Immunology of Infectious Disease News 8.03 January 29, 2020 | |
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TOP STORYPan-Viral Protection against Arboviruses by Activating Skin Macrophages at the Inoculation Site Researchers defined and targeted a key aspect of the host innate immune response to virus at the arthropod bite that is common to all arbovirus infections, potentially circumventing the need for virus-specific therapies. Using mouse models and human skin explants, they identified innate immune responses by dermal macrophages in the skin as a key determinant of disease severity. [Sci Transl Med] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Scientists showed that a ferroptotic defect caused iron accumulation in P47S macrophages. This high iron content altered macrophage cytokine profiles, led to higher arginase level and activity, and decreased nitric oxide synthase activity. [Nat Commun] Full Article Investigators devised a strategy based on the polio:rhinovirus chimera PVSRIPO, devoid of viral neuropathogenicity after intracerebral inoculation in human subjects, for stable expression of exogenous antigens. PVSRIPO vectors infected, activated, and induced epitope presentation in dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro; they recruited and activated DCs with Th1-dominant cytokine profiles at the injection site in vivo. [Nat Commun] Full Article The authors report that extracellular vesicles (EVs) purified from a community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain were internalized into human macrophages in vitro and that this process was blocked by inhibition of the dynamin-dependent endocytic pathway. Human macrophages responded to S. aureus EVs by TLR2 signaling and activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes through K+ efflux, leading to the recruitment of ASC and activation of caspase-1. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Abstract The authors developed an iterative experimental and computational approach to map the HIV-1 innate response circuitry in monocyte-derived dendritic cells. By integrating genome-wide chromatin accessibility with expression kinetics, they inferred a gene regulatory network that linked 542 transcription factors with 21,862 target genes. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Using the CD21mT/mG mouse model scientists found that at seven days of life, follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) exhibited a mature phenotype only in the Peyer´s patches, but the unique adjuvant, CTA1-DD, effectively matured FDCs also in peripheral lymph nodes following systemic, as well as mucosal immunizations. This was a direct effect of complement receptor 2-binding to the FDC and a CTA1-enzyme-dependent enhancing effect on gene transcription, among which CR2, IL-6, ICAM-1, IL-1β, and CXCL13 encoding genes were upregulated. [Mucosal Immunol] Abstract Investigators found that mouse papillomavirus suppressed host immune responses via overexpression of stress keratins. In mice deficient for stress keratin K17 (K17KO), they observed rapid regression of papillomas dependent on T cells. Cellular genes involved in immune response were differentially expressed in the papillomas arising on the K17KO mice correlating with increased numbers of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and upregulation of IFNγ-related genes, including CXCL9 and CXCL10, prior to complete regression. [PLoS Pathog] Full Article Zika Virus Targets the Human Thymic Epithelium Scientists provide compelling evidence that Zika virus (ZIKV) targeted human thymic epithelial cells (TEC) in vivo and in vitro. ZIKV-infection enhancec keratinization of TEC, with a decrease in proliferation and increase in cell death. Moreover, ZIKV modulated a high amount of coding RNAs with upregulation of genes related to cell adhesion and migration, as well as non-coding genes including miRNAs, circRNAs and lncRNAs. [Sci Rep] Full Article Researchers identified the γ-pyrone polyketides Aureothin/Neoaureothin as potent hits by anti-HIV screening of an extensive natural compound collection. Total synthesis of a structurally diverse group of Aureothin-derivatives successfully identified a lead compound superior to Aureothin that combines strong anti-HIV activity, photostability and improved cell safety. [Sci Rep] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News. | |
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REVIEWSHost MicroRNAs and Exosomes That Modulate Influenza Virus Infection The authors provide a comprehensive summary of the information available regarding host miRNAs and exosomes that were involved in the modulation of influenza virus infection and will facilitate the development of preventative or therapeutic strategies against influenza virus. [Virus Res] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the immunology of infectious disease research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSErvaxx™ has entered a licensing and research collaboration with a leading T-cell immunology group at Cardiff University. The new collaboration will support a multi-year research program with Prof. Andrew Sewell’s T-cell modulation group at Cardiff University focusing on the discovery and characterization of T-cells and T-cell receptor reactive to cancer-specific antigens and ligands, including Ervaxx’ proprietary Dark Antigens™. [Ervaxx™] Press Release Merck announced the FDA has approved a New Drug Application for DIFICID® for oral suspension, and a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for DIFICID tablets for the treatment of Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in children aged six months and older. [Merck & Co., Inc.] Press Release Aphios Granted US Patent for Combination HIV Latency Nanotherapeutic towards an HIV Cure Aphios Corporation announced that it was issued US Patent No. 10,493,030 for the treatment of HIV latency towards an HIV cure. [Aphios Corporation] Press Release Moderna, Inc. and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced a new collaboration to develop an mRNA vaccine against the novel coronavirus. Under the terms of the agreement, Moderna will manufacture an mRNA vaccine against 2019-nCoV, which will be funded by CEPI. [Moderna, Inc.] Press Release Feds Fund Innovative Health Research Happening at DAL, NSHA and IWK Dalhousie University is home to four of the newest recipients of funding from the Government of Canada for their innovative health research. The $1,159,527 in funding is provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grants, which help researchers gather the kind of information they need to make real improvements to clinical practice, health service delivery, and public health policy. [Dalhousie University] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSCoronavirus Latest: Australian Lab First to Grow Virus Outside China Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, are the first outside China to announce that they’ve grown the new coronavirus in cell culture. The group at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity says it isolated the virus from the first person diagnosed with the infection in Australia, on 25 January. [Nature News] Editorial UK and EU: Cherish What You Have Achieved and Stay Close Most scientists didn’t want Brexit. UK researchers do not yet know if they will be part of joint EU research programs. However, in one piece of welcome news, the futures of the many EU researchers who want to make their lives in Britain now lie in the hands of the UK Research and Innovation agency, and not the UK Home Office — an institution that, for much of the past decade, enacted and implemented policies to reduce immigration to the United Kingdom. [Nature News] Editorial Top Harvard Chemist Charged with Lying about Ties to Chinese Government Program The head of Harvard University’s chemistry department was charged with attempting to conceal his involvement in a Chinese government program to bring scientists to China, an escalation of a crackdown by US authorities on what they perceive as a campaign to steal ideas born in American universities and medical centers. [STAT News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 2nd Immuno-Metabolic Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis Conference Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Postdoctoral Researcher – Pathogen/Host Cell Interactions (University Hospital of Müenster) Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Researcher – Microtubules in Viral Infection (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine) Postdoctoral Researcher – HIV Antiretroviral Therapy (Karolinska Institutet) 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) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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