Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.13 | Apr 10 2019

TOP STORY

Immunization with Components of the Viral Fusion Apparatus Elicits Antibodies that Neutralize Epstein-Barr Virus in B Cells and Epithelial Cells

Researchers found that antibodies to the Epstein-Barr virus glycoprotein gH/gL complex were the principal components in human plasma that neutralized infection of epithelial cells and that antibodies to gH/gL and gp42 contributed to B cell neutralization. [Immunity] Abstract | Press Release | Graphical Abstract

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Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in the Central Nervous System Hinder Bacterial Clearance during Pneumococcal Meningitis

In a rat model of meningitis, a clinical strain of pneumococci induced neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation in the cerebrospinal fluid. Disrupting NETs using DNase I significantly reduced bacterial load, demonstrating that NETs contribute to pneumococcal meningitis pathogenesis in vivo. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release

Coordinated Host-Pathogen Transcriptional Dynamics Revealed Using Sorted Subpopulations and Single Macrophages Infected with Candida albicans

The authors developed an experimental system to separate interaction stages and single macrophage cells infected with C. albicans from uninfected cells and assessed transcriptional variability in the host and fungus. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Infection-Generated Electric Field in Gut Epithelium Drives Bidirectional Migration of Macrophages

Investigators report that Salmonella infection generates directional electric fields (EFs) in the follicle-associated epithelium of mouse cecum. In vitro application of an EF, mimicking the infection-generated electric field, induced directional migration of primary mouse macrophages to the anode, which was reversed to the cathode upon Salmonella infection. [PLoS Biol] Full Article

Influenza A Reinfection in Sequential Human Challenge: Implications for Protective Immunity and “Universal” Vaccine Development

Scientists report observations made when seven volunteers participated in sequential influenza challenge studies where they were challenged intranasally using the identical influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus approximately one year apart. [Clin Infect Dis] Abstract

Sequential Sensing by TLR2 and Mincle Directs Immature Myeloid Cells to Protect against Invasive Group A Streptococcal Infection in Mice

Researchers demonstrated that γ-producing immature myeloid cells (γIMCs) provide this IFN-γ-mediated protection by sequentially sensing group A Streptococcus (GAS) through two distinct pattern recognition receptors. In a mouse model, GAS was initially recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), which promptly induces interleukin-6 production in γIMCs. [Cell Rep] Full Article

Qa-1-Restricted CD8⁺ T Cells Can Compensate for the Absence of Conventional T Cells during Viral Infection

Using the well-established murine model of CMV infection (MCMV) and mice deficient in MHC class Ia molecules, the authors found that non-classical CD8⁺ T cells robustly expand after MCMV challenge, become highly activated effectors, and are capable of forming durable memory. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Alpha-Galactosylceramide Enhances Mucosal Immunity to Oral Whole-Cell Cholera Vaccines

Investigators describe the use of the orally active adjuvant α-galactosylceramide to strongly enhance intestinal bacterium- and toxin-specific IgA responses to the oral cholera vaccine, Dukoral^® in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. [Mucosal Immunol] Full Article

In Vivo Delivery of a DNA-Encoded Monoclonal Antibody Protects Non-Human Primates against Zika Virus

In vivo-delivered DNA-encoded monoclonal antibody-ZK190 achieved expression levels persisting >10 weeks in mice and >3 weeks in non-human primate, which was protective against Zika virus infectious challenge. [Mol Ther] Full Article

Subversion of Natural Killer Cell Responses by a Cytomegalovirus-Encoded Soluble CD48 Decoy Receptor

Scientists demonstrated that soluble A43 is capable to abrogate host CD48:2B4 interactions. Moreover, A43 strongly binds to human 2B4 and prevents 2B4-mediated NK-cell adhesion to target cells, therefore reducing the formation of conjugates and the establishment of immunological synapses between human NK cells and CD48-expressing target cells. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

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Macrophage Heterogeneity and Plasticity in Tuberculosis

Researchers draw on work investigating specialized macrophage populations and their interactions with Mycobacterium tuberculosis with respect to pathogenesis and specific immune responses. Understanding the mechanisms that control the repertoire of macrophage phenotypes and behaviors during infection may provide prospects for novel tuberculosis control strategies through modulation of immunobiological functions of macrophages. [J Leukoc Biol] Abstract

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Enesi Pharma and University of Oxford Collaborate to Target Plague with a Novel Implavax^®-Enabled Adenovirus-Based Solid Dose Vaccine

Enesi Pharma scientists at the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford announced they have entered into a collaborative agreement to create and test a solid dose vaccine against plague. [Enesi Pharma] Press Release

Gilead Submits Supplemental New Drug Application to U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Once-Daily Descovy^® for HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced that the company has submitted a supplemental New Drug Application to the FDA for Descovy^® for pre-exposure prophylaxis to reduce the risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection among individuals who are HIV-negative and at risk for HIV. [Gilead Sciences, Inc.] Press Release

UM School of Medicine’s Institute for Genome Sciences Awarded $17.5 Million Grant for Infectious Disease Research

The Institute for Genome Sciences (IGS) at the University of Maryland (UM) School of Medicine was awarded $17.5 million from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to fund the IGS Genome Center for Infectious Diseases for another five years. [University of Maryland School of Medicine] Press Release

New $22 Million Project Targets Deadly Viruses

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases has awarded an international consortium led by Albert Einstein College of Medicine a five-year, $22 million grant to develop antibody-based therapies against four highly lethal viruses for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. [Albert Einstein College of Medicine] Press Release

ReViral Announces Grant of Key US Composition of Matter Patent for Their Respiratory Syncytial Virus Inhibitor Programme

ReViral Ltd. announced that the the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently granted patent US10,106,539 entitled “Spiro-Indolines for the Treatment and Prophylaxis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)”. [ReViral Ltd. (Business Wire, Inc.)] Press Release

New York City Orders Mandatory Vaccines for Some Amid Measles Outbreak

New York City declared a public health emergency over a measles outbreak and ordered mandatory vaccinations in one neighborhood for people who may have been exposed to the virus. [STAT News] Editorial

Racism Rife at Top South African University, Says Report

A damning report that says racism is entrenched at the University of Cape Town has reignited discussions about how to erase the divisive legacy of colonialism at South Africa’s top research institutions. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW Hepatitis Delta
June 27-28, 2019
Baku, Azerbaijan

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NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Malaria (Seattle Children’s)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Infection and Inflammation (Umea University)

Faculty Positions – Immunology (University of York)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Lymphomas Associated with Viral Infection (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology/Infection Biology (Wellcome Sanger Institute)

Staff Scientist – Transcriptional Control in Development and Disease (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Research Associate – Role of PI3Kδ in Immunity and Infection (University of Cambridge)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Infection and Immunity (University of Southern California)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology, Infection and Tissue Injury (Hospital for Special Surgery/Weill Cornell Medicine)

Professor Position – Infection, Inflammation or Cancer Epigenetics (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Ltd.)

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