Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.07 | Feb 21 2018

TOP STORY

Understanding Immunity towards Seasonal Influenza Vaccines

Scientists provide exciting insights into how the immune system responds to influenza vaccinations and how long-term immunological memory resides in human tissues. [Press release from The University of Melbourne discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Hepatitis C Virus E2 Envelope Glycoprotein Induces an Immunoregulatory Phenotype in Macrophages

The authors analyzed the interactions of hepatitis C virus E2 envelope glycoprotein with human monocyte derived macrophages as antigen presenting cells. [Hepatology] Abstract

Vaccine-Induced Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells Attenuate the Antiviral Immunity against Acute Influenza Virus Infection

Researchers demonstrated primary vaccination with peptides alone significantly induced antigen-specific Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cells, which were further expanded by repeated vaccination with unadjuvanted peptides. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

In Vitro Measles Virus Infection of Human Lymphocyte Subsets Demonstrates High Susceptibility and Permissiveness of Both Naive and Memory B-Cells

Investigators assessed susceptibility and permissiveness of naive and memory T- and B-cell subsets from human peripheral blood or tonsils to in vitro measles virus infection. [J Virol] Abstract | Full Article

Intranasal Live Influenza Vaccine Priming Elicits Localized B Cell Responses in Mediastinal Lymph Nodes

To investigate the mechanism underlying pandemic live attenuated influenza vaccines (pLAIV) priming, scientists vaccinated groups of twelve African green monkeys with H5N1 inactivated subunit vaccine (pISV) or pLAIV alone or H5N1 pLAIV followed by pISV and examined immunity systemically and in local draining lymph nodes (LN). H5N1 pLAIV induced robust germinal center B cell responses in the mediastinal LN. [J Virol] Abstract

NK Cells Inhibit Anti-M. bovis BCG T Cell Responses and Aggravate Pulmonary Inflammation in a Direct Lung Infection Mouse Model

By using a mouse model of direct lung infection with M. bovis BCG, researchers found that the presence of NK cells postponed the priming and activation of T cells after BCG infection. [Cell Microbiol] Abstract

Prime and Boost Vaccination Elicit a Distinct Innate Myeloid Cell Immune Response

Investigators studied blood innate myeloid cells after first and second immunization of cynomolgus macaques with the modified vaccinia virus Ankara. [Sci Rep] Full Article

IL-2 Inducible Kinase ITK is Critical for HIV-1 Infection of Jurkat T-Cells

Scientists analyzed the function of interleukin-2 (IL-2) inducible T-cell kinase (ITK) during HIV-1 replication and showed that attachment, fusion of virions with the cell membrane and entry into Jurkat T-cells was inhibited when ITK was knocked down. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Use of ELISpot Assay to Study HBs-Specific B Cell Responses in Vaccinated and HBV Infected Humans

Researchers adopted a highly specific B-cell Enzyme Linked ImmunoSpot (ELISpot) assay to analyze hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs)-specific B cells in various clinical settings: healthy individuals with the history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination before and after receiving an extra HBV vaccine boost, people chronically infected with HBV in various clinical stages, with or without a particular type anti-viral treatment, or whether receiving a dose of HBV vaccine. [Emerg Microbes Infect] Full Article

Comparative Immunogenicity of Preparations of Yeast-Derived Dengue Oral Vaccine Candidate

Scientists used a mouse model to explore the immunogenicity of an oral dengue vaccine candidate prepared using whole recombinant yeast cells and cell-free extracts from cells expressing recombinant Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin protein B-subunit fused to the consensus dengue envelope domain III. [Microb Cell Fact] Full Article

Multi-Antigenic Human Cytomegalovirus mRNA Vaccines that Elicit Potent Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity

Investigators demonstrated that the immunization of mice and nonhuman primates with lipid nanoparticles encapsulating modified mRNA encoding cytomegalovirus glycoproteins gB and pentameric complex elicit potent and durable neutralizing antibody titers. [Vaccine] Full Article | Press Release

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Mechanisms of CD8⁺ T Cell-Mediated Suppression of HIV/SIV Replication

The authors summarize the role of CD8⁺ T cells during natural and ART-treated HIV and SIV infections, discuss the mechanisms responsible for their suppressive activity, and review the rationale for CD8⁺ T cell-based HIV cure strategies. [Eur J Immunol] Abstract

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Results from Innovative Phase II Tuberculosis Vaccine Trial Offer Potential for New BCG Revaccination Strategies, Hope for Subunit Vaccines

Aeras announced results from an innovative clinical trial that provides encouraging new evidence that tuberculosis vaccines could prevent sustained infections in high-risk adolescents. [Press release from Aeras discussing research to be presented at the 5^th Global Forum on Tuberculosis Vaccines, New Delhi] Press Release

TSRI Scientists Receive $15 Million to Study Viral Outbreak Survivors

With a new $15 million grant, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute are gearing up for an in-depth study of survivors of viral outbreaks. The grant from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases will support the efforts of the TSRI-led Center for Viral Systems Biology to fight Ebola and Lassa viruses. [The Scripps Research Institute] Press Release

Queen’s University Announces Novel Drug Delivery System with Potential to Reduce Rates of HIV

Queen’s University Belfast is playing a central role in an international consortium that has announced the development of a patch delivery system which will lower the chances of infection for those at very high risk of HIV. [Queen’s University Belfast] Press Release

Mylan Receives Tentative Approval for Combination HIV Treatment DTG/FTC/TAF under FDA’s PEPFAR Program

Mylan N.V. announced receipt of tentative approval from the FDA under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief for its New Drug Application for Dolutegravir, Emtricitabine, and Tenofovir Alafenamide Tablets. The antiretroviral will be immediately available in developing countries as a first-line regimen for people being treated for HIV/AIDS. [Mylan N.V.] Press Release

Dynavax’s HEPLISAV-B^™ [Hepatitis B Vaccine (Recombinant), Adjuvanted] Recommended by CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the Prevention of Hepatitis B in Adults

Dynavax Technologies Corporation announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted unanimously in favor of including HEPLISAV-B on its list of ACIP recommended products for use to vaccinate adults against hepatitis B. [Dynavax Technologies Corporation] Press Release

CytoDyn Reports Primary Endpoint Achieved in PRO 140 Pivotal Combination Therapy Trial in HIV Infection

CytoDyn Inc. reports the successful achievement of the primary endpoint in its CD02 Phase IIb/III pivotal clinical trial with PRO 140 in combination with existing antiretroviral therapy in patients failing their current HIV therapy. [CytoDyn Inc.] Press Release

Arrowhead Receives Regulatory Clearance to Begin Phase I/II Study of ARO-HBV for Treatment of Hepatitis B

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has received approval from the New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority and from the local Ethics Committee to proceed with a first-in-human study of ARO-hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is being developed as a potentially curative therapy for patients with chronic HBV infection. [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

AstraZeneca Announces Renewed Recommendation and Availability of FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT Vaccine in the US

AstraZeneca announced that the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has voted in favor of a renewed recommendation for the use of FLUMIST^® QUADRIVALENT in the US. The recommendation follows the presentation of positive results from a US study in children between the ages of two to less than four years evaluating the shedding and antibody responses of the H1N1 strain in the live attenuated influenza vaccine/FLUMIST QUADRIVALENT. [AstraZeneca (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. on the Efficacy of the 2017-2018 Influenza Vaccine

Seasonal flu has been widespread this year, impacting millions of people across the country. It has been an especially challenging season, with high rates of hospitalization for both influenza and its complications, which include pneumonia and the exacerbation of chronic conditions such as asthma and congestive heart failure. [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] Press Release

UK Scientists Brace for Disruption as Huge Academic Strike Set to Begin

Tens of thousands of UK researchers are expected to walk out of their universities in a nationwide strike over pensions that is likely to disrupt scientific experiments, conferences and lectures. [Nature News] Editorial

Indonesian Scientists Hamstrung by Year-Long Funding Delay

Indonesian scientists expecting to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for research are stuck in limbo because the country’s first dedicated science-funding agency is struggling to raise enough money. [Nature News] Editorial

Italian Election Leaves Science Out in the Cold

As campaigning ahead of Italy’s national election enters its final weeks, researchers in the country fear that budget cuts and declining interest in science will only continue — whatever the outcome of the vote. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Cold Spring Harbor (CSH): Mechanisms & Models of Cancer
August 14-18, 2018
Cold Spring Harbor, New York, United States

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