Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.05 | Feb 13 2019

TOP STORY

Choline Acetyltransferase-Expressing T Cells Are Required to Control Chronic Viral Infection

Investigators showed that the enzyme choline acetyltransferase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of acetylcholine production, was robustly induced in both CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells during lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in an IL-21-dependent manner. [Science] Abstract | Press Release

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Mosaic Nanoparticle Display of Diverse Influenza Virus Hemagglutinins Elicits Broad B Cell Responses

The authors designed a vaccine using the hypervariable receptor-binding domain of viral hemagglutinin displayed on a nanoparticle able to elicit antibody responses that neutralize H1N1 influenza viruses spanning over 90 years. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

Type I Interferon Induces CXCL13 to Support Ectopic Germinal Center Formation

Researchers showed that type I IFN produced after viral infection could induce CXCL13 expression in a phenotypically distinct population of lung fibroblasts, driving CXCR5-dependent recruitment of B cells and initiating ectopic germinal center formation. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

Mucosal Boosting of H56:CAF01 Immunization Promotes Lung-Localized T Cells and an Accelerated Pulmonary Response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection without Enhancing Vaccine Protection

Investigators found that airway mucosal boosting of parenteral H56:CAF01 immunization greatly enhanced the population of long-lived lung-resident T cells and increased early vaccine T cell responses to pulmonary M. tuberculosis challenge in multiple mouse models. [Mucosal Immunol] Full Article

Identification of NK Cell Subpopulations that Differentiate HIV-Infected Subject Cohorts with Diverse Level of Virus Control

Scientists used mass cytometry to simultaneously measure expression of 24 surface markers on peripheral NK cells from HIV-infected subjects with varying degrees of HIV natural control; they then used machine learning to identify NK cell subpopulations that differentiate HIV controllers from non-controllers. [J Virol] Abstract

Early Human B Cell Response to Ebola Virus in Four U.S. Survivors of Infection

Researchers studied the population of individual memory B cells induced early in convalescence. They isolated monoclonal antibodies from memory B cells from four survivors treated for Ebola virus disease one or three-months after discharge from hospital. [J Virol] Abstract

Highly Immunogenic Influenza Virus-Like Particles Containing B-Cell-Activating Factor (BAFF) for Multi-Subtype Vaccine Development

Scientists showed that immunizations with HA-transmembrane anchored BAFF- or proliferation-inducing ligand-virus-like particles only formulated in alum but not MPL adjuvant elicited significantly higher IgG titers in sera. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Expression in Bovine Macrophages Brings Up Novel Aspects of Mycobacterium avium Subspecies paratuberculosis Infections

Researchers investigated the alteration in genomic expression profiles of mRNA and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in bovine macrophages in response to paratuberculosis infection using RNA-Seq. They identified 397 potentially novel lncRNA candidates in macrophages of which 38 were differentially regulated by the infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

A Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis-Based Lassa Fever Vaccine Elicits Rapid and Long-Term Protection from Lethal Lassa Virus Infection in Guinea Pigs

The authors assessed the ability of a leading vaccine candidate, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus expressing Lassa virus (LASV) glycoprotein, and its ability to induce rapid and long-term immunity to lethal guinea pig-adapted LASV. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

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Role of IgG3 in Infectious Diseases

Recent studies underscore the importance of IgG3 effector functions against a range of pathogens and have provided approaches to overcome IgG3-associated limitations, such as allotype-dependent short antobody (Ab) half-life, and excessive proinflammatory activation. Understanding the molecular and functional properties of IgG3 may facilitate the development of improved Ab-based immunotherapies and vaccines against infectious diseases. [Trends Immunol] Abstract

New Insights into Immunological Responses to Infection in Bronchiectasis

Infection and inflammation drive the pathogenesis of lung injury in bronchiectasis. The “vicious cycle” hypothesis suggests that infection leads to inflammation, which in turn disrupts normal bronchial structure and mucociliary clearance. [Eur Respir J] Full Article

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

FluGen’s M2SR Influenza Vaccine Succeeds in Phase II Human Challenge Trial Against a Highly Mismatched Virus

FluGen, Inc. announced preliminary data from a human challenge trial with its investigational intranasal M2SR vaccine showing, for the first time, protection against a highly mismatched influenza virus. [FluGen, Inc.] Press Release

Affinivax, Inc. Announces Initiation of Phase I/II Clinical Study of ASP3772, Its Novel Pneumococcal MAPS Vaccine, in Collaboration with Astellas

Affinivax, Inc. announced that the first subject has been dosed with ASP3772, its novel MAPS vaccine targeting Streptococcus pneumoniae. [Affinivax, Inc.] Press Release

Restructure Spurs Protest at Indonesia’s Largest Research Institution

Hundreds of scientists in Indonesia protested against a major reorganization of the country’s largest research institution that is set to relocate more than 1,400 science-support jobs. [Nature News] Editorial

Violent Drug Cartels Stifle Mexican Science

Abandoned projects and delayed research have become common problems as security issues crop up across the country. [Nature News] Editorial

Europe’s Next €1-Billion Science Projects: Six Teams Make It to Final Round

The European Commission has selected six research projects — in areas from health and energy to artificial intelligence and cultural heritage — to compete to become one of its next billion-euro ‘flagship’ science initiatives, Nature has learned. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 13^th Vaccine Congress
September 15-18, 2019
Bangkok, Thailand

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

NEW Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Positions – Human Immunology (University of California, San Francisco)

Research Chairs – Infection, Immunity and Inflammation (University of Ottawa)

Postdoctoral Position – Bacterium-Host Interaction (Universitätsklinikum Münster)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Virology/Cell Biology (Feinberg School of Medicine)

Junior Research Group Leader – Infectious Disease Research (Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research)

Postdoctoral Position – Immunopathogenesis of In Utero Zika Virus Infection (University of Saskatchewan)

Senior Lecturer – Infection Immunology (University of Gothenburg)

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

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

Lectureship – Infectious Diseases (King’s College London)

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