Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.26 | Jul 4 2018

TOP STORY

CEACAM1 Promotes CD8⁺ T Cell Responses and Improves Control of a Chronic Viral Infection

The authors showed using lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection that carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 (CEACAM1) is fundamental for recruiting lymphocyte-specific protein kinase into the T cell receptor complex to form an efficient immunological synapse. [Nat Commun] Full Article

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The Candidate Blood Stage Malaria Vaccine P27A Induces a Robust Humoral Response in a Fast Track to the Field Phase I Trial in Exposed and Non Exposed Volunteers

This study was designed as a staggered, fast track, randomized, antigen and adjuvant dose-finding, multi-center Phase Ia/Ib trial, conducted in Switzerland and in Tanzania. [Clin Infect Dis] Abstract

Migratory Dendritic Cells, Group 1 Innate Lymphoid Cells, and Inflammatory Monocytes Collaborate to Recruit NK Cells to the Virus-Infected Lymph Node

Using footpad infection with ectromelia virus, a pathogenic DNA virus of mice, scientists showed that TLR9/MyD88 sensing induces NKG2D ligands in virus-infected, skin-derived migratory dendritic cells to induce production of IFN-γ by classical natural killer cells and other types of group 1 innate lymphoid cells already in draining lymph nodes, via NKG2D. [Cell Rep] Full Article

Role of Antibodies in Protection Against Ebola Virus in Nonhuman Primates Immunized with Three Vaccine Platforms

Irrespective of the vaccine platform, protection from Ebola virus disease strongly correlated with anti-glycoprotein (GP) IgG titers. The GP-directed antibody levels required for protection in animals vaccinated with virus-like particles (VLPs) lacking nucleoprotein (NP) was significantly higher than animals immunized with NP-containing VLPs or adenovirus-expressed GP, platforms that induce strong T-cell responses. [J Infect Dis] Abstract

The HCMV Protein UL148A Downregulates the Activating NK Cell Ligand MICA to Avoid NK Cell Attack

Researchers discovered that a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) protein named UL148A whose role was hitherto unknown was required for evasion from NK cells. They demonstrated that UL148A-deficient HCMV strains are impaired in their ability to downregulate MICA expression. [J Virol] Abstract

CD8⁺ T-Cell Response-Associated Evolution of Hepatitis B Virus Core Protein and Disease Progress

Investigators observed a correlation of the accumulated variants on hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein (HBc) with the disease severity of HBV infection. Further analysis indicated that these substitutions majorly located within CD8⁺ T-cell epitopes of HBc protein, which were systematically screened and unbiasedly identified in the study. [J Virol] Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Peptide E7/HLA-DRB1 Tetramers with Different HLA-DR Alleles Bound CD4⁺ T Cells Might Share Identical CDR3 Region

Researchers sorted M. tuberculosis peptide E7-bound CD4⁺ T cells by using E7/HLA-DR tetramers constructed with different HLA-DRB1 alleles and extracted the CDR3 amino-acid sequences of TCR α- and β-chains. They showed that the CDR3 sequences of E7-bound CD4⁺ T cells were completely or partially identical in a single patient. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Longevity of Duodenal and Peripheral T-Cell and Humoral Responses to Live-Attenuated Salmonella typhi Strain Ty21a

Scientists vaccinated eight healthy adults with Ty21a. Peripheral blood and duodenal samples were acquired after a median of 1.5 years following vaccination. Cellular responses were assessed in peripheral blood and at the duodenal mucosa by flow cytometry. [Vaccine] Abstract

Murine Models of Pneumocystis Infection Recapitulate Human Primary Immune Disorders

Researchers found that every human genetic immunodeficiency associated with Pneumocystis infection that has been tested in mice recapitulated susceptibility. For example, humans with a loss-of-function IL21R mutation were severely immunocompromised. [JCI Insight] Full Article

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Zika Virus Vaccine: Progress and Challenges

Despite the current waning in newly reported Zika infections, an efficacious vaccine is urgently needed to help limit the emergence of another detrimental epidemic. The authors summarize the current status of the Zika vaccine pipeline and highlight the challenges for clinical efficacy trials. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract

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Abivax Releases Positive Top Line Data from ABX464-005 Phase IIa Study in HIV Infection

ABIVAX announced positive top line data for the second cohort of the ABX464-005 Phase IIa study in HIV infection. [ABIVAX] Press Release

Valneva Announces Significant Progress of Its Lyme Disease Vaccine Candidate

Valneva SE announced a further update for its Lyme disease vaccine candidate, VLA15. The company has successfully concluded the end of Phase I process for this candidate with the FDA and has obtained alignment with regard to its Phase II strategy. [Valneva SE] Download Press Release

LGBTQ Scientists Are Still Left Out

People who identify as LGBTQ are leaking out of the scientific pipeline in similar ways to women and those from minority ethnic groups. But many initiatives to increase diversity do not support them. Including LGBTQ people in diversity initiatives would foster their representation, and it could bring in perspectives that improve science itself. [Nature News] Editorial

Europe’s Biggest Research Fund Cracks Down on ‘Ethics Dumping’

Ethics dumping — doing research deemed unethical in a scientist’s home country in a foreign setting with laxer ethical rules — will be rooted out in research funded by the European Union, officials announced. [Nature News] Editorial

U.S. Lawmakers Want NIH and CDC Foundations to Say More about Donors

A key congressional spending panel has fired a shot across the bow of two federally chartered medical foundations, warning that the way they disclose information about donors may not pass muster. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: Functional Cures and the Eradication of HIV
March 24-28, 2019
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Research Assistant/Associate – Respiratory Viral Infections (University of Glasgow)

NEW Research Assistant/Associate – Hepatitis C (University of Glasgow)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow and PhD Positions – HIV Immunology (McGill University Health Centre)

Postdoctoral Research Fellows and PhD Positions – HIV Immunology (Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Monoclonal Antibody and Viral Vaccine (SRI Employment)

Faculty Position – Department of Microbiology & Immunology and Center for Vaccine Development (University of Maryland School of Medicine)

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

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

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

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

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

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