Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.09 | Mar 7 2018

TOP STORY

HIV Begins to Yield Secrets of How It Hides in Cells

Scientists have uncovered new mechanisms by which HIV hides in infected cells, resting in a latent state that evades the body’s immune system and prevents antiviral drugs from flushing it out. [Press release from the University of California, San Francisco discussing online prepublication in Science Translational Medicine] Press Release | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis In Vivo Segregates with Host Macrophage Metabolism and Ontogeny

To understand how infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is modulated by host cell phenotype, researchers characterized those host phagocytes that controlled or supported bacterial growth during early infection, focusing on the ontologically distinct alveolar macrophage and interstitial macrophage lineages. [J Exp Med] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Increased HIV-1 Transcriptional Activity and Infectious Burden in Peripheral Blood and Gut-Associated CD4⁺ T Cells Expressing CD30

Investigators demonstrated that CD4⁺ T cell-associated HIV-1 RNA is often highly enriched in cells expressing CD30, and that cells expressing this marker considerably contribute to the total pool of transcriptionally active CD4⁺ lymphocytes in individuals on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Fucosyltransferase Induction during Influenza Virus Infection Is Required for the Generation of Functional Memory CD4⁺ T Cells

In a murine model of influenza virus infection, scientists found that fucosyltransferase enzymatic activity was induced in effector and memory CD4⁺ T cells. Using CD4⁺ T cells deficient in the Fut4/7 enzymes that are expressed only in hematopoietic cells, they found decreased frequencies of effector cells with reduced expression of T-bet and NKG2A/C/E in the lungs during primary infection. [J Immunol] Abstract | Full Article

IL-15 Promotes Polyfunctional NK Cell Responses to Influenza by Boosting IL-12 Production

Researchers found that coculture of human PBMCs with inactivated whole influenza virus in the presence of very low concentrations of IL-15 resulted in increased production of myeloid cell–derived cytokines, including IL-12, IFN-α2, GM-CSF, and IL-1β, and an increased frequency of polyfunctional NK cells. [J Immunol] Abstract | Full Article

Nasal Route Favors the Induction of CD4⁺ T Cell Responses in the Liver of HBV-Carrier Mice Immunized with a Recombinant Hepatitis B Surface- and Core-Based Therapeutic Vaccine

Immunization routes and number of doses remain largely unexplored in therapeutic vaccination. Investigators evaluated their impact on immune responses in naïve and hepatitis B virus (HBV)-carrier mouse models following immunization with a non-adjuvanted recombinant vaccine comprising the hepatitis B surface and core antigens. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

Protective Humoral and CD4⁺ T Cellular Immune Responses of Staphylococcus aureus Vaccine MntC in a Murine Peritonitis Model

S. aureus manganese transport protein C (MntC), which is a highly-conserved cell surface protein, can elicit protective immunity against S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Researchers considered that the manganese transport protein C (MntC)-specific antibodies and MntC-specific Th17 cells play cooperative roles in the prevention of S. aureus infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Duck Plague Virus Glycoprotein J Is Functional but Slightly Impaired in Viral Replication and Cell-to-Cell Spread

To analyze the function of the duck plague virus glycoprotein J homologue (gJ), two different mutated viruses, a gJ deleted mutant ΔgJ and a gJR rescue mutant gJR with US5 restored were generated. The authors showed that the gJ is slightly impaired in viral replication, virion assembly and cell-to-cell spread, and is not essential in virion envelopment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Circulating Regulatory Tfh Cells Are Enriched in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection and Induce the Differentiation of Regulatory B Cells

Scientists examined the circulating Tfh cells in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. They observed that CD3⁺CD4⁺CXCR5⁺ circulating Tfh cells contained a CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg-like subset that was significantly enriched in patients with chronic HBV infections. [Exp Cell Res] Abstract

Ag85-Focused T-Cell Immune Response Controls Mycobacterium avium Chronic Infection

Antigen 85 (Ag85), a highly conserved protein across Mycobacterium species, was secreted at the early phase of M. tuberculosis infection leading to the proliferation of Ag85-specific CD4⁺ T cells. [PLoS One] Full Article

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The Immune Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in HIV-1-Coinfected Persons

HIV-1 infection increases the risk of tuberculosis by a factor of up to 26 and alters its clinical presentation, complicates diagnosis and treatment, and worsens outcome. Although HIV-1-induced depletion of CD4⁺ T cells underlies all these effects, more widespread immune deficits also contribute to susceptibility and pathogenesis. [Annu Rev Immunol] Abstract

Vaccine-Induced Autoimmunity: The Role of Molecular Mimicry and Immune Crossreaction

The authors address the concept of molecular mimicry and its application in explaining post vaccination autoimmune phenomena. They further review the principal examples of the influenza, hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus vaccines, all suspected to induce autoimmunity via molecular mimicry. [Cell Mol Immunol] Abstract

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Merck to Present New Data from Studies of Investigational HIV Therapies Doravirine and MK-8591 at CROI 2018

Merck announced that data from studies of Merck’s robust HIV pipeline, including doravirine, a late-stage investigational non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, and MK-8591, an investigational nucleoside reverse transcriptase translocation inhibitor, a “first of its kind” mechanism to enter clinical trials, are scheduled to be presented. [Press release from Merck discussing research presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI 2018), Boston] Press Release

Vaxart to Present Clinical Data from Oral Norovirus Vaccine Program at International Congress on Infectious Diseases

Vaxart, Inc. announced that it will present clinical data from two Phase I studies of its norovirus oral tablet vaccine. [Press release from Vaxart, Inc. discussing research presented at the 18^th International Congress on Infectious Diseases (ICID), Buenos Aires] Press Release

Visterra to Present New Preclinical Data on VIS410 for Influenza A

Visterra, Inc. announced that it will present new preclinical data on VIS410, a novel monoclonal antibody in development for treatment of hospitalized patients with influenza A. [Press release from Visterra, Inc. discussing research to be presented at the 2^nd International Meeting on Respiratory Pathogens, Singapore] Press Release

CEPI Partners with Themis Bioscience to Advance Vaccines against Lassa Fever and MERS

Themis Bioscience and CEPI – the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations – announced a partnership under which Themis will provide advanced vaccine development and manufacturing for Lassa fever and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). [Themis Bioscience (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Najít Technologies Partners with ABL for Development of Novel Vaccine Platform

ABL, Inc. is working with Najít Technologies, Inc. to advance the development of Najít’s novel HydroVax^™ vaccine platform. ABL will utilize its GMP manufacturing expertise for the advanced development of virus-based vaccine candidates to protect against a number of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. [ABL, Inc.] Press Release

USAID Awards Global Malaria Contract to UCSF’s Malaria Elimination Initiative and Partners to Advance Malaria Service Delivery in 28 Countries

The Malaria Elimination Initiative at the University of California, San Francisco Global Health Group is part of a group of partners that has been awarded a new contract by USAID to support the President’s Malaria Initiative’s Advancing the Progress of Malaria Service Delivery project in 28 malaria-affected countries. [University of California, San Francisco] Press Release

Gilead Announces Data from New Preclinical Study Evaluating a Combination of an Investigational TLR7 Agonist and an Investigational HIV Envelope Targeting Antibody in SHIV-Infected, Virally Suppressed Monkeys

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced results from a preclinical study conducted in collaboration with researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center evaluating the combination of a proprietary investigational oral toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) agonist, GS-9620, and a proprietary investigational broadly neutralizing antibody, PGT121, as part of an HIV eradication strategy. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Theratechnologies Announces FDA Approval of Breakthrough Therapy, Trogarzo^™ (Ibalizumab-Uiyk) Injection, the First HIV-1 Inhibitor and Long-Acting Monoclonal Antibody for Multidrug Resistant HIV-1

Theratechnologies Inc. and its partner TaiMed Biologics, Inc. announced that the FDA has granted approval of Trogarzo^™ injection. In combination with other ARTs, Trogarzo^™ is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in heavily treatment-experienced adults with multidrug resistant HIV-1 infection failing their current antiretroviral regimen. [Theratechnologies Inc.] Press Release

Rise of Nationalist and Populist Parties Has Italian Scientists Worried

The outcome of Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Italy was a stunning victory for populist and nationalist parties, and a clear warning to Italy’s political establishment and the European Union. But some in Italy worry that the results may also have a negative impact on science. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

What Researchers Can Expect from China’s Top-Level Political Meetings

As Chinese leaders gather for the government’s most significant meetings of the year, researchers are anticipating major policy announcements for science and innovation that could shape the country’s research agenda for years. [Nature News] Editorial

New NSF Rules on Sexual Harassment Leave Many Questions Unanswered

The National Science Foundation (NSF) in Alexandria, Virginia, hopes that its new policy on sexual harassment will spur universities to deal more aggressively with the pervasive problem. But the additional reporting requirements, which will be officially published in the Federal Register, are far from a definitive statement about how NSF plans to deal with this complex and sensitive subject. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Streptococcal Biology
August 19-24, 2018
Newry, Maine, United States

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

NEW Associate Senior Lecurer – Tissue Repair in Infectious Diseases (Lund University)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Host-Pathogen Interactions (The University of Tennessee Health Science Center)

Faculty Position – Immunology (Northwestern University)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Immunology of Chronic Infections (F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG)

Professorship – Structural Biology of Infectious Processes (Kiel University)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – HIV Research (Massachuesetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Microbiology & Immunology (Johns Hopkins University)

Assistant/Associate Professor – Microbiology and Immunology (SUNY Upstate Medical University)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Malaria and Other Chronic Infectious Diseases (James Cook University)

Postdoctoral Training Opportunity – Infection and Immunity (Institut Pasteur of Shanghai – Chinese Academy of Sciences)

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