Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 5.44 | Nov 8 2017

TOP STORY

How the Skin Becomes Inflamed

Researchers at Johns Hopkins report the discovery of a key underlying immune mechanism that explains why to how our skin becomes inflamed from conditions such as atopic dermatitis, more commonly known as eczema. [Press release from The Johns Hopkins University discussing online prepublication in Cell Host & Microbe] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Staphylococcus aureus Virulent PSMα Peptides Induce Keratinocyte Alarmin Release to Orchestrate IL-17-Dependent Skin Inflammation

Using a murine epicutaneous infection model, investigators found that S. aureus-expressed phenol-soluble modulin (PSM)α, a group of secreted virulence peptides, is required to trigger cutaneous inflammation. PSMα induced the release of keratinocyte IL-1α and IL-36α, and signaling via IL-1R and IL-36R was required for induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-17. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Plasmodium DNA-Mediated TLR9 Activation of T-Bet⁺ B Cells Contributes to Autoimmune Anemia during Malaria

The authors showed that Plasmodium DNA induces autoreactive responses against erythrocytes by activating a population of B cells expressing CD11c and the transcription factor T-bet, which become major producers of autoantibodies that promote malarial anemia. [Nat Commun] Full Article

VSIG4 Inhibits Proinflammatory Macrophage Activation by Reprogramming Mitochondrial Pyruvate Metabolism

Scientists showed that V-set immunoglobulin-domain-containing 4 (VSIG4), a B7 family-related protein that is expressed by resting macrophages, inhibits macrophage activation in response to lipopolysaccharide. Vsig4^−/− mice were susceptible to high-fat diet-caused obesity and murine hepatitis virus strain-3-induced fulminant hepatitis due to excessive macrophage-dependent inflammation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Neutrophils Drive Alveolar Macrophage IL-1β Release during Respiratory Viral Infection

The role of neutrophils in defining inflammasome activation in the alveolar macrophage was assessed. Influenza elicited a robust IL-1β release that correlated with neutrophil infiltrate and was ablated by neutrophil depletion. [Thorax] Full Article

Natural Killer Cell-Intrinsic Type I IFN Signaling Controls Klebsiella pneumoniae Growth during Lung Infection

Researchers showed that type I interferon (IFN) signaling protects against lung infection with K. pneumoniae by launching bacterial growth-controlling interactions between alveolar macrophages and NK cells. [PloS Pathog] Full Article

The Major Targets of Acute Norovirus Infection Are Immune Cells in the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

The authors report that the dominant cellular targets of a murine norovirus inoculated orally into immunocompetent mice are macrophages, dendritic cells, B cells and T cells in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue. They also demonstrated that a norovirus can infect T cells, a previously unrecognized target, in vitro. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract

Enhancing Vaccine Antibody Responses by Targeting Clec9A on Dendritic Cells

Scientists tested if targeting weakly immunogenic putative subunit vaccine antigens (Ags) to Clec9A could enhance Ab responses to a level likely to be protective. Targeting these Ags to Clec9A greatly increased Ab titres. For optimal responses, a dendritic cell-activating adjuvant was required. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

Oral Epithelial Cells Orchestrate Innate Type 17 Responses to Candida albicans through the Virulence Factor Candidalysin

During the innate response, IL-17 is produced by γδ T cells and a poorly understood population of innate-acting CD4⁺ αβ T cell receptor (TCRαβ)⁺ cells, but only the TCRαβ⁺ cells expand during acute infection. Confirming the innate nature of these cells, the TCR was not detectably activated during the primary response, as evidenced by Nur77^eGFP mice that report antigen-specific signaling through the TCR. [Sci Immunol] Full Article | Press Release

HIV

Memory B Cell Dysregulation in HIV-1 Infected Individuals

The authors characterized the effect of the HIV-1 infection and antiretroviral treatment in the human memory B cell compartment. Spontaneous cell death and B cell proliferative capacity was evaluated in vitro by cell culture and flow cytometry. [AIDS] Abstract

Parvovirus B19 in HIV⁺ Adult Patients with Different CD4⁺ Lymphocyte Counts

Scientists investigated the presence of human parvovirus B19 (B19V) in HIV⁺ adults with different CD4⁺ T cell counts, to recognize the frequency of B19V in these different conditions and its possible association with anemia. [J Med Microbiol] Abstract

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Pathogenesis of HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Co-Infection

The authors evaluate the mechanisms and consequences of HIV-1 depletion of T cells on immune responses to M. tuberculosis. [Nat Rev Microbiol] Abstract

A Call to Arms: Quest for a Cryptococcal Vaccine

Scientists provide a rationale to support continued investment in Cryptococcus vaccine research, potential challenges that must be overcome along the way, and a literature review of the current progress underway towards developing a vaccine to prevent cryptococcosis. [Trends Microbiol] Abstract

The Role of TLRs in Cervical Cancer with HPV Infection: A Review

The role of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and HPV-induced cervical cancer and its relationship with HPV vaccine are reviewed. [Signal Transduct Target Ther] Full Article

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

The Wistar Institute Awarded More than $16.5M in Grants to Fund Cancer & Infectious Disease Research and Training

Scientists at The Wistar Institute, an international biomedical research leader in cancer, immunology and infectious diseases, have secured more than $16.5 million in funding throughout the summer and early fall of 2017. [The Wistar Institute] Press Release

URMC Awarded Nearly $6 Million to Study Deadly Bone Infections

Researchers in the Center for Musculoskeletal Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) have made several discoveries that position them to advance new treatments and possible cures for bone infections. A nearly $6 million, five year award from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease, at the National Institutes of Health, will allow the group to create a new multidisciplinary research program devoted to studying bone infections. [University of Rochester Medical Center] Press Release

CARB-X Awards up to $5.4m to Vedanta Biosciences to Accelerate the Development of a Novel Human Microbiome-Derived Treatment for Deadly C. difficile Bacterial Infections

CARB-X announced that it has awarded Vedanta Biosciences of Cambridge, MA up to $5.4M to support the development of a novel, human microbiome-derived treatment for the prevention of bacterial infections caused by C. difficile. [CARB-X] Press Release

Appili Therapeutics Receives $1.2M USD from the Department of Defense to Advance Antibiotic Targeting Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Appili Therapeutics Inc. announced it has been awarded a $1.2 million USD grant by the Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program. [Appili Therapeutics Inc.] Press Release

Artemis Therapeutics Receives Orphan Drug Designation from U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Artemisone for the Treatment of Malaria

Artemis Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the FDA granted orphan drug designation for Artemisone, the company’s lead product candidate, for the treatment of malaria. [Artemis Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

US Government Approves ‘Killer’ Mosquitoes to Fight Disease

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the use of a common bacterium to kill wild mosquitoes that transmit viruses such as dengue, yellow fever and Zika. The agency told biotechnology start-up MosquitoMate that it could release the bacterium Wolbachia pipientis into the environment as a tool against the Asian tiger mosquito. [Nature News] Editorial

WHO Calls for Restrictions on Use of Antibiotics in Food Animal Production

The World Health Organization is urging countries to restrict the amount of antibiotics given in food animal production by prohibiting their routine use in growth promotion and disease prevention. The recommendation is one of a number the WHO issued aimed at preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. [STAT News] Editorial

UK Government Appoints Next Chief Scientific Adviser

Patrick Vallance, president of research and development at the pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, has been appointed as chief scientific adviser, the UK government announced. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW The SHC-The Science of HBV Cure Conference 2018
June 8-9, 2018
Singapore, Singapore

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellows – Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases (CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences)

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Immunology and Infectious Diseases (Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health)

Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Technologist – Immunotherapy (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Mucosal Infections (University of Utah)

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)

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

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