Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 6.42 | Oct 24 2018

TOP STORY

NK-Cell Responses Are Biased towards CD16-Mediated Effector Functions in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

To assess the impact of memory-like NK cells on phenotypic and functional alterations in chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection researchers performed in-depth analyses of circulating NK cells in 52 cHBV patients, 45 chronically HCV-infected patients and 50 healthy donors with respect to their human cytomegalovirus serostatus. [J Hepatol] Full Article

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Regulatory Evolution Drives Evasion of Host Inflammasomes by Salmonella Typhimurium

Investigators showed that SsrB alters a transcriptional network controlling bacterial motility to limit inflammasome activation during host cell infection. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

The Emergence of Pathogenic TNF/iNOS Producing Dendritic Cells (Tip-DCs) in a Malaria Model of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Is Dependent on CCR4

Scientists used the Plasmodium berghei NK65 (PbN)-induced malaria-associated-acute lung injury/ARDS model that resembles human disease and confirmed that lung CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells predominantly expressed Tbet and IFN-γ. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract

Protection against Staphylococcus aureus Colonization and Infection by B- and T-Cell-Mediated Mechanisms

Investigators showed that, depending on the challenge model, the contributions of vaccine-induced S. aureus-specific antibody and Th1 and Th17 responses to protection are different: antibodies played a major role in reducing mortality during S. aureus bacteremia, whereas Th1 or Th17 responses were essential for prevention of S. aureus skin abscesses and the clearance of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract. [mBio] Full Article

IFN-γ Immune Priming of Macrophages In Vivo Induces Prolonged STAT1 Binding and Protection against Cryptococcus neoformans

Scientists utilized an experimental immunization strategy to induce innate memory in macrophages in vivo. Unlike current trained immunity models, they present an innate memory-like phenotype in macrophages that is maintained for at least 70 days post-immunization and results in complete protection against secondary challenge in the absence of adaptive immune cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

CD11c-Expressing Ly6C⁺CCR2⁺ Monocytes Constitute a Reservoir for Efficient Leishmania Proliferation and Cell-to-Cell Transmission

Using a biosensor for measuring pathogen proliferation in the living tissue, investigators found that monocyte-derived Ly6C⁺CCR2⁺ phagocytes expressing CD11c constituted the main cell type harboring rapidly proliferating L. major in the ongoing infection. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

B7-H6-Mediated Down-Regulation of NKp30 in Natural Killer Cells Contributes to HIV-2 Immune Escape

The authors report in HIV-2⁺ patients a very significant reduced expression of the activating NKp30 receptor on natural killer cells, much higher than observed in HIV-1⁺ patients. The impaired expression of NKp30 was correlated negatively with HLA-DR, and positively with both NKG2A and Siglec-7. [AIDS] Abstract

HBV Induces Inhibitory FcRL Receptor on B Cells and Dysregulates B Cell-T Follicular Helper Cell Axis

Researchers investigated B and follicular T helper cell defects that persist in HBV infection despite long-term nucleos(t)ide analog treatment and possible mechanisms behind them. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Prostaglandin E2 Facilitates Hepatitis B Virus Replication by Impairing CTL Function

Scientists found that compared to healthy donors, patients with chronic Hepatitis B virus infection had significantly elevated serum PGE2 level. Importantly, serum PGE2 concentration correlated with viral load and liver damage in chronic hepatitis B patients. [Mol Immunol] Abstract

Targeting of the Yersinia pestis F1 Capsular Antigen by Innate-Like B1b Cells Mediates a Rapid Protective Response against Bubonic Plague

Researchers showed by applying genetic and immunological approaches that the F1 antigen is targeted by peritoneal innate-like B1b cells that generate a prompt T-independent anti-F1 humoral response. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

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Antibody-Mediated Protection against Ebola Virus

The authors discuss the antibody features that correlate with in vivo protection during infection with Ebola virus, based on the results of a systematic and comprehensive study of antibodies directed against this virus. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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GeoVax Announces Further Positive Results of Its HIV Preventive Vaccine Program

GeoVax Labs, Inc. announced the presentation of positive results from HVTN 114, a Phase I trial testing a late protein boost of participants from a Phase IIa trial of GeoVax’s GOVX-B11 preventive HIV vaccine candidate. [Press release from GeoVax Labs, Inc. discussing research presented at the HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P) Conference, Madrid] Press Release

AELIX Therapeutics and Gilead Sciences Enter into a Clinical Research Collaboration Agreement to Evaluate a Therapeutic Vaccine and TLR7 Agonist Regimen for HIV Cure

AELIX Therapeutics S.L. announced that it has entered into a clinical research collaboration with Gilead Sciences, Inc. to jointly evaluate proprietary investigational products in a strategic clinical study aimed at achieving a functional cure of HIV infection. [AELIX Therapeutics S.L.] Press Release

City of Hope’s Xiuli Wang, Ph.D., Awarded $3.8 Million by California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to Develop Immunotherapy Trial for HIV

The California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) awarded City of Hope’s Xiuli Wang, Ph.D. $3.8 million to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that can target and kill HIV-infected cells. The treatment will also use the cytomegalovirus vaccine to stimulate the immune system to proliferate and maintain the CAR T cells. [City of Hope] Press Release

Chinese Maker of Faulty Rabies Vaccines Fined Billions of Yuan

A Chinese pharmaceutical company caught producing faulty rabies vaccines has been fined billions of yuan by national and local agencies. China’s national drug regulator announced on 16 October that it will fine Changchun Changsheng Biotechnology 12 million yuan (US$1.7 million), and revoke the company’s licence to make rabies vaccines. [Nature News] Press Release

InvVax Achieves Preclinical Milestone with Universal Flu Vaccine Candidate

InvVax, Inc., in collaboration with Trudeau Institute Contract Research Organization and Hong Kong University, announced that it has demonstrated preclinical success for its universal flu vaccine candidate. [InvVax, Inc. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

CureVac Announces First Study Participant Enrolled in Phase I Clinical Trial Testing Prophylactic mRNA

CureVac AG announced the initiation of its Phase I dose-escalation clinical trial with the novel mRNA-based rabies vaccine, CV7202. [CureVac AG] Press Release

Sanofi Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Dengue Vaccine

The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion for the marketing authorization of Sanofi’s dengue vaccine, recommending its approval in Europe. [Sanofi] Press Release

Leading Cancer-Research Charity Takes Tough Stance on Bullying

One of the world’s biggest funders of cancer research has launched an anti-bullying policy that could lead to the withdrawal of funding from scientists whose institutions uphold allegations made against them. The policy, announced by Cancer Research UK, makes the charity the second major UK research funder to introduce anti-bullying and anti-harassment rules. [Nature News] Editorial

China Hides Identities of Top Scientific Recruits amidst Growing US Scrutiny

China’s flagship science talent recruitment program, the Thousand Talents Plan, has gone underground amidst intensifying scrutiny by United States government agencies for China’s suspected role in the theft of US technologies and intellectual property. [Nature News] Editorial

First Analysis of ‘Pre-Registered’ Studies Shows Sharp Rise in Null Findings

Studies that fail to find a positive result are often filed away, never to see the light of day, which leads to a publication bias that compromises the credibility of scientific literature. An analysis now suggests that registering and peer-reviewing study protocols before research is conducted could improve this ‘file-drawer problem’, and help to correct the existing publication bias towards positive findings. [Nature News] Editorial

Hard Brexit Could Cripple UK Science, Say Nobel Prizewinners

A coalition of Nobel laureates has said a hard Brexit could cripple UK science, in a letter to Theresa May and the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker. The letter, signed by 29 Nobel prizewinners and six Fields medalists, says the UK “must now strive to ensure that as little harm as possible is done to research”. [The Guardian] Editorial

NEW Cell Symposia: Neuro-Immune Axis: Reciprocal Regulation in Development, Health, and Disease
September 22-24, 2019
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