Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 7.15 | Apr 24 2019

TOP STORY

Maternal Immunization Confers Protection against Neonatal Herpes Simplex Mortality and Behavioral Morbidity

The authors found herpes simplex virus (HSV)-specific neutralizing antibodies in newborns of immune mothers, indicating that placentally transferred HSV-specific antibody is protective. Using a murine model, they showed that passive administration of HSV-specific antibody to dams prevented disseminated infection and mortality in pups. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract

(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)

Spatial and Temporal Localization of Immune Transcripts Defines Hallmarks and Diversity in the Tuberculosis Granuloma

Researchers showed 34 immune transcripts align to the morphology of lung sections from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected mice at cellular resolution. Colocalizing transcript networks at >10 μm in C57BL/6 mouse granulomas increase complexity with time after infection. [Nat Commun] Full Article

The Notch Signaling Pathway Promotes Basophil Responses during Helminth-Induced Type 2 Inflammation

Scientists showed that during Trichuris muris infection, basophils localized to the intestine and up-regulated Notch receptor expression, rendering them sensitive to Notch signals that rapidly regulate gene expression programs. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

HIV-Specific Humoral Immune Responses by CRISPR/Cas9-Edited B Cells

Investigators showed that mature, primary mouse and human B cells can be edited in vitro using CRISPR/Cas9 to express mature broadly neutralizing antibodies to the virus from the endogenous Igh locus. Moreover, edited B cells retain the ability to participate in humoral immune responses. [J Exp Med] Abstract | Graphical Abstract

Co‐Degradation of Interferon Signaling Factor DDX3 by PB1‐F2 as a Basis for High Virulence of 1918 Pandemic Influenza

Investigators showed that the 1918 PB1‐F2 protein not only interferes with the mitochondria‐dependent pathway of type I interferon (IFN) signaling, but also acquired a novel IFN antagonist function by targeting the DEAD‐box helicase DDX3, a key downstream mediator in antiviral interferon signaling, toward proteasome‐dependent degradation. [EMBO J] Abstract

Rapid Generation of Multivirus-Specific T Lymphocytes for the Prevention and Treatment of Respiratory Viral Infections

Researchers describe a system that rapidly generates a single preparation of polyclonal virus-specific T cells reactive against 12 antigens derived from 4 viruses that commonly cause post-transplant morbidity and mortality. With a single in vitro stimulation they consistently generated Th1-polarized T cell lines that produced multiple effector cytokines and were selectively reactive against viral-expressing targets, with no evidence of ‘off target’ auto- or allo-reactivity. [Haematologica] Abstract | Full Article

Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein (oxLDL) Supports Mycobacterium tuberculosis Survival in Macrophages by Inducing Lysosomal Dysfunction

Scientists measured oxLDL levels in plasma samples of healthy controls, tuberculosis (TB), diabetes mellitus (DM) and TB-DM patients, and subsequently investigated the effect of oxLDL treatment on human macrophage infection with M. tuberculosis. Plasma oxLDL levels were significantly elevated in DM patients and associated with high triglyceride levels in TB-DM. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

NK Cells Negatively Regulate CD8 T Cells via Natural Cytotoxicity Receptor (NCR) 1 during LCMV Infection

Using activating receptor NCR 1 deficient mice, investigators found increased numbers of virus-specific CD8 T cells, leading to enhanced virus control during acute LCMV infection. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article

KCC1 Activation Protects Mice from the Development of Experimental Cerebral Malaria

The authors showed that Kcc1^M935K/M935K mice were protected from the development of experimental cerebral malaria, and that this protection was associated with an increased CD4⁺ and TNFa response. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Infection of Primary Human Alveolar Macrophages Alters Staphylococcus aureus Toxin Production and Activity

S. aureus-infected human alveolar macrophages (hAMs) mounted a robust inflammatory response that reflects natural human disease. S. aureus LAC was significantly more cytotoxic to hAMs than UAMS-1, potentially due to isolate-specific virulence factors. [Infect Immun] Abstract

Identification of Rare HIV-1-Infected Patients with Extreme CD4⁺ T Cell Decline Despite ART-Mediated Viral Suppression

Researchers report on HIV-infected individuals who had a paradoxical decline in CD4⁺ T cells despite ART-mediated suppression of plasma HIV-1 load. They defined such an immunological outcome as extreme immune decline. [JCI Insight] Full Article

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Mosquito Antiviral Defense Mechanisms: A Delicate Balance between Innate Immunity and Persistent Viral Infection

Scientists provide an updated and concise summary of recent studies on mosquito antiviral immune responses, which is a key determinant for successful virus transmission. In addition, they also discuss the factors that may contribute to persistent infection in mosquito hosts. [Parasit Vectors] Full Article

Immune Effector Mechanisms in Malaria: An Update Focusing on Human Immunity

The authors provide an update on immune effector mechanisms in malaria and focuses on our improved ability to interrogate the complexity of human immune system, accelerated by recent methodological advances. [Parasite Immunol] Abstract

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

Malaria Vaccine Pilot Launched in Malawi

The World Health Organization welcomes the Government of Malawi’s launch of the world’s first malaria vaccine in a landmark pilot program. The country is the first of three in Africa in which the vaccine, known as RTS,S, will be made available to children up to two years of age; Ghana and Kenya will introduce the vaccine in the coming weeks. [World Health Organization] Press Release

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company Announces U.S. FDA’s Grant of Breakthrough Therapy Designation for LJPC-0118 for the Treatment of Severe Malaria

La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company announced that the FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for the New Investigational Drug Product, LJPC-0118, for the treatment of severe malaria. [La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company] Press Release

Arrowhead Begins Triple Combination Cohort in Chronic HBV Patients and Earns $25 Million Milestone Payment from Janssen

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc. announced that it has begun dosing in a new triple combination cohort that includes JNJ-3989 and additional undisclosed agents selected by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its ongoing Phase I/II study in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV). [Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals Inc.] Press Release

PATH and MMV Launch Five-Year Global Initiative to Support Elimination of Relapsing Malaria

PATH and Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) announce a five-year, jointly-led initiative, VivAccess, to support countries in the elimination of Plasmodium vivax malaria. The initiative is part of the larger global effort to support malaria-endemic countries in the adoption and use of new and existing tools, to facilitate well-tolerated and effective radical cure to prevent relapse. [PATH (PR Newswire Association LLC.)] Press Release

GT Biopharma (GTBP) Announces the Elimination of HIV Infected Cells Using Its Tri-Specific Killer Engagers (TriKEs) in Preclinical Testing at the University of Minnesota

GT Biopharma, Inc. announced its Tri-Specific Killer Engager can target HIV infected cells in University of Minnesota’s preclinical testing. [GT Biopharma, Inc.] Press Release

Penn Immunologist and Collaborators Receive $10 Million NIH Renewal to Study Potential of Cancer-Focused Therapy on Infectious Diseases

Penn Medicine and colleagues at Oxford University and Massachusetts General Hospital have received an additional five-year round of funding totaling $10 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore using a promising cancer treatment to combat dangerous viruses. [Penn Medicine] Press Release

Syneos Health Wins Best CRO Award at the Vaccine Industry Excellence Awards

Syneos Health™ announced it has been named the Best Contract Research Organization (CRO) at the Vaccine Industry Excellence Awards. [Syneos Health™] Press Release

FDA Hires Pew Director to Lead Regulatory Policy

Elizabeth Jungman, a well-known public health expert and a Capitol Hill veteran, will lead the FDA’s regulatory policy office starting this summer, STAT has learned. Jungman, who currently serves as head of public health programs at the Pew Charitable Trusts, will direct the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Policy, a post with sweeping authority over FDA’s human drugs portfolio, two sources told STAT. [STAT] Editorial

Why Are Canada’s Scientists Getting Political?

Erratic funding for basic research, coupled with concerns that science has fallen down the priority list for politicians, has contributed to a shift in researchers’ attitudes to lobbying. [Nature News] Editorial

NEW 5^th ESCMID Conference on Vaccines
September 6-8, 2019
Bilbao, Spain

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

NEW Postdoctoral Associate – Influenza Pathogenesis and Cell Death (Fox Chase Cancer Center)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Malaria Immunology (Karolinska Institutet)

Research Technologist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

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

Project Assistant – Emerging Pathogens (University of Oxford)

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

Postdoctoral Fellows – HIV Research (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Qualified Person – BioManufacturing (University of Oxford)

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)

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