Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.21 | May 30 2018

TOP STORY

A Single-Injection Vaccine for the Polio Virus

A new nanoparticle vaccine developed could assist efforts to eradicate polio worldwide. The vaccine, which delivers multiple doses in just one injection, could make it easier to immunize children in remote regions of Pakistan and other countries where the disease is still found. [Press release from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology discussing online prepublication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America] Press Release | Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

A Batf3/Nlrp3/IL-18 Axis Promotes Natural Killer Cell IL-10 Production during Listeria monocytogenes Infection

Mice lacking Nlrp3, Il18, or Il18R failed to accumulate serum interleukin (IL)-10 and were highly resistant to systemic Listeria monocytogenes infection. Scientists showed that cells expressing or dependent on Batf3 are required for IL-18-inducing IL-10 production observed in infected mice. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Plasmodium vivax Infection Impairs Regulatory T Cell Suppressive Function during Acute Malaria

Investigators found that Pasmodium vivax infection triggered an increase in the frequency of circulating regulatory T-cells and higher frequencies of Treg expressing both cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen and programmed death-1. [J Infect Dis] Abstract

Clinical Isolates of the Modern Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage 4 Evade Host Defense in Human Macrophages through Eluding IL-1β-Induced Autophagy

To evaluate the impact of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) genetic diversity on the innate immune response, researchers analyzed intracellular bacterial replication, inflammatory cytokine levels, and autophagy response in human primary macrophages infected with MTBC clinical isolates belonging to the ancient lineages 1 and 5, and the modern lineage 4. [Cell Death Dis] Full Article

Outer Membrane Vesicles from Neisseria meningitidis (Proteossome) Used for Nanostructured Zika Virus Vaccine Production

Scientists developed a new prototype using Neisseria meningitidis outer membrane vesicles (OMV) on Zika virus cell growth in a fusion of OMV in the envelope of virus particles. The fusion of nanoparticles resulting from outer membrane vesicles of N. meningitidis with infected C6/36 cells line were analyzed by Nano tracking analysis, zeta potential, differential light scattering, scan and scanning transmission eletronic microscopy and high resolution mass spectometry for nanostructure characterization. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Codon Optimization and Improved Delivery/Immunization Regimen Enhance the Immune Response against Wild-Type and Drug-Resistant HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase, Preserving Its Th2-Polarity

The authors optimized a prototype DNA vaccine against drug-resistant HIV-1 based on a weak Th2-immunogen, HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT). Multiparametric optimization of RT strengthened its Th2- performance. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Modified Anthrax Toxin-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay Reveals Robust T Cell Responses in Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Ebola Virus Exposed Individuals

To characterize the T cell responses in the Lagos blood samples, investigators developed an anthrax toxin-based enzyme-linked immunospot assay. The seropositive asymptomatic individuals had T cell responses against Ebola virus nucleoprotein, matrix protein, and glycoprotein 1 that were stronger in magnitude compared to the survivors. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

Altered Levels of Memory T Cell Subsets and Common γc Cytokines in Strongyloides stercoralis Infection and Partial Reversal following Anthelmintic Treatment

To examine the major T cell subsets and their association with the common γc cytokines, the absolute numbers of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ naïve, central memory, effector memory and effector cells and the plasma levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9 and IL-15 were measured in Strongyloides stercoralis infected (INF), helminth—uninfected and in post treatment INF individuals. [PLoS Negl Trop Dis] Full Article

Baboon CD8 T Cells Suppress SIVmac Infection in CD4 T Cells through Contact-Dependent Production of MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES

Researchers showed CD8 T cells contribute to the innate simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-suppressive activity seen in naïve baboon PBMC. As one mechanism of restriction, they identified higher production of MIP-1α, MIP-1β, and RANTES by baboon PBMC. [Cytokine] Abstract

Homozygous Deletion of Both GSTM1 and GSTT1 Genes Is Associated with Higher CD4⁺ T Cell Counts in Ghanaian HIV Patients

Scientists investigated the association between homozygous deletion of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and GSTT1 genes with HIV/AIDS disease progression in Ghanaian patients. HIV/AIDS disease progression was assessed by measuring CD4⁺ cell count and viral load of the patients, and GST polymorphism was determined by amplifying the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes using multiplex PCR, with CYP1A1 gene as an internal control. [PLoS One] Full Article

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Friends and Foes of Tuberculosis: Modulation of Protective Immunity

Insights in effector cell immunity and how this is modulated by regulatory cells, associated comorbidities and the host microbiome is discussed. The authors systematically map how different suppressive immune cell subsets may affect effector cell responses at the local site of infection. [J Intern Med] Abstract

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Human Vaccine to Be Developed for Deadly Nipah and Hendra Viruses

Antibody therapy developed as a treatment against the Nipah and Hendra viruses has led to an agreement announced today between the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Profectus BioSciences, Inc., and Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., for development of a human vaccine against the two deadly viruses. [Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Newswise, Inc.)] Press Release

RedHill Biopharma Announces New U.S. Patent for Its Experimental Ebola Therapy

RedHill Biopharma Ltd. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent covering RedHill’s proprietary experimental therapy for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. [RedHill Biopharma Ltd.] Press Release

China Drug Administration Approves Epclusa^® (Sofosbuvir/Velpatasvir), Gilead’s Pan-Genotypic Treatment for Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the China Drug Administration has approved Epclusa^® for the treatment of adults with genotype 1-6 chronic hepatitis C virus infection. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

Arrowhead Completes Enrollment in Single Dose Portion of Phase I/II Study of ARO-HBV

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has completed enrollment and dosing of all five planned cohorts of healthy adult volunteers in the single-ascending dose portion of its ongoing Phase I/II study of ARO-HBV, the company’s third generation subcutaneously administered RNA interference therapeutic being developed as a potentially curative therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

Research on Immune Response to PCV in Preterm Infants Earns ESPID-PIDJ Award

A study showing that pneumococcal vaccination produces a lasting antibody response in preterm infants has been named winner of the inaugural ESPID-PIDJ Award, recognizing the best paper submitted to The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (PIDJ) by a member of The European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID). [Wolters Kluwer Health (American Association for the Advancement of Science)] Press Release

Emergex Files a Patent in the USA for Its Novel Pandemic Flu Vaccine

Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited announced that it has filed a patent in the USA for its novel pandemic flu vaccine. [Emergex Vaccines Holding Limited] Press Release

Max Planck Scientists Criticize Handling of Animal-Rights Charges against Leading Neuroscientist

Scientists at one of Germany’s leading neuroscience institutes say that their employer, the Max Planck Society, is failing in its responsibility to defend the institute’s scientists against efforts by animal-rights activists to disrupt research. [Nature News] Editorial

Brexit: UK May Get Poorer Access than Israel to EU Science Scheme

Theresa May’s appeal for a special Brexit deal on science and research collaboration, worth billions to the British economy, is being stonewalled by Brussels as it prepares to offer an arrangement less privileged and more expensive than that given to non-EU states such as Israel. [The Guardian] Editorial

Who Gets Credit? Survey Digs into the Thorny Question of Authorship

Opinions about which research contributions deserve authorship credit on a scholarly paper vary markedly across scientific disciplines — and even within the same field, a survey of thousands of researchers reveals. More than two-thirds of respondents said they would grant authorship to someone who interpreted data or drafted the manuscript. [Nature News] Editorial

Will U.S. Academies Expel Sexual Harassers?

As high-profile sexual harassment cases fuel public criticism, the presidents of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine announced they may adopt new policies allowing the prestigious bodies to eject members who have committed harassment and other forms of misconduct. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW The Liver Meeting 2018
November 9-13, 2018
San Francisco, California, United States

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

NEW Chief Executive Officer – Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Assistant Professor – Microbial Pathogenesis (University of Maryland School of Dentistry)

Senior Vice President – Vaccine Development and Viral Disease Programs (Infectious Disease Research Institute)

Clinical Research Fellow – Adult Vaccinology (University of Oxford)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Immunity and Viral Infection (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Faculty Positions – Infectious Disease Research (Institut Pasteur of Shanghai)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – B Cell Immunology and Vaccines (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Position – Host-Pathogen Interactions (Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Insitute)

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

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

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

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