Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.00 | Jan 9 2019

TOP STORY

Innate Immune Recognition of Glycans Targets HIV Nanoparticle Immunogens to Germinal Centers

The authors compared the fate of two different heavily glycosylated HIV antigens, a gp120-derived mini-protein and a large, stabilized envelope trimer, in protein nanoparticle or “free” forms following primary immunization. [Science] Abstract

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TesG Is a Type I Secretion Effector of Pseudomonas aeruginosa that Suppresses the Host Immune Response during Chronic Infection

By using in situ RNA sequencing, researchers showed that P. aeruginosa adopts different metabolic pathways and virulence repertoires to dominate the progression of acute and chronic lung infections. Notably, a virulence factor named TesG, which is controlled by the vital quorum-sensing system and secreted by the downstream type I secretion system, can suppress the host inflammatory response and facilitate the development of chronic lung infection. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract

Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Phlebovirus Non-Structural Protein Activates TPL2 Signaling Pathway for Viral Immunopathogenesis

Investigators report that severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome phlebovirus-non-structural protein targets the tumor progression locus 2 (TPL2)-A20-binding inhibitor of NF-κB activation 2-p105 complex to induce the expression of IL-10 for viral pathogenesis. [Nat Microbiol] Abstract

Regulation of Mycobacterial Infection by Macrophage Gch1 and Tetrahydrobiopterin

Scientists showed that leukocyte-specific deficiency of nitric oxide production, through targeted loss of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin, resulted in enhanced control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection; by contrast, loss of iNOS rendered mice susceptible to M.tb. [Nat Commun] Full Article

A Protective Monoclonal Antibody Targets a Site of Vulnerability on the Surface of Rift Valley Fever Virus

To better understand the molecular basis for immune recognition, the authors raised a class of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus Gn, which exhibited protective efficacy in a mouse infection model. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Leishmania Lipophosphoglycan Triggers Caspase-11 and the Non-Canonical Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome

Scientists investigated the mechanisms involved in NLRP3 activation and demonstrated that caspase-11 is activated in response to infection by Leishmania species and triggers the non-canonical activation of NLRP3. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

SLAMF7 Is a Critical Negative Regulator of IFN-α-Mediated CXCL10 Production in Chronic HIV Infection

Investigators studied the function of the SLAMF7 receptor in immune cells of HIV patients and the impacts of SLAMF7 signaling on peripheral immune activation. [J Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Antigen-Specific TCR Signatures of Cytomegalovirus Infection

Scientists present a highly resolved characterization of CMV-specific human CD8⁺ T cells based on enrichment by specific peptide stimulation and mRNA sequencing of their TCR β-chains. They included recently identified T cell epitopes restricted through HLA-C, whose presentation is resistant to viral immunomodulation, and well-studied HLA-B-restricted epitopes. [J Immunol] Abstract | Press Release

Monocytes Latently Infected with Human Cytomegalovirus Evade Neutrophil Killing

Researchers showed cells latently infected with human cytomegalovirus can, indeed, be killed by host neutrophils but only in a serum-dependent manner. Specifically, antibodies to the viral latency-associated US28 protein mediate neutrophil killing of latently infected cells. [iScience] Abstract | Full Article | Graphical Abstract

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Neutrophils and Malaria

The authors focus on neutrophil responses to human malarias, summarizing evidence which helps us understand where neutrophils are, what they are doing, how they interact with parasites as well as their potential role in vaccine mediated immunity. They also outline future research priorities for these, the most abundant of leukocytes. [Front Immunol] Full Article

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HOOKIPA Achieves First Research Milestone in HIV Collaboration and License Agreement with Gilead

HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. announced that it has achieved its first research milestone in its collaboration and license agreement with Gilead Sciences, Inc. HOOKIPA has completed the first research milestone by designing and delivering 14 research-grade vectors to Gilead, along with the characterization of these vectors and delivery of a data package for the HIV program. [HOOKIPA Pharma Inc.] Press Release

Valneva Reports Positive Phase I Interim Results for Its Chikungunya Vaccine Candidate

Valneva SE announced positive Phase I interim results for its Chikungunya vaccine candidate, VLA1553. [Valneva SE] Download Press Release

CureVac Announces U.S. Patent Grant for mRNA Vaccination of Infants against RSV

CureVac AG announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted a fundamental patent for the use of mRNA encoding the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) F-protein for vaccination of infants up to two years of age. [CureVac AG] Press Release

Bavarian Nordic Announces FDA Acceptance and Priority Review of Biologics License Application for MVA-BN Smallpox Vaccine

Bavarian Nordic A/S announced that the FDA has accepted its Biologics License Application for the liquid-frozen version of the MVA-BN^® for active immunization against smallpox in adults age 18 years and older. [Bavarian Nordic A/S] Press Release

VBI Vaccines Announces Phase II Clinical Study Design of Its Prophylactic CMV Vaccine Candidate

VBI Vaccines Inc. announced its plans for a Phase II clinical study evaluating VBI-1501, the company’s prophylactic cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine candidate, following positive discussions with Health Canada. [VBI Vaccines Inc.] Press Release

Indian Scientists Protest against Unscientific Claims Made at Conference

Indian scientists have criticized two speakers at a major conference for making bizarre, unscientific claims, including that ancient Hindus invented stem cell science. Groups of researchers held protests in Bangalore, Kochi, Kolkata and Thiruvananthapuram on 6 January, calling for an end to presentations at the Indian Science Congress that promote unscientific personal beliefs. [Nature News] Editorial

Colombia Creates Its First Science Ministry

Colombian scientists are cautiously optimistic after the country’s Senate voted to create the nation’s first Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. [Nature News] Editorial

Taiwanese Biochemist Cleared of Corruption

A Taiwanese court has cleared biochemist Wong Chi-huey of corruption. Wong, a former head of Taiwan’s foremost research institution, Academia Sinica, had been accused of accepting shares as a bribe for helping the Taiwanese biopharmaceutical firm OBI Pharma secure the rights to use enzyme-synthesis technology that he had developed. Wong denies he did anything illegal. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Gordon Research Conference: Phagocytes
June 2-7, 2019
Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, United States

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

NEW Project Research Scientist – Malaria (The Francis Crick Institute)

NEW Senior Scientist and Postdoctoral Positions – HIV Molecular Virology (Buck Institute)

NEW Full Professor – Molecular and Experimental Virology (University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover)

NEW PhD Student Positions – Infection Biology of Human Pathogens (The Max von Pettenkofer Institute)

NEW Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Virology (University of Maryland at Baltimore)

Lectureship – Infectious Diseases (King’s College London)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School)

Director – Center for Cancer Cell Biology, Immunology, and Infection (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology and Infection (Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine)

Postdoctoral Position – Natural Killer Cells (The Scripps Research Institute)

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