Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.15 | Apr 18 2018

TOP STORY

Resistance of HIV-Infected Macrophages to CD8⁺ T Lymphocyte-Mediated Killing Drives Activation of the Immune System

The authors found that the killing of macrophages by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) was impaired relative to the killing of CD4⁺ T cells by CTLs, and this resulted in inefficient suppression of HIV. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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Anti–HIV-1 B Cell Responses Are Dependent on B Cell Precursor Frequency and Antigen-Binding Affinity

Scientists used adoptive transfer experiments using knock-in B cells that carry a synthetic intermediate in the pathway to anti–HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies development to examine how the relationship between B cell receptor affinity and precursor frequency affects germinal center B cell recruitment and clonal expansion. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract

Induction and Maintenance of CX3CR1-Intermediate Peripheral Memory CD8⁺ T Cells by Persistent Viruses and Vaccines

In mice, both cytomegalovirus (CMV) and vaccine-induced inflationary T cells showed sustained high levels of CX3R1^int cells exhibiting an effector-memory phenotype, characteristic of inflationary pools, in early memory. In humans, CX3CR1^int CD8⁺ T cells were strongly induced following adenovirus-vectored vaccination for hepatitis C virus and during natural CMV infection and were associated with a memory phenotype similar to that in mice. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Superinfection Drives HIV Neutralizing Antibody Responses from Several B Cell Lineages that Contribute to a Polyclonal Repertoire

Researchers isolated HIV-specific monoclonal antibodies from a superinfected individual with a broad plasma response. In this superinfection case, neutralizing activity resulted from multiple distinct B cell lineages that arose in response to either the initial or the superinfecting virus, including an antibody that targets the N332 supersite. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

HIV-Specific T-Cells Generated from Naive T-Cells Can Suppress HIV In Vitro, Display Cytotoxicity, and Recognize Wide Epitope Breadths

Investigators showed that multi-antigen HIV-specific T-cells can be generated from naïve T-cells of both cord blood and adults using a reproducible good-manufacturing practice grade protocol. This product lysed antigen-pulsed targets and suppressed active HIV in vitro. [Mol Ther] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Limited Immune Surveillance in Lymphoid Tissue by Cytolytic CD4⁺ T Cells during Health and HIV Disease

The authors report that expression of β-chemokines and cytolytic molecules are enriched within a CD4⁺ T cell population with high levels of the T-box transcription factors T-bet and eomesodermin. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

Inefficient HIV-1 trans Infection of CD4⁺ T Cells by Macrophages from HIV-1 Nonprogressors Is Associated with Altered Membrane Cholesterol and DC-SIGN

Researchers have previously shown that lower cholesterol content in myeloid dendritic cells (DCs) and B lymphocytes is associated with a lack of HIV-1 trans infection in HIV-1 infected nonprogressors (NP). Here they assessed whether HIV-1 trans infection mediated by another major antigen presenting cell, macrophage, is deficient in NP due to altered cholesterol metabolism. [J Virol] Abstract

Extensive T Cell Cross-Reactivity between Diverse Seasonal Influenza Strains in the Ferret Model

Post-challenge cell-mediated immune responses demonstrated extensive cross-reactivity with a wide variety of contemporary and historical influenza A strains as well as influenza B. The strongest responses targeted peptides from the NP protein and demonstrated cross-reactivity in both the CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell populations. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Increased Killer B Cells in Chronic HCV Infection May Lead to Autoimmunity and Increased Viral Load

Investigators assessed the role of “killer” B cells in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and determined if they contribute to the increased viral load and persistence of HCV and its related autoimmunity. [Clin Exp Immunol] Abstract

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Antigen Processing and Presentation in HIV Infection

The authors review features of antigen processing and presentation specific to HIV, analyze how HIV has adapted to the antigen processing machinery and discuss how advances in biochemical and computational protein degradation analyses and in immunopeptidome definition may help identify targets for efficient immune clearance and vaccine immunogen design. [Mol Immunol] Abstract

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

BiondVax to Present at Universal Influenza Vaccines Conference

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd., developer of the universal flu vaccine candidate M-001, presented findings on their vaccine. [Press release from BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. discussing research presented at the Universal Influenza Vaccines 2018 Conference, Lausanne] Press Release

Center for AIDS Research Funding Renewed for an Old and On-Going Fight

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded a five-year, $15 million grant to the San Diego Center for AIDS Research, renewing support that extends back to an original establishing grant in 1994-the height of the AIDS epidemic. [University of California, San Diego] Press Release

Merck Announces First Phase III Studies for PCV-15 (V114) Its Investigational Pneumococcal Disease Vaccine

Merck announced that the company is beginning two Phase III studies of PCV-15, its investigational polyvalent conjugate vaccine for the prevention of pneumococcal disease. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release

A Final Dash across the United States: Updates from the 2018 March for Science

The March for Science celebrated its anniversary. And although the turnout around the world was significantly smaller than last year, supporters haven’t lost any of their energy. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

African Scientists Call for More Control of Their Continent’s Genomic Data

Africa-based researchers issued guidelines for the ethical handling of samples for genomic studies. The voluntary rules are an effort to combat ‘helicopter’ research, in which foreign scientists take samples and data from communities and then return to their home institutions. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW EMBL: Infectious Diseases: Past, Present, and Future
November 15-16, 2018
Heidelberg, Germany

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

NEW Postdoctoral Research Fellow/Junior Scientist – Pathogen Genomics (Fudan University)

NEW Tenure-Track/Tenure-Eligible Investigator – Antiviral Therapies and Vaccines (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

Postdoctoral Associate – Infectious Disease (Research Foundation for SUNY)

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)

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

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