Immunology of Infectious Disease News Volume 8.01 | Jan 15 2020

TOP STORY

Influenza-Induced Monocyte-Derived Alveolar Macrophages Confer Prolonged Antibacterial Protection

Investigators describe that following viral clearance and clinical recovery, at one month after infection with influenza, mice were better protected from Streptococcus pneumoniae infection due to a population of monocyte-derived alveolar macrophages (AMs) that produced increased interleukin-6. Influenza-induced monocyte-derived AMs had a surface phenotype similar to resident AMs but displayed a unique functional, transcriptional and epigenetic profile that was distinct from resident AMs. [Nat Immunol] Abstract

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Dynamic MAIT Cell Response with Progressively Enhanced Innateness during Acute HIV-1 Infection

The authors investigated the response of mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells during acute HIV-1 infection utilizing the RV217 cohort with paired longitudinal pre- and post-infection samples. MAIT cells were activated and expand in blood and mucosa coincident with peak HIV-1 viremia, in a manner associated with emerging microbial translocation. [Nat Commun] Full Article

Sensing of HIV-1 by TLR8 Activates Human T Cells and Reverses Latency

The authors showed that synthetic ligands of toll like receptor (TLR)8 boosted T cell receptor signaling, resulting in increased cytokine production and upregulation of surface activation markers. Adjuvant TLR8 stimulation, but not TLR7 or TLR9, further promoted T helper cell differentiation towards Th1 and Th17. [Nat Commun] Full Article

T-bet⁺ Memory B Cells Link to Local Cross-Reactive IgG upon Human Rhinovirus Infection

To analyze rhinovirus-specific B cell responses in humans, investigators developed techniques using intact RV-A16 and RV-A39 for high-throughput high-dimensional single-cell analysis, with parallel assessment of antibody isotypes in an experimental infection model. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract

Evaluation of Sofosbuvir Activity and Resistance Profile against West Nile Virus In Vitro

The in vitro antiviral activity of sofosbuvir against West Nile virus was determined by plaque assay (PA) and Immunodetection Assay in human cell lines and by enzymatic RdRp assay. By PA, the sofosbuvir half-maximal inhibitory concentration was 1.2±0.3μM in Huh-7, 5.3±0.9μM in U87, 7.8±2.5μM in LN-18 and 63.4±14.1μM in A549 cells. [Antiviral Res] Abstract

Characterization and Engineering of Broadly Reactive Monoclonal Antibody against Hepatitis B Virus X Protein That Blocks Its Interaction With DDB1

Researchers characterized 2A7 in order to explore its potential usefulness in HBx-targeting applications. They demonstrated that 2A7 recognized a linear epitope mapped to L⁸⁹PKVLHK^R96 on HBx, a segment that was highly conserved across genotypes and coincidentally overlapped with the DDB1-interacting segment. [Sci Rep] Full Article

Compartmentalized Cytotoxic Immune Response Leads to Distinct Pathogenic Roles of Natural Killer and Senescent CD8⁺ T Cells in Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Investigators performed a broad evaluation of NK cells phenotypic and functional features during cutaneous leishmaniasis. They demonstrated for the first time that cutaneous leishmaniasis patients presented the accumulation of circulating NK cells with multiple features of replicative senescence including low proliferative capacity and shorter telomeres, elevated expression of CD57, KLRG1 but diminished CD27 stimulatory receptor expression. [Immunology] Abstract

Magnitude and Functional Profile of the Human CD4⁺ T Cell Response throughout Primary Immunization with Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Vaccine

Researchers characterized the human CD4⁺ T cell response throughout primary Tick-borne encephalitis immunization. The responses were evaluated before vaccination and one month after each vaccine dose. [J Immunol Res] Abstract

PD-1 Blockade Promotes Immune Memory Following Plasmodium berghei ANKA Reinfection

Scientists evaluated the possible role of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) in the establishment of malaria immune memory. Following infection by Plasmodium berghei ANKA, they compared natural immunity, acquired immunity, and immune memory between WT and mice lacking PD-1 via monoclonal antibody treatment. [Int Immunopharmacol] Abstract

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Cross-Reactive Antibodies during Zika Virus Infection: Protection, Pathogenesis, and Placental Seeding

Because ZIKV is a mosquito-borne flavivirus with a high degree of sequence and structural homology to Dengue virus (DENV), the role of immunological cross-reactivity in ZIKV and DENV infections has become a great concern. The authors highlight contemporary findings that implicate a role for flavivirus antibodies in mediating protection, contributing to pathogenesis, and seeding the human placenta. [Cell Host Microbe] Abstract

The Evolutionary Genomics of Host Specificity in Staphylococcus aureus

Genomic and epidemiological studies show that S. aureus has jumped between host species many times over its evolutionary history. These jumps have involved the dynamic gain and loss of host-specific adaptive genes, usually located on mobile genetic elements. [Trends Microbiol] Abstract

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Spero Reports Preliminary Findings from Phase I Clinical Trial of SPR206 and Plans to Advance Program with Alliance Partners Everest Medicines and the Department of Defense

Spero Therapeutics, Inc. announced preliminary findings from its Phase I first-in-humans clinical trial of SPR206, an IV-administered product candidate being developed by Spero as an innovative option to treat MDR Gram-negative bacterial infections. [Spero Therapeutics, Inc.] Press Release

Emergent BioSolutions Receives EMA Agreement for Proposed Development Path of Investigational Chikungunya VLP Vaccine Candidate

Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced that it has received agreement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to pursue its proposed development plan for its chikungunya virus virus-like particle vaccine candidate. The company has proposed conducting a safety and immunogenicity Phase III trial using Serum Neutralizing Antibodies as an immune correlate of protection to predict clinical benefit of the vaccine candidate. [Emergent BioSolutions Inc.] Press Release

World on Alert for Potential Spread of New SARS-Like Virus Found in China

As Science went to press, only one of 42 people known to be infected had died: a 61-year-old man already suffering from abdominal tumors and chronic liver disease. (SARS had a 9.6% mortality rate.) No evidence suggests the virus easily passes between humans, which can turn a local problem into a global crisis. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Chinese Researchers Reveal Draft Genome of Virus Implicated in Wuhan Pneumonia Outbreak

Scientists worried about China’s lack of transparency about a month-old outbreak of pneumonia in the city of Wuhan breathed a sigh of relief on the 11^th of January, after a consortium of researchers published a draft genome of the newly discovered coronavirus suspected of causing the outbreak. [ScienceInsider] Editorial

Woman with Novel Pneumonia Virus Hospitalized in Thailand – the First Case Outside China

Health authorities on Monday identified a pneumonia case caused by a previously unknown virus in Thailand – the first known infection outside of China, where the virus is thought to have begun spreading last month. [STAT News] Editorial

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NEW Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – HIV Antiretroviral Therapy (Karolinska Institutet)

NEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Infection and Aging Biology (Karolinska Institutet)

Postdoctoral Fellow – HIV (Massachusetts General Hospital)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Vaccine Research (University of Rhode Island)

Postdoctoral Scientist – Tuberculosis Research (Texas Biomedical Research Institute)

Research Associate – Immunology (University Hospital of Muenster)

Postdoctoral Fellow – Immunology (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)

Postdoctoral Fellowship – Infectious Disease (Brigham and Women’s Hospital)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow – HIV (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center)

Senior Lecturer – Infectious Disease and Microbiomes (University of Liverpool)

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