PbT-I CD8⁺ T cells, they determined the dendritic cell subsets responsible for immunity to Plasmodium berghei ANKA blood-stage infection. [J Immunol] Abstract | Full Article

Ly6C^hi Inflammatory Monocytes Promote Susceptibility to Leishmania donovani Infection

The authors report a detrimental role of Ly6C^hi inflammatory monocytes (iMOs) in visceral leishmaniasis caused by L. donovani. They demonstrated that Ly6C^hi iMOs are continuously recruited into the spleen and liver during L. donovani infection and they are preferential targets for the parasite. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Lysosome Signaling Controls the Migration of Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cell (DC) activation upon bacterial sensing inhibits macropinocytosis and increases DC migration, thus promoting the arrival of DCs to lymph nodes for antigen presentation to T cells. The signaling events that trigger such changes are not fully understood. Investigators showed that lysosome signaling plays a critical role in this process. [Sci Immunol] Full Article

HIV

HIV-Antibody Complexes Enhance Production of Type I Interferon by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells

Researchers evaluated the mechanism through which HIV-activated plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs) produce IFN, as well as how both monoclonal HIV-specific Abs and Abs produced in natural HIV infection modulated normal pDC sensing of HIV. They found that HIV-induced IFN production required TLR7 signaling, receptor-mediated entry, fusion, and viral uncoating, but not endocytosis or HIV life cycle stages after uncoating. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

Pegivirus Avoids Immune Recognition but Does Not Attenuate Acute-Phase Disease in a Macaque Model of HIV Infection

Scientists sequentially infected cynomolgus macaques with simian pegivirus (SPgV) and SIV to model HIV+HPgV co-infection. SPgV had no effect on acute-phase SIV pathogenesis–as measured by SIV viral load, CD4⁺ T cell destruction, immune activation, or adaptive immune responses–suggesting that HPgV’s protective effect is exerted primarily during the chronic phase of HIV infection. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Exosomes Derived from HIV-1 Infected DCs Mediate Viral Trans-Infection via Fibronectin and Galectin-3

Investigators characterized exosomes derived from uninfected or HIV-1 infected T-cells and dendritic cells (DCs). They demonstrated substantial differences in morphological, molecular and biogenesis machinery between exosomes derived from these two immune cell types. [Sci Rep] Full Article

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Metallothioneins: Emerging Modulators in Immunity and Infection

The authors discuss the mechanisms of metallothionein (MT) induction and signaling in immune cells and explore the therapeutic potential of the MT-zinc axis in bolstering immune defenses against pathogens. [Int J Mol Sci] Full Article

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Inhibrx Wins CARB-X Award of up to $6.0M to Accelerate Development of Its Novel Antibody, INBRX-111, to Treat Pseudomonas Infections

Inhibrx announced a significant collaboration with CARB-X (Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria Accelerator), the world’s largest public-private partnership focused on funding the advancement of products to treat drug-resistant bacteria. Inhibrx will receive an initial award of up to $4.55M and potentially up to $1.49M more from CARB-X based on the achievement of certain milestones related to the advancement of INBRX-111. [Inhibrx (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

Arcturus Therapeutics and Synthetic Genomics Announce Strategic Alliance to Develop Next-Generation Vaccines and Therapeutics

Arcturus Therapeutics, Inc. and Synthetic Genomics, Inc. announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and worldwide license agreement to develop self-amplifying RNA-based vaccines and therapeutics in both human and animal health. [Synthetic Genomics, Inc.] Press Release

IBBR and Frederick National Lab Establish a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Development Collaboration

University of Maryland’s Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) will work under a formal collaboration with the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research to explore new candidate vaccines against HPV, a common cause of cervical cancer. [University of Maryland’s Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research] Press Release

Consortium of X-Chem, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Other Leading Academic Institutions Wins Research Award from the Department of Defense

X-Chem, Inc. announced the award of a DOD CDMRP research grant entitled “Chemigenomic Drug Discovery for Tuberculosis.” The goal of the proposed research is the discovery and development of new drug leads for the treatment of tuberculosis, which kills over a million people worldwide each year. [X-Chem, Inc.] Press Release

Vaxart Announces Positive Topline Results for Its Oral Tablet Vaccine in Phase II Influenza Challenge Study

Vaxart, Inc. announced that its H1 influenza oral tablet vaccine demonstrated similar protection against influenza virus as the market-leading injectable quadrivalent influenza vaccine in a clinical trial. [Vaxart, Inc.] Press Release

Vaxart Announces Positive Safety and Immunogenicity Results for Its Oral Norovirus Vaccine in a Phase Ib Clinical Study

Vaxart, Inc. announced that its norovirus tablet vaccine generated broad systemic and intestinal immune responses, and was well-tolerated in a clinical Phase Ib dose optimization study. [Vaxart, Inc.] Press Release

FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Visterra’s VIS410 for Treatment of Hospitalized Patients with Influenza A

Visterra, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted Fast Track designation to its lead product candidate, VIS410, a novel monoclonal antibody in development for the treatment of hospitalized patients with influenza A. [Visterra, Inc.] Press Release

U.S. Oversight of Risky Pathogen Research Has Flaws, Report Finds

The program that keeps watch over the management of dangerous pathogens at research laboratories still isn’t up to snuff, according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Plans to Promote German Research Excellence Come under Fire

Germany’s latest program to boost research at its universities and make them more competitive inter­nationally risks missing its goals, according to observers. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Clinical Virology Symposium 2018
May 6-9, 2018
West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal Infections (University of Utah)

Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Immunotherapy (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Intestinal Immune Responses to Infection (University of Dundee)

Assistant Professor – Mammalian Virology (University of California, Riverside)

Full Professorship – Systems Immunology (Julius Maximilians University of Würzburg)

Postdoctoral Position – Immune Responses against HIV (DIACCURATE)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Immunology (Western Michigan University School of Medicine)

Assistant Professor – Infectious Disease (J. Craig Venter Institute)

Full Professorship – Infection, Inflammation and Cancer (German Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Fellow/Staff Scientist – Tuberculosis Research (Washington University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Autophagy (University of New Mexico)

PhD Positions – Cancer, Infection and Immunity, and Tissue Regeneration Research (Virginia Commonwealth University)

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