Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.27 | Jul 11 2018

TOP STORY

A Multifunctional Human Monoclonal Neutralizing Antibody that Targets a Unique Conserved Epitope on Influenza HA

Scientists report a human V_H1-69 gene-encoded monoclonal antibody designated H3v-47 that exhibits potent cross-reactive neutralization activity against human and swine H3N2 viruses that circulated since 1989. [Nat Commun] Full Article

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

RIG-I Recognizes the 5′ Region of Dengue and Zika Virus Genomes

Researchers showed that RNAs that co-purified with RIG-I during dengue virus infection are immuno-stimulatory, whereas RNAs bound to MDA5 are not. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

NAD⁺ Depletion Triggers Macrophage Necroptosis, a Cell Death Pathway Exploited by Mycobacterium tuberculosis

The authors showed that NAD⁺ depletion by tuberculosis necrotizing toxin activates RIPK3 and MLKL, key mediators of necroptosis. Notably, M. tuberculosis bypasses the canonical necroptosis pathway since neither TNF-α nor RIPK1 are required for macrophage death. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

An hPSC-Derived Tissue-Resident Macrophage Model Reveals Differential Responses of Macrophages to ZIKV and DENV Infection

Scientists investigated Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) infection of macrophages using a human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived macrophage model and discover key virus-specific responses. ZIKV and DENV productively infect hPSC-derived macrophages. [Stem Cell Reports] Full Article

Temporal Requirement for Pulmonary Resident and Circulating T Cells during Virulent Francisella tularensis Infection

The authors found that intranasal vaccination increased the number of tissue-resident CD4⁺ effector T cells, and subsequent challenge of immune mice with F. tularensis subspecies tularensis led to a significant expansion of polyfunctional parenchymal CD4⁺ effector T cells compared with the circulating pool. [J Immunol] Abstract

Interleukin 10 Mutant Zebrafish Have an Enhanced Interferon Gamma Response and Improved Survival against a Mycobacterium marinum Infection

Researchers utilized M. marinum infection in the zebrafish as a model for studying Il10 in the host response against mycobacteria. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Porcine Alveolar Macrophage-Like Cells Are Pro-Inflammatory Pulmonary Intravascular Macrophages that Produce Large Titers of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus

Investigators observed that pulmonary intravascular macrophages were more inflammatory than alveolar macrophages upon infection with the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, a major swine pathogen. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Interleukin-17A Exacerbates Disease Severity in BALB/c Mice Susceptible to Lung Infection with Mycoplasma pulmonis

The main source of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) throughout infection in BALB/c mice were CD4⁺ T-cells, and neutralizing IL-17A after infiltration of the lungs by T-cells reduced disease severity, identifying the Th17 response as a herald of late mycoplasma pathology in susceptible mice. [Infect Immun] Abstract

Breadth and Dynamics of HLA-A2- and HLA-B7-Restricted CD8⁺ T Cell Responses against Nonstructural Viral Proteins in Acute Human Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infection

Investigators identified six novel tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) HLA-A2- and HLA-B7-restricted epitopes, all derived from the nonstructural proteins of TBEV. This identification allowed for a comprehensive phenotypic and temporal analysis of the HLA-A2- and HLA-B7-restricted Ag-specific CD8⁺ T cell response during the acute stages of human TBEV infection. [ImmunoHorizons] Full Article

Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News.

Malaria Vaccines: Recent Advances and New Horizons

Scientists review the latest vaccine approaches that seek to prevent malaria infection, disease, and transmission and highlight some of the major underlying immunological and molecular mechanisms of protection. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract

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

NIH and Matinas BioPharma Announce Research Collaboration to Identify Novel HIV Therapy Utilizing LNC Platform Delivery Technology

Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc. and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke announced a research collaboration focused on the development of a novel therapy for the treatment of HIV combining targeted antisense oligonucleotides and Matinas’ LNC delivery technology. [Matinas BioPharma Holdings, Inc.] Press Release

Assembly Biosciences Initiates Two Phase IIa Trials of ABI-H0731 for the Treatment of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Assembly Biosciences, Inc. announced the initiation of two multi-center, randomized, placebo controlled Phase IIa trials of ABI-H0731 for the treatment of patients with chronic HBV infection. [Assembly Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

Chinese Researchers to Get More Autonomy Over Lab Spending

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang says the country will ease restrictive rules governing how research funds are used, and cut red tape for researchers. Revised rules are designed to help researchers focus on their work and compete with their counterparts globally. [Nature News] Editorial

UK Universities Fall Short on Reporting Misconduct Investigations

The United Kingdom should establish a committee to monitor efforts by the nation’s universities to properly conduct misconduct investigations, a parliamentary inquiry recommends. The guidance follows a new report released on 11 July, revealing that one in four UK universities does not comply with research integrity guidelines released six years ago. [Nature News] Editorial

Report Advocates Broader Return of Research Results

A 335-page report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine urges researchers and regulators to return more biological data to the people whose samples yielded it in the first place. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

New Scheme for Overseas Researchers to Come to the UK

The new ‘UKRI Science, Research and Academia’ scheme, which allows non-EEA researchers, scientists and academics to come to the UK for up to 2 years, opened on Friday 6 July, the Immigration Minister announced. The new scheme, which is being added to the Tier 5 visa route, has been introduced to reflect and encourage the ongoing growth of the research sector in the UK. [UK Visas and Immigration] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conferences: Cell Death
August 5-10, 2018
Newry, Maine, United States

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

NEW Postdoctoral Fellow/Assistant Professor – Host-Pathogen Interaction (Utrecht University)

Research Technologist – Cell Separation (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

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

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)

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Immunology of Infectious Disease News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.