Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.31 | Aug 8 2018

TOP STORY

PD-1 Blockade Partially Recovers Dysfunctional Virus-Specific B Cells in Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Researchers developed a dual staining method, which utilizes HBsAg labelled with fluorochromes as “baits”, for specific ex vivo detection of HBsAg-specific B cells and analysis of their quantity, function and phenotype. [J Clin Invest] Abstract

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A Zika Virus Vaccine Expressing Premembrane-Envelope-NS1 Polyprotein

Investigators developed an attenuated recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine expressing Zika virus (ZIKV) prM-E-NS1 as a polyprotein. This vectored vaccine candidate is attenuated in mice, where a single immunization induces ZIKV-specific antibody and T cell immune responses that provide protection against ZIKV challenge. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Critical Role of CD4⁺ T Cells and IFNγ Signaling in Antibody-Mediated Resistance to Zika Virus Infection

Protective adaptive immunity to Zika virus has been mainly attributed to cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells and neutralizing antibodies, while the participation of CD4⁺ T cells in resistance has remained largely uncharacterized. Scientists showed a neutralizing antibody response, dependent on CD4⁺ T cells and IFNγ signaling, which they detected during the first week of infection and was associated with reduced viral load in the brain, prevention of rapid disease onset and survival. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Pathogenicity of Ebola and Marburg Viruses Is Associated with Differential Activation of the Myeloid Compartment in Humanized Triple Knockout-Bone Marrow, Liver, and Thymus Mice

Scientists used triple knockout (TKO)-bone marrow, liver, thymus (BLT) humanized mice to recapitulate the early in vivo human immune response to filovirus infection. Disease severity in TKO-BLT mice was dissimilar between EBOV and Marburg virus with greater severity observed during EBOV infection. [J Infect Dis] Abstract

CBLB Constrains Inactivated Vaccine-Induced CD8⁺ T Cell Responses and Immunity against Lethal Fungal Pneumonia

The authors showed that CBLB, a negative regulator of TCR signaling, suppresses CD8⁺ T cells in response to inactivated fungal vaccination in a mouse model of CD4⁺ T cell lymphopenia. [J Immunol] Abstract

TSC1 and DEPDC5 Regulate HIV-1 Latency through the mTOR Signaling Pathway

Knockout of either TSC1 or DEPDC5 led to enhanced HIV-1 reactivation in both a T-cell line and a monocyte cell line, and this enhancement could be antagonized by the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. [Emerg Microbes Infect] Full Article

Coxiella burnetii Blocks Intracellular IL-17 Signaling in Macrophages

To identify host cell targets of Coxiella type IVB secretion system (T4BSS) effector proteins, investigators determined the transcriptome of murine alveolar macrophages infected with a Coxiella T4BSS effector mutant. [Infect Immun] Abstract

Modulation of Epigenetic Factors during the Early Stages of HIV-1 Infection in CD4⁺ T Cells In Vitro

The authors investigated epigenetic factors that are regulated at the beginning of HIV-1 infection in activated and resting CD4⁺ T cells. They analyzed the gene expression of 84 epigenetic targets, global DNA methylation, and HIV-1 replication kinetics for 36 hours after infecting CD4⁺ T cells obtained from the blood of twelve healthy donors. [Virology] Abstract

CMPK2 and BCL-G Are Associated with Type 1 Interferon-Induced HIV Restriction in Humans

Researchers sequenced RNA from cells that support HIV replication in 19 HIV-infected people before and after interferon-α2b (IFN-α2b) injection. IFN-α2b administration reduced plasma HIV RNA and induced mRNA expression in activated CD4⁺ T cells. [Sci Adv] Abstract | Press Release

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The Role of Follicular Helper CD4 T Cells in the Development of HIV-1 Specific Broadly Neutralizing Antibody Responses

The authors focus on the role of follicular helper CD4 T-cells (Tfh) in the development of such cross-reactive protective antibodies. They discuss germinal center (GC) formation and the dynamics of Tfh and GC B cells during HIV-1/SIV infection and vaccination. [Retrovirology] Full Article

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Bavarian Nordic Announces Positive Data from Phase II Extension Study of Its Universal RSV Vaccine

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced positive data from the extension study of its Phase II study investigating the safety and immune responses of its universal RSV vaccine, MVA-BN^® RSV in an older adult population. [Bavarian Nordic A/S] Press Release

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals Completes Data Analysis of Second Cohort in Part 1 of the Phase I/IIa Study of CRV431

ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the second cohort in Part 1 of the Phase I/IIa trial of CRV431 has been completed. [ContraVir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.] Press Release

Dengue Rates Plummet in Australian City after Release of Modified Mosquitoes

An Australian city has seen local cases of dengue fever plunge after it was blanketed with mosquitoes modified to block transmission of the virus. [Nature News] Editorial

Officials Move to Use Vaccine against New Ebola Outbreak

An experimental Ebola vaccine will likely be used again in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to help end an outbreak. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Japanese Medical University Admits to Discriminating against Female Applicants

A prominent Japanese medical university said that school administrators have deliberately manipulated entrance exam scores to limit the number of women admitted. The confession helps explain the lopsided gender ratio of graduates from Tokyo Medical University and strengthens suspicions that similar practices have prevailed at other Japanese medical schools. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Top US Biomedical Institute Settles Gender-Discrimination Lawsuits

The Salk Institute has reached a deal with two of three female scientists who alleged unequal treatment. Cancer researchers Katherine Jones and Victoria Lundblad have agreed to drop all claims against the institute in La Jolla, California, according to a joint statement released. [Nature News] Editorial

Embattled French Health-Agency Chief Withdraws Leadership Bid

The chief of France’s national biomedical-research agency INSERM has said that he will not run for a second term, a decision that ends months of uncertainty about his future at the organization. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW STI & HIV 2019 World Congress
July 14-17, 2019
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellows – Molecular Immunology and Infection Biology (CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences)

PhD Student – Virology (University Hospital of Münster)

PhD Student/Postdoctoral Position – Infection and Cancer Immunology (Heinrich-Heine University)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HIV Transmission and Pathogenesis (University of California, San Francisco)

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

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 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)

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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