Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.12 | Mar 28 2018

TOP STORY

Long Thought to Only Cause a Rare Disease, This Mutation May Ward off Malaria

A genetic mutation that may protect people from malaria, but was thought to be rare, is surprisingly common. The discovery sheds light on how humans who live in close quarters with malaria-carrying mosquitos may evolve defenses against the disease. [Press release from The Scripps Research Institute discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Vaccinia-Based Single Vector Construct Multi-Pathogen Vaccine Protects against Both Zika and Chikungunya Viruses

A single vaccination of mice induced neutralizing antibodies to both viruses in wild-type and IFNAR^−/− mice and protected against chikungunya virus viremia and arthritis in wild-type mice, Zika virus viremia and fetal/placental infection in female IFNAR^−/− mice, and Zika virus viremia and testes infection and pathology in male IFNAR^−/− mice. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Transcriptomic Signatures of NK Cells Suggest Impaired Responsiveness in HIV-1 Infection and Increased Activity Post-Vaccination

Investigators showed that natural killer cells responding to models of direct cell recognition, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and cytokine activation have unique transcriptional fingerprints. [Nat Commun] Full Article

T-Cell Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis: Candidate Evaluation by a Simple Whole Blood Assay for Clinical Translation

Scientists identified candidate blood-based host biomarkers for tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, based on Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T-cell memory phenotypes, activation or cytokine expression profiles. Such biomarkers have also shown potential as surrogates to monitor TB treatment response. [Eur Respir J] Abstract

Uninfected Bystander Cells Impact the Measurement of HIV-Specific Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity Responses

Using an mRNA flow technique that detects productively infected cells, researchers found that the vast majority of HIV-1-infected cells in in vitro cultures or ex vivo samples from HIV-1-infected individuals are CD4 negative and therefore do not expose significant levels of CD4-induced epitopes. [MBio] Full Article

Rituximab May Cause Increased Hepatitis C Virus Viremia in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients through Declining Exosomal MicroRNA-155

The association between rituximab and increased hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity was examined using an in vitro cell‐based assay. In vitro data showed that B cell-derived miR‐155 could inhibit HCV replication in hepatocytes through exosome transmission. [Arthritis Rheumatol] Abstract

A High Throughput Whole Blood Assay for Analysis of Multiple Antigen-Specific T Cell Responses in Human Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

To facilitate evaluation of human Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T cell responses targeting multiple different Ags, scientists sought to develop a high throughput and reproducible T cell response spectrum assay requiring low blood sample volumes. [J Immunol] Abstract

Central Nervous System Inflammation and Infection during Early, Non-Accelerated Simian-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in Rhesus Macaques

Rare simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)-infected cells in the brain parenchyma and meninges were identified by RNAscope^® in situ hybridization. In the meninges, there was also a trend toward increased CD4⁺ infiltration in SHIV-infected animals, but no differences in CD68/CD163⁺ cells between SHIV-infected and uninfected control animals. [J Virol] Abstract | Full Article

Activation and Induction of Antigen-Specific T Follicular Helper Cells (T_FH) Play a Critical Role in LAIV-Induced Human Mucosal Anti-Influenza Antibody Response

Antigen specificity of live-attenuated influenza vaccine(LAIV)-induced T_FH was demonstrated by the expression of antigen-specific T cell activation marker CD154 upon challenge by H1N1 virus antigen or anti-hemagglutinin (HA). LAIV-induced T_FH differentiation was inhibited by BCL6, IL21, ICOS and CD40 signaling blocking respectively, and that diminished anti-HA antibody production. [J Virol] Abstract

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Tuberculosis: Advances and Challenges in Development of New Diagnostics and Biomarkers

The authors review developments and key achievements in the search for new tuberculosis diagnostics and biomarkers. They highlight gaps and challenges in evaluation and rollout of new diagnostics and biomarkers, and prioritise areas needing further investment, including impact assessment and cost-benefit studies. [Lancet Infect Dis] Abstract

HIV and the Macrophage: From Cell Reservoirs to Drug Delivery to Viral Eradication

A hidden and often overlooked resource of the macrophage rests in its high cytoplasmic nuclear ratios that allow the cell to sense its environment and rid it of the cellular waste products and microbial pathogens it encounters. These phagocytic and intracellular killing sensing mechanisms can also be used in service as macrophages serve as cellular carriage depots for antiretroviral nanoparticles and are able to deliver medicines to infectious disease sites with improved therapeutic outcomes. [J Neuroimmune Pharmacol] Abstract

The Roles of Resident, Central and Effector Memory CD4 T Cells in Protective Immunity following Infection or Vaccination

Scientists review recent findings on the location of different subsets of memory CD4 T cells that are found in peripheral tissues and in the circulation. They discuss the generation of these cells and the evidence that demonstrates how they provide immune protection in animal and human challenge models. [Immunology] Full Article

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

Altimmune Announces Positive Data from Its Phase IIa Study of NasoVAX Intranasal Influenza Vaccine and Provides an Update on Its Phase Ib Study of HepTcell Targeted Immunotherapy in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Altimmune, Inc. announced positive data from its Phase IIa study of NasoVAX intranasal influenza vaccine and provided an update on its Phase Ib study of HepTcell targeted immunotherapy in chronic hepatitis B infection. [Altimmune, Inc.] Press Release

Arrowhead Begins Dosing in Phase I/II Study of ARO-HBV for Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc announced that it has dosed the first subjects in a Phase I/II clinical study of ARO-HBV, which is being developed as a potentially curative therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals Announces Positive Guidance following FDA Meeting on Hepatitis Delta Virus Registration Program

Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive FDA guidance from a face to face discussion on the Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) program in February, including agreement that a single, registration trial in HDV can support an NDA filing. [Eiger BioPharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

India Taps Biologist as New Science Adviser

India has a new science adviser. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on Monday tapped Krishnaswamy VijayRaghavan, a molecular biologist and head of India’s Department of Biotechnology, to fill the post. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Cambridge Analytica Controversy Must Spur Researchers to Update Data Ethics

Revelations keep emerging in the Cambridge Analytica personal-data scandal, which has captured global public attention. But when the dust settles, researchers harvesting data online will face greater scrutiny. And so they should. [Nature News] Editorial

Duke’s Mishandling of Misconduct Prompts New U.S. Government Grant Oversight

The U.S. National Institutes of Health imposed unusual new requirements on researchers based at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, who receive federal funds. The changes are a response to concerns over how the institution handled recent cases involving research misconduct and grant management. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Massive Cyberhack by Iran Allegedly Stole Research from 320 Universities, Governments, and Companies

Nine Iranians working on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps hacked the computers of 7998 professors at 320 universities around the world over the past five years, an indictment filed by a federal grand jury alleges. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 21^st American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Annual Meeting
May 16-19, 2018
Chicago, Illinois, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Zika Virus (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Research Associate – Vaccine Research (University of Bristol)

Senior Research Associate – Infectious Disease (Moderna Therapeutics)

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

Assistant/Associate Professor – Virology (Saint Louis University)

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

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