Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.10 | Mar 14 2018

TOP STORY

Hepatitis D Virus Replication Is Sensed by MDA5 and Induces IFN-β/λ Responses in Hepatocytes

Scientists characterized interferon (IFN) activation by hepatitis D virus (HDV), identified the responsible sensor and evaluated the effect of IFN on HDV replication. [J Hepatol] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

IL-7 Unveils Pathogen-Specific T Cells by Enhancing Antigen-Recall Responses

After short-term exposure to IL-7, researchers measured peripheral blood mononuclear cell responses to antigens derived from pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Candida albicans and Cytomegalovirus, and to the superantigen Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin B. They found that IL-7 favored the expansion and, in some instances, the uncovering of pathogen-reactive CD4 T cells, by promoting pathogen-specific IFNɣ, IL-2 and TNF recall responses. [J Infect Dis] Full Article

Associations of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV)-Specific Follicular CD8⁺ T Cells with Other Follicular T Cells Suggest Complex Contributions to SIV Viremia Control

Investigators clarified the role of SIV-specific follicular CD8⁺ T (fCD8) cells in lymph nodes during the course of SIV infection in rhesus macaques. They observed that fCD8 cells, T follicular helper cells, and T follicular regulatory cells were all elevated in chronic SIV infection. [J Immunol] Abstract

Human T Lymphocytes Are Permissive for Dengue Virus Replication

Scientists demonstrated that primary human naïve CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells are permissive for dengue virus (DV) infection. DV infection triggers the activation of both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, but the pre-activation of T cells reduces the susceptibility of T cells to DV infection. [J Virol] Abstract

Dynamics of Tissue-Specific CD8⁺ T Cell Responses during West Nile Virus Infection

Using an adoptive transfer model, the authors found that West Nile virus-I CD8⁺ T cells behave similar to endogenous CD8⁺ T cell responses, with an expansion phase in the periphery beginning around day 7 post-infection (pi) followed by a contraction phase through day 15 pi. [J Virol] Abstract

DNA Damage Induces a SAMHD1-Mediated Block to the Infection of Macrophages by HIV-1

Researchers showed that treatment of monocyte-derived macrophages with neocarzinostatin, a compound that introduces double strand breaks in genomic DNA, results in the decrease of phosphorylated sterile alpha motif domain and HD domain-containing protein 1 (SAMHD1), activating its antiviral activity and blocking HIV-1 infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Next Generation Sequencing Reveals Changes of the γδ T Cell Receptor Repertoires in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Investigators found a preponderant complementarity-determining region 3 sequence of the γδ T cell receptor in tuberculosis patients, and successfully identified a tuberculosis antigen that can effectively activate γδ T cells with a reverse genetic strategy. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Upregulation of Glucose Uptake and Hexokinase Activity of Primary Human CD4⁺ T Cells in Response to Infection with HIV-1

Researchers investigated the expression of glucose transporters and glycolytic enzymes in human CD4⁺ T cells in response to infection with HIV-1. [Viruses] Full Article

Expression of PD-1 and Tim-3 Markers of T-Cell Exhaustion Is Associated with CD4 Dynamics during the Course of Untreated and Treated HIV Infection

Scientists analyzed PD-1 and Tim-3 surrogate markers of T-cells exhaustion, in parallel with other markers of HIV progression, and its potential association with CD4 changes in treated and untreated infection. [PLoS One] Full Article

Vaccination Route Can Significantly Alter the Innate Lymphoid Cell Subsets: A Feedback between IL-13 and IFN-γ

Investigators demonstrated that the fate of a vaccine is influenced by the cytokines produced by the innate lymphoid cells recruited to the vaccination site, and it is vaccine route and adjuvant dependent. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

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Within-Host Evolution of Human Influenza Virus

The authors review recent progress in understanding how and why influenza viruses evolve within human hosts. Advances in deep sequencing make it possible to measure within-host genetic diversity in both acute and chronic influenza infections. [Trends Microbiol] Abstract

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

Evotec and Sanofi in Exclusive Talks to Create an Evotec-Led Infectious Disease Open Innovation R&D Platform

Evotec AG and Sanofi have entered into exclusive negotiations for Evotec to accelerate infectious disease research and development through a new open innovation platform near Lyon, France. [Evotec AG] Press Release

Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at NYU Meyers Receives $7.5 Million in NIH Funding, Marking Center’s 20^th Anniversary

The National Institute for Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded New York University (NYU) Meyers’ Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research a five-year, nearly $7.5 million grant to continue the center’s research. [New York University] Press Release

BiondVax Appoints CRO to Conduct Pivotal Clinical Efficacy Phase III Trial of Its Novel Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced the signing of a Master Service Agreement with a contract research organization (CRO) to conduct the first pivotal, clinical efficacy, Phase III trial of M-001. [BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] Press Release

MYR Pharma Completes Clinical Trial of Myrcludex B in Chronic Hepatitis Delta

MYR Pharma GmbH announced the completion of its MYR 202 clinical trial, a Phase IIb study investigating Myrcludex B in chronic hepatitis delta, the most severe form of viral hepatitis that currently has no satisfactory treatment options. [MYR Pharma GmbH (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

VALNEVA Initiates Phase I Clinical Study to Evaluate Its Single-Shot Vaccine Candidate against Chikungunya

Valneva SE announced the initiation of a Phase I clinical trial in the U.S. to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of VLA1553, its live-attenuated vaccine candidate against chikungunya. [Valneva SE (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Inovio’s DNA Immunotherapy Demonstrates Immune Response Results Key in Treating Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that interim Phase I results show its DNA immunotherapy designed to treat hepatitis B virus infection was safe, well-tolerated and generated virus-specific T cells, including CD8⁺ killer T cells, meeting the objectives of the clinical study. [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Integral Molecular’s Protein Engineering Technology Facilitates HIV Vaccine Development

Integral Molecular has extended its protein engineering capabilities to stabilize viral proteins and produce more effective candidate vaccines against HIV and other viruses. [Integral Molecular] Press Release

‘Right-to-Try’ Bill Rejected by House, in Major Blow to GOP Efforts

In a major blow to the effort to pass a federal “right-to-try” law, House Republicans failed to muster the votes to pass a key compromise measure. [STAT News] Editorial

Springer Nature and VSNU Renew Agreement on Open Access Publishing

Springer Nature and the Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) have renewed their agreement to secure open access publishing for Dutch universities up to 2021. [The Association of Universities in the Netherlands] Editorial

Science ‘Champion’ Dan Lipinski Faces Tough Race in Illinois Primary

Representative Daniel Lipinski—an anti-abortion Democrat who voted against the Affordable Care Act and who only recently has embraced a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants—knows that he’s out of step with progressives on many social issues. Lipinski will find out whether voters in Illinois’s third congressional district on Chicago’s southwest side feel there’s still room for him in the Democratic Party. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW LabRoots: 3^rd Annual Microbiology and Immunology Virtual Event
September 12-13, 2018
Online

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

NEW Postdoctoral Scientist – Viral Vectored Vaccines for Hepatitis Infections (University of Oxford)

NEW Assistant/Associate Professor – Virology (Saint Louis University)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

Faculty Position – Immunology (Northwestern University)

Professorship – Structural Biology of Infectious Processes (Kiel University)

Postdoctoral Fellow Positions – HIV Research (Massachuesetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Microbiology & Immunology (Johns Hopkins University)

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

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