Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.14 | Apr 11 2018

TOP STORY

Research Offers Clues for Improved Influenza Vaccine Design

Influenza vaccines that better target the influenza surface protein, called neuraminidase, could offer broad protection against various influenza virus strains and lessen the severity of illness, according to new research. [Press release from the National Institutes of Health discussing online prepublication in Cell] Press Release 1 | Press Release 2 | Abstract | Graphical Abstract

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Inhibition of IP6K1 Suppresses Neutrophil-Mediated Pulmonary Damage in Bacterial Pneumonia

The authors identified a mechanism that enhances host defenses while simultaneously suppressing neutrophil-mediated pulmonary damage in bacterial pneumonia. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | Press Release

Immunization with AgTRIO, a Protein in Anopheles Saliva, Contributes to Protection against Plasmodium Infection in Mice

Scientists observed that antisera against Anopheles gambiae salivary glands partially protected mice from mosquito-borne Plasmodium infection. Specifically, antibodies to A. gambiae TRIO (AgTRIO), a mosquito salivary gland antigen, contributed to the protection. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Glycosylation of Human IgA Directly Inhibits Influenza A and Other Sialic-Acid-Binding Viruses

The authors report an additional innate immune effector function of human immunoglobulin A (IgA) molecules in that they demonstrated that the C-terminal tail unique to IgA molecules interferes with cell-surface attachment of influenza A and other enveloped viruses that use sialic acid as a receptor. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Protection by and Maintenance of CD4 Effector Memory and Effector T Cell Subsets in Persistent Malaria Infection

Scientists tested previously defined effector and memory T cell subsets for their ability to survive and protect in vivo. They found that both polyclonal and Plasmodium chabaudi merozoite surface protein-1-specific B5 TCR transgenic memory T cells survive better than effector T cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Use of Soluble Extracellular Regions of MmpL (SERoM) as Vaccines for Tuberculosis

Researchers investigated the efficacy of three members of the mycobacterial membrane protein large (MmpL) family as potential subunit vaccines for tuberculosis. They describe a strategy of producing synthetic antigens comprised of the soluble, extracellular regions of MmpL (SERoM)-1, MmpL8 and MmpL10 as potential vaccine candidates. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Topical Application of Aminoglycoside Antibiotics Enhances Host Resistance to Viral Infections in a Microbiota-Independent Manner

Investigators showed that topical mucosal application of aminoglycosides prophylactically increased host resistance to a broad range of viral infections including herpes simplex viruses, influenza A virus and Zika virus. Aminoglycoside treatment also reduced viral replication in primary human cells. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract | Press Release | Video

The Receptor Repertoire and Functional Profile of Follicular T Cells in HIV-Infected Lymph Nodes

Scientists combined high-dimensional mass cytometry with T cell receptor repertoire sequencing to interrogate the composition of follicular helper T cells (T_FH) cells in primary human lymph nodes. They found evidence for intact antigen-driven clonal expansion of T_FH cells and selective utilization of specific complementarity-determining region 3 motifs during chronic HIV infection, but the resulting T_FH cells acquired an activation-related T_FH cell signature characterized by IL-21 dominance. [Sci Immunol] Full Article | Press Release | Audio

Insufficiency of DNA Repair Enzyme ATM Promotes Naive CD4 T-Cell Loss in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

The authors investigated T-cell homeostasis, apoptosis, DNA damage, and repair machineries in a large cohort of subjects with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. They found that naive CD4 T cells in chronically HCV-infected individuals were significantly reduced compared with age-matched healthy subjects. [Cell Discov] Full Article

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Vaccine Options for Influenza: Thinking Small

Protection against experimental influenza A virus challenge by matrix protein 2 ectodomain-based vaccines has been demonstrated in natural host of influenza and clinical studies demonstrated that such vaccines are safe and immunogenic. [Curr Opin Immunol] Abstract

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Meharry Medical College, Morehouse School of Medicine Partner with University of Zambia to Enhance Global Health Education and Research

Meharry Medical College and Morehouse School of Medicine announced that they have formed a partnership with the University of Zambia to develop an international exchange program focused on disease research and prevention. [Meharry Medical College (GlobeNewswire, Inc.)] Press Release

Inovio Awarded up to $56 Million from CEPI to Advance DNA Vaccines against Lassa Fever and MERS

Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced a partnership under which Inovio will develop vaccine candidates against Lassa fever and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). [Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

BiondVax Begins NIH-Sponsored Phase II Clinical Trial of Its Universal Flu Vaccine in the United States

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. reported the first participant enrollment in the United States in a Phase II clinical trial of the company’s universal flu vaccine candidate, M-001. [BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] Press Release

GeoVax Awarded NIH Fast Track Phase I/II Grant to Advance Lassa Fever Vaccine

GeoVax Labs, Inc. announced that the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded the company a Fast Track Phase I/II Small Business Innovative Research grant in support of its novel Lassa virus vaccine development program. [GeoVax Labs, Inc.] Press Release

Spanish Research Gets a Nice Budget Boost—but Scientists Say It Will Be of Little Help

The Spanish government has announced plans to raise the country’s overall public R&D budget by 8.3% in 2018, from €6.5 billion to €7 billion—the biggest hike since the economic crisis hit Spain in 2008. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

New Awards Aim to Celebrate Women in Science

The two annual awards will recognize inspirational early-career female researchers and those who have worked to champion young women’s and girls’ participation in science. [Nature News] Editorial

Web of Science Owner Buys Tool that Offers One-Click Access to Journal Articles

The owner of the large scholarly search engine Web of Science — Clarivate Analytics — has bought a start-up company whose tool gives researchers one-click, legal access to journal articles even when off campus. [Nature News] Editorial

India Creates Unique Tiered System to Punish Plagiarism

The Indian government has adopted its first regulations on academic plagiarism—rules that some researchers say are too lenient and others fear go too far and will be difficult to implement. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW 14^th International Conference on Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics of Infectious Diseases
November 6-9, 2018
Sitges, Spain

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NEW Postdoctoral Research Scientist – HIV Vaccine Design (Simon Fraser University)

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Influenza Vaccine Research and Design (Simon Fraser University)

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Infectious Disease (Research Foundation for SUNY)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Director of Biomarkers & Assays – Infectious Diseases Research (Moderna Therapeutics)

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

Research Associate – Vaccine Research (University of Bristol)

Senior Research Associate – Infectious Disease (Moderna Therapeutics)

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)

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

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