Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.14 | Apr 17 2019

TOP STORY

CARD9⁺ Microglia Promote Antifungal Immunity via IL-1β- and CXCL1-Mediated Neutrophil Recruitment

Researchers investigated host and pathogen factors that promote protective neutrophil recruitment during invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by Candida albicans. The cytokine IL-1β served an essential function in CNS antifungal immunity by driving production of the chemokine CXCL1, which recruited neutrophils expressing the chemokine receptor CXCR2. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

An Asymmetric Opening of HIV-1 Envelope Mediates Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

Triggering asymmetric Env conformation on HIV-infected primary CD4⁺ T cells exposed epitopes that induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus Drives Expansion of Low-Density Neutrophils in Diabetic Mice

The authors observed increased mortality following i.v. S. aureus infection in diabetic mice compared with nondiabetic controls, correlating with increased numbers of low-density neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps. [J Clin Invest] Full Article

The Role of Platelets in Mediating a Response to Human Influenza Infection

Scientists isolated human platelets and treated them with influenza A virus. Viral-engulfment led to C3 release from platelets as a function of TLR7 and C3 led to neutrophil-DNA release and aggregation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Aedes aegypti NeSt1 Protein Enhances Zika Virus Pathogenesis by Activating Neutrophils

To investigate if antigenic salivary gland (SG) proteins are capable of enhancing Zika virus infection researchers screened for antigenic SG proteins using a yeast display library, and demonstrated a previously undescribed SG protein, they termed neutrophil stimulating factor 1 (NeSt1), activated primary mouse neutrophils ex vivo. [J Virol] Abstract

Enrichment of ATP Binding Proteins Unveils Proteomic Alterations in Human Macrophage Cell Death, Inflammatory Response and Protein Synthesis after Interaction with Candida albicans

A quantitative proteomic and phosphoproteomic approach was carried out for the study of human macrophage ATP-binding proteins after interaction with C. albicans. [J Proteome Res] Abstract

Increased Plasma Levels of the TH2 Chemokine CCL18 Associated with Low CD4⁺ T Cell Counts in HIV-1-Infected Patients with a Suppressed Viral Load

Chemokine chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) values were negatively correlated with CD4⁺CD38⁺ cell numbers and total CD4⁺ T cell counts in patients with a suppressed viral load. Notably, plasma levels of the T helper cell-mediated (TH2) chemokines CCL17 and CCL22 were also elevated during HIV-1 infection. [Sci Rep] Full Article

STING Agonists Activate Latently Infected Cells and Enhance SIV-Specific Responses Ex Vivo in Naturally SIV Controlled Cynomolgus Macaques

Investigators identified eight SIV-infected cynomolgus monkeys that became natural controllers of viremia. Although plasma viral loads were undetectable, they could measure SIV-DNA by qPCR in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Rabies-Based Vaccine Induces Potent Immune Responses against Nipah Virus

Scientists used a recombinant rabies virus (RABV) vector expressing Nipah virus (NiV) glycoprotein to develop a bivalent candidate vaccine against NiV disease and RABV disease, which is also a significant health burden in the regions where NiV is endemic. [npj Vaccines] Full Article

Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News.

Lessons for General Vaccinology Research from Attempts to Develop an HIV Vaccine

In the past when large investments have been made in tackling narrow scientific challenges, the enormous expansion in our knowledge in one small area has had a spill-over effect on research and treatment of other diseases. The large investment in HIV vaccine development in recent years has the potential for such an effect on vaccine development for other diseases. [Vaccine] Abstract

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

Altimmune To Present NasoVAX Phase II Data

Dr. Sybil Tasker, Chief Medical Officer of Altimmune, will present data from the company’s Phase II study and the recently completed Phase II extension study for NasoVAX. [Press release from Altimmune, Inc. discussing research presented at the 2019 World Vaccine Congress, Washington DC] Press Release

Pfizer Announces Presentation of Data from a Phase II Study of Its 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine Candidate Being Investigated for the Prevention of Invasive Disease and Pneumonia in Adults Aged 18 Years and Older

Pfizer Inc. announced the presentation of data from a Phase II study of its 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate, PF-06482077, being investigated for the prevention of invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes contained in the vaccine in adults aged 18 years and older. [Press release from Pfizer Inc. discussing research presented at the 29^th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Amsterdam] Press Release

Cidara Therapeutics Selects First Clinical Development Candidate from Its Cloudbreak Influenza (Antiviral) Program

Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. announced that the company has selected the antiviral conjugate CB-012 as its first clinical development candidate from the company’s Cloudbreak^® influenza program. [Press release from Cidara Therapeutics, Inc. discussing research presented at the 29^th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Amsterdam] Press Release

Emergent BioSolutions Announces Interim Results from Phase II Study Evaluating CHIKV-VLP, Chikungunya Virus Vaccine Candidate

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced results from the interim analysis of its Phase II clinical study evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of the company’s chikungunya virus virus-like particle (CHIKV-VLP) vaccine candidate across a series of dosing regimens. [Emergent BioSolutions Inc.] Press Release

Vaxart Doses First Patient in Randomized Cohort of Bivalent Norovirus Vaccine Phase Ib Clinical Trial

Vaxart, Inc. announced it has started dosing subjects in the randomized cohort of the Phase Ib bivalent norovirus vaccine clinical trial. [Vaxart, Inc.] Press Release

NanoViricides Submits Pre-IND Briefing Documents to the US FDA

NanoViricides, Inc. reports that it has submitted the required pre-IND Briefing Documents for its lead drug candidate NV-HHV-101 to the US FDA, ahead of schedule. [NanoViricides, Inc.] Press Release

BiondVax Universal Flu Vaccine Patent Application Accepted in Australia

BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd. announced that a patent application covering formulation and production processes of the M-001 universal influenza vaccine candidate was accepted in Australia. [BiondVax Pharmaceuticals Ltd.] Press Release

Enesi Pharma and BARDA DRIVe Enter Public-Private Partnership to Develop ImplaVax^® Solid Dose Vaccine Delivery Technology against Influenza

Enesi Pharma announced it has entered a public-private partnership with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority’s (BARDA) DRIVe (Division of Research, Innovation, and Ventures) initiative to develop new vaccines against influenza enabled by Enesi’s ImplaVax^® device and formulation technology. [Enesi Pharma] Press Release

WHO Stops Short of Declaring Ebola Crisis a Global Health Emergency

The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo still does not warrant the declaration of a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said — a decision that is sure to trigger substantial debate as the virus continues to spread unabated. [STAT News] Editorial

‘Friendly’ Reviewers Rate Grant Applications More Highly

Peer reviewers are four times more likely to give a grant application an “excellent” or “outstanding” score rather than a “poor” or “good” one when they are chosen by the grant’s applicants, an analysis of Swiss funding applications has found. [Nature News] Editorial

Indian Scientists Launch Preprint Repository to Boost Research Quality

Researchers in India will soon have their own preprint repository where they can post manuscripts from any discipline. The founders of IndiaRxiv hope it will improve the quality of science in the country. [Nature News] Editorial

Stanford Clears Three Faculty Members of ‘CRISPR Babies’ Involvement

Stanford University cleared three faculty members of any misconduct in their interactions with the Chinese scientist who created “CRISPR babies” last year. [STAT News] Editorial

NEW Keystone Symposia: The Malaria Endgame: Innovations in Therapeutics, Vector Control & Public Health
October 30-November 2, 2019
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

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

NEW Postdoctoral Position – Vaccine Research (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

NEW Project Assistant – Emerging Pathogens (University of Oxford)

NEW Research Scholar – HIV Research (Northern California Institute for Research and Education)

NEW Postdoctoral Fellows – HIV Research (Massachusetts General Hospital)

NEW Qualified Person – BioManufacturing (University of Oxford)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Malaria (Seattle Children’s)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Infection and Inflammation (Umea University)

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

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

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

Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.

Have we missed an important article or publication in Immunology of Infectious Disease News? Click here to submit!

Comments or suggestions? Submit your feedback here.