Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.22 | Jun 6 2018

TOP STORY

Epitope-Based Vaccine Design Yields Fusion Peptide-Directed Antibodies that Neutralize Diverse Strains of HIV-1

Scientists showed that focusing the immune response to exposed N-terminal residues of the fusion peptide, a critical component of the viral entry machinery and the epitope of antibodies elicited by HIV-1 infection, through immunization with fusion peptide-coupled carriers and prefusion stabilized envelope trimers, induces cross-clade neutralizing responses. [Nat Med] Abstract

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T Cells Establish and Maintain CNS Viral Infection in HIV-Infected Humanized Mice

Using humanized T cell-only mice (ToM), scientists demonstrated that T cells established and maintained HIV infection of the brain in the complete absence of human myeloid cells. HIV infection of ToM resulted in CD4⁺ T cell depletion and a reduced CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cell ratio. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

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. Investigators further 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

Influence of Gut Microbiome on Mucosal Immune Activation and SHIV Viral Transmission in Naive Macaques

Researchers found that the naive rhesus macaques from two different sources had significantly different rates of infection against repeated low-dose intrarectal challenge with SHIV_SF162P4 virus. They found that the more susceptible group of seven macaques had significantly more activated CD4⁺CCR5⁺Ki67⁺ T cells in the rectal mucosa than the more resistant group of 11 macaques from a different source. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Cleavage-Independent HIV-1 Trimers from CHO Cell Lines Elicit Robust Autologous Tier 2 Neutralizing Antibodies

The authors report the development of a CHO-M cell line that expressed BG505 native flexibly linked (NFL) trimers at a high level of homogeneity and yields of ~1.8 g/l. BG505 NFL trimers purified by single-step lectin-affinity chromatography displayed a native-like closed structure, efficient recognition by trimer-preferring bNAbs, no recognition by non-neutralizing CD4 binding site-directed and V3-directed antibodies, long-term stability, and proper N-glycan processing. [Front Immunol] Full Article | Press Release

DNA-Vaccine Induced Long-Lasting Cytotoxic T Cells Targeting Conserved Elements of HIV Gag Are Boosted upon DNA or rMVA Vaccination

Scientists developed DNA-based vaccines able to induce efficient cytotoxic T cell responses targeting conserved elements (CE) of HIV-1 Gag. These CE were selected by stringent conservation, the ability to induce T cell responses with broad HLA coverage and the association between recognition of CE epitopes and viral control in HIV-infected individuals. [Hum Gene Ther] Abstract

An Adenovirus Serotype 2-Vectored Ebolavirus Vaccine Generates Robust Antibody and Cell-Mediated Immune Responses in Mice and Rhesus Macaques

Investigators generated rAd2-ZGP, a recombinant replication-incompetent adenovirus serotype 2 expressing codon-optimized Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein, and evaluated its immunogenicity in mice and rhesus macaques. rAd2-ZGP induced significant antibody and cell-mediated immune responses at two weeks after a single immunization. [Emerg Microbes Infect] Full Article

Immune Responses of Human T Lymphocytes to Novel Hepatitis B Virus-Derived Peptides

Researchers attempted to identify novel cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes that are useful for immunotherapy against hepatitis B virus. Immune reactions against some peptides were enhanced by the administration of nucleoside analogues. Regarding their effects as a vaccine, peptide-specific T-cells were induced by four peptides in vivo. [PLoS One] Full Article

Identification and Characterization of HIV-Specific Resident Memory CD8⁺ T Cells in Human Lymphoid Tissue

Through extensive comparison of blood, thoracic duct lymph (TDL), and lymphoid tissues (LTs) in different species, researchers showed that many LT memory CD8⁺ T cells bear phenotypic, transcriptional, and epigenetic signatures of resident memory T cells (TRMs). Unlike their circulating counterparts in blood or TDL, most of the total and follicular HIV-specific CD8⁺ T cells in LTs also resembled TRMs. [Sci Immunol] Full Article

Adjuvant Composition and Delivery Route Shape Immune Response Quality and Protective Efficacy of a Recombinant Vaccine for Entamoeba histolytica

Investigators describe the development of a stable, manufacturable PEGylated liposomal adjuvant formulation containing two synthetic toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands: GLA (TLR4) and 3M-052 (TLR7/8). Liposomes containing GLA and 3M-052 together elicited both LecA-specific fecal IgA and Th1 immune responses. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

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Antibodies and Tuberculosis: Finally Coming of Age?

The authors discuss the evidence for a protective role for antibodies in tuberculosis and consider the feasibility of designing novel tuberculosis vaccines targeting humoral immunity. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract

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ABIVAX Presents New Data on ABX464 Mechanism of Action

ABIVAX unveiled new data characterizing the mechanism of action of its lead Phase II clinical candidate ABX464. The company presented the mechanism of action of ABX464, in both HIV and ulcerative colitis, as well as provide an update on the progress of clinical trials of ABX464 in HIV. [Press release from ABIVAX (Business Wire, Inc.) discussing research presented at the 16^th European Meeting on HIV & Hepatitis – Treatment Strategies & Antiviral Drug Resistance, Rome] Press Release

Hookipa and Gilead Enter into a Collaboration and License Agreement to Develop Immunotherapies against HIV and Hepatitis B

Hookipa Biotech AG and Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that they have entered into a research collaboration and license agreement that grants Gilead exclusive rights to Hookipa’s TheraT^® and Vaxwave^® arenavirus vector-based immunization technologies for two major chronic infectious disease indications, hepatitis B virus and HIV. [Hookipa Biotech AG] Press Release

Arix Bioscience Forms Strategic Collaboration with Evotec AG and Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center to Foster New Companies in Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Arix Bioscience plc announced the formation of the LAB591, an academic “BRIDGE” collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Evotec AG. LAB591 aims to accelerate research discoveries at Fred Hutch and leverage these discoveries to form new companies focused on cancer and infectious disease drug development. [Arix Bioscience plc] Press Release

The Wistar Institute and Harbour BioMed Join Forces to Advance Novel Antibody Therapies for Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Harbour BioMed and The Wistar Institute announced that they have entered into a multi-year, multifaceted research collaboration to co-discover novel antibodies for the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. [The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology] Press Release

Global Virus Network Responds to Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The GVN is mobilizing a coordinated effort to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through its Centers of Excellence. The GVN represents 41 Centers of Excellence and seven affiliates in 26 countries and comprises foremost experts in every class of virus causing disease in humans. [The Global Virus Network] Press Release

Global Virus Network (GVN) Centers of Excellence Contribute Expertise to Nipah Virus Outbreak

Several of the GVN Centers of Excellence have been researching Nipah virus (NiV) and are currently contributing expertise to the outbreak in the Indian state of Kerala. India’s latest deadly NiV outbreak began in early May. [The Global Virus Network] Press Release

Ichor Medical Systems Announces First in Human Administration with Its Next Generation TriGrid System of a DNA Vaccine for Chronic Hepatitis B in Development

Ichor Medical Systems, Inc. announced the first in human dosing of JNJ-64300535 with its next generation investigational TriGrid^® Delivery System. This DNA vaccine candidate is being developed by the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies for patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. [Ichor Medical Systems, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Scientists Fare Poorly in Super Tuesday Primary Vote

Science-minded candidates seeking seats in the next U.S. Congress took a drubbing from their Democratic opponents in a raft of primary elections across the country. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chile, Keen to Become a Knowledge Society, Creates a Ministry of Science

Scientists in Chile have welcomed a decision by Congress to create a science ministry. Many researchers hope that a dedicated ministry will give science more prominence and better-coordinated policies—provided the ministry’s budget matches the government’s ambitions to “bring Chile towards an information and knowledge society,” as Gonzalo Blumel, the country’s minister secretary-general of the presidency, put it in a statement issued after the 31 May vote. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Europe’s Top Science Funder Shows High-Risk Research Pays Off

A popular and unusual self-review carried out by Europe’s most prestigious science funder is back. The annual assessment, now in its third year, found that nearly one in five projects by the European Research Council led to a scientific breakthrough. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 28^th Annual Conference Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver
February 20-24, 2019
Manila, Philippines

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NEW Chair – Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine (The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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)

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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