Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.33 | Aug 22 2018

TOP STORY

New HIV Therapy Reduces Virus, Boosts Immunity in Drug-Resistant Patients

A new HIV drug has reduced viral replication and increased immune cells in individuals with advanced, drug-resistant HIV infection. Used in combination with existing HIV medications, the drug is a promising strategy for patients who have run out of effective treatment options. [Press release from Yale University discussing online prepublication in New England Journal of Medicine] Press Release | Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Endogenous Glucocorticoids Control Host Resistance to Viral Infection through the Tissue-Specific Regulation of PD-1 Expression on NK Cells

Endogenous glucocorticoids produced shortly after infection induced selective and tissue-specific expression of the checkpoint receptor PD-1 on NK cells. This glucocorticoid-PD-1 pathway limited production of the cytokine IFN-γ by spleen NK cells, which prevented immunopathology. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Disruption of an Antimycobacterial Circuit between Dendritic and Helper T Cells in Human SPPL2a Deficiency

Sppl2a^–/– mice lacked IL-12- and IL-23-producing CD1c⁺ conventional dendritic cells, had CD4⁺ T cells that produced small amounts of IFN-γ after Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) infection, and were highly susceptible to infection with BCG or Mycobacterium tuberculosis. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

An Mtb-Human Protein-Protein Interaction Map Identifies a Switch between Host Antiviral and Antibacterial Responses

Scientists discovered that an lpqN Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) mutant was attenuated in macrophages, but growth was restored when CBL was removed. Conversely, Cbl ^−/− macrophages were resistant to viral infection, indicating that CBL regulated cell-intrinsic polarization between antibacterial and antiviral immunity. [Mol Cell] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Host-Parasite Interaction Associated with Major Mental Illness

Investigators revealed that disrupted in schizophrenia 1 (DISC1) Leu607Phe variation, which changes DISC1 interaction with activating transcription factor 4, modified gene expression patterns upon Toxoplasma gondii infection. [Mol Psychiatry] Abstract

MAIT Cells Protect against Pulmonary Legionella longbeachae Infection

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cell protection was more evident in mice lacking CD4⁺ cells, and adoptive transfer of MAIT cells rescued immunodeficient Rag2^−/−γC^−/− mice from lethal Legionella infection. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Lack of Sprouty 1 and 2 Enhances Survival of Effector CD8⁺ T Cells and Yields More Protective Memory Cells

Sprouty 1 and 2 (Spry1/2) double-knockout (DKO) lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus gp33-specific P14 CD8⁺ T cells survived contraction better than wild-type (WT) cells and generated significantly more polyfunctional memory T cells. Upon adoptive transfer into naive hosts, Spry1/2 DKO memory T cells controlled Listeria monocytogenes infection better than WT cells. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract | Press Release

Non-Redundant ISGF3 Components Promote NK Cell Survival in an Auto-Regulatory Manner during Viral Infection

Researchers showed that STAT2- or IRF9-deficient NK cells were defective in their ability to expand following mouse cytomegalovirus infection, in part because of diminished survival rather than an inability to proliferate. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

HIV-1-Infected CD4⁺ T Cells Facilitate Latent Infection of Resting CD4⁺ T Cells through Cell-Cell Contact

Scientists demonstrated that productively infected activated CD4⁺ T cells transmitted HIV-1 to resting CD4⁺ T cells in a cell-contact-dependent manner. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Masters of Manipulation: Viral Modulation of the Immunological Synapse

The authors look at how viruses are able to subvert intracellular signaling to modulate immune function to their advantage and explores the role synapse formation has in viral persistence and cell-cell transmission. [Cell Microbiol] Abstract | Full Article

Prospects in Innate Immune Responses as Potential Control Strategies against Non-Primate Lentiviruses

Investigators describe the latest advances on innate immunity related to the infection by animal lentiviruses, centered on small ruminant lentiviruses, equine infectious anemia virus, and feline and bovine immunodeficiency viruses, specifically focusing on the antiviral role of major restriction factors. [Viruses] Full Article

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BioNTech Signs Collaboration Agreement with Pfizer to Develop mRNA-Based Vaccines for Prevention of Influenza

BioNTech AG announced that it has entered into a multi-year research and development collaboration with Pfizer Inc. to develop mRNA-based vaccines for prevention of influenza. [BioNTech AG] Press Release

NIH Begins Clinical Trial of Live, Attenuated Zika Vaccine

Vaccinations have begun in a first-in-human trial of an experimental live, attenuated Zika virus vaccine developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [National Institutes of Health] Press Release

ViiV Healthcare Reports Positive 48-Week Results for First Pivotal, Phase III Study for Novel, Long-Acting, Injectable HIV-Treatment Regimen

ViiV Healthcare announced positive headline results from its global, Phase III ATLAS study of a long-acting, injectable two-drug regimen for the treatment of HIV. The study showed long-acting cabotegravir and rilpivirine, injected once a month, had similar efficacy to a standard of care, daily, oral three-drug regimen at week 48. [ViiV Healthcare UK Limited] Press Release

Ichor Medical Systems Announces Utilization of Its Investigational TriGrid Delivery System in a Clinical Trial Evaluating GX-188E Vaccine Combined with a Checkpoint Inhibitor for Treatment of Cervical Cancer

Ichor Medical Systems, Inc. announced that its investigational TriGrid^® delivery system is being utilized in a Phase Ib/II clinical trial to administer GX-188E, an investigational therapeutic human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA vaccine developed by Genexine, Inc., in patients with HPV-induced advanced non-resectable cervical cancer, in combination with an anti-PD-1 therapy. [Ichor Medical Systems, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

Ology Bioservices Wins $8.4 Million Defense Department Award to Produce Anti-Ebola Medical Countermeasure

Ology Bioservices, Inc., announced that it was awarded an Other Transaction Agreement to support the Joint Project Manager Medical Countermeasure Systems, a component of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense for advanced biologics manufacturing services-specifically, to manufacture an anti-Ebola monoclonal antibody. [Ology Bioservices, Inc.] Press Release

BiondVax Moves to New Universal Flu Vaccine Manufacturing Facility

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. reported the company’s relocation to a newly constructed mid-size commercial scale manufacturing facility in Jerusalem, Israel. [Biondvax Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] Press Release

Caprion Biosciences Expands Its Biomarker and Immune Monitoring Franchise by Acquiring US-Based Primity Bio

Caprion Biosciences announced that the company acquired Primity Bio Inc. Caprion will leverage Primity’s strong technological capabilities and innovative track record to further expand its immunology and molecular profiling service offering as well as its ability to globally support its clients. [Caprion Biosciences, Inc.] Press Release

A Record Year for Measles Cases in Europe

More than 41,000 people throughout Europe were infected with measles in the first six months of 2018, the World Health Organization announced, and at least 37 have died. The number of infections in the region is nearly double that for all of 2017, and is the highest so far this decade, the agency says. [The Scientist] Editorial

In Defiance of Trump’s Budget, Senate Poised to Boost NIH Funding—Again

Ignoring President Donald Trump’s proposed budget, the Senate is setting up to approve a $2 billion boost in funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). [Fierce Biotech] Editorial

As Primate Research Drops in Europe, Overseas Options Appeal

A combination of public opposition, intense regulations, and rising costs in the European Union make conditions in China and elsewhere attractive for studying monkeys. [The Scientist] Editorial

Hundreds of Chimps at the NIH Await Retirement. This Senator Wants to Help

Sen. Bill Cassidy is trying to help hundreds of chimpanzees enjoy an easy retirement in his home state of Louisiana. The Republican is pushing for an amendment to a major appropriations bill winding its way through Congress that would force the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to make good on a 2015 promise to move all its chimps out of research facilities. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW International Conference on Cellular Therapies: Focus on Immune Based Therapeutic Concepts
September 20-22, 2019
Mandelieu, France

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NEW Postdoctoral Scholar – Hepatitis B Infection (The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine)

Assistant/Associate Member Faculty Position – Viral Diseases (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Infection and Immunity (Charite – Universitatsmedizin Berlin)

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)

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

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

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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