Immunology of Infectious Disease News 8.06 February 19, 2020 | |
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TOP STORYInvestigators showed that IL-22, induced by colonization of the gut microbiota, was crucial for the prevention of Clostridioides difficile in human microbiota-associated (HMA) mice. IL-22 signaling in HMA mice regulated host glycosylation, which enabled the growth of succinate-consuming bacteria Phascolarctobacterium spp. within the gut microbiome. [Nat Med] Abstract | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Researchers performed a dose-escalating clinical safety trial in 17 volunteers with male Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, which do not produce eggs. The primary endpoints were adverse events and infectivity. They found a dose-related increase in adverse events related to acute schistosomiasis syndrome, which occurred in nine of 17 volunteers. [Nat Med] Abstract The authors analyzed the spatiotemporal dynamics of CD4+ T cells during infection with recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus, which induced early, potent neutralizing antibodies, or recombinant lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, which induced a vigorous cellular response but inefficient neutralizing antibodies, expressing the same T cell epitope. [Nat Immunol] Abstract Evolution of antibody repertoire against the Ebola virus (EBOV) proteome was characterized in an acutely infected patient receiving supportive care alone to elucidate virus-host interactions over time. Differential kinetics were observed for IgM-IgG-IgA epitope diversity, antibody binding, and affinity maturation to EBOV proteins. [Cell Host Microbe] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Using a murine hookworm, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, scientists observed neutrophils being rapidly recruited and deploying neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) around skin-penetrating larvae. Neutrophil depletion or NET inhibition altered larvae behavior and enhanced the number of adult worms following murine infection. [Cell Host Microbe] Full Article | Graphical Abstract Epigenetic Specifications of Host Chromosome Docking Sites for Latent Epstein-Barr Virus Investigators employed circular chromosome conformation capture analysis to identify genome-wide associations between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) episomes and host chromosomes. They found that EBV episomes in Burkitt’s lymphoma cells preferentially associated with cellular genomic sites containing EBNA1 binding sites enriched with B-cell factors EBF1 and RBP-jK, the repressive histone mark H3K9me3, and AT-rich flanking sequence. [Nat Commun] Full Article Immune Checkpoint Modulation Enhances HIV-1 Antibody Induction The authors administered antibodies targeting immune cell regulatory receptors CTLA-4, PD-1 or OX40 along with HIV envelope vaccines to rhesus macaques and broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) immunoglobulin knock-in mice expressing diverse precursors of CD4 binding site HIV-1 bnABs. [Nat Commun] Full Article Cell-Intrinsic Adrenergic Signaling Controls the Adaptive NK Cell Response to Viral Infection Researchers describe a signal that was provided by the adrenergic nervous system, and demonstrated that cell-intrinsic adrenergic signaling was required for optimal adaptive NK cell responses. Early during mouse cytomegalovirus infection, NK cells up-regulated Adrb2, a process dependent on IL-12 and STAT4 signaling. [J Exp Med] Abstract Scientists tested the efficacy of prophylactic and therapeutic remdesivir treatment in a nonhuman primate model of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus infection (MERS-CoV), the rhesus macaque. Prophylactic remdesivir treatment initiated 24 hours prior to inoculation completely prevented MERS-CoV-induced clinical disease, strongly inhibited MERS-CoV replication in respiratory tissues, and prevented the formation of lung lesions. [Proc Natl Acad Sci USA] Full Article Nef-Mediated CD3-TCR Downmodulation Dampens Acute Inflammation and Promotes SIV Immune Evasion Investigators selectively disrupted this Nef activity in SIVmac239 and analyzed the consequences for the virological, immunological, and clinical outcome of infection in rhesus macaques. The inability to down-modulate CD3-TCR did not impair viral replication during acute infection but qA associated with increased immune activation and anti-viral gene expression. [Cell Rep] Full Article | Graphical Abstract High-Dimensional Analysis of Intestinal Immune Cells During Helminth Infection Researchers’ cell isolation protocol and high-dimensional analysis allowed them to identify many known hallmarks of anti-parasite immune responses throughout the entire course of helminth infection and could have the potential to accelerate single-cell discoveries of local helminth immune responses that have previously been unfeasible. [eLife] Full Article Subscribe to our sister publications: Human Immunology News & Immune Regulation News. | |
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REVIEWSNext-Generation Influenza Vaccines: Opportunities and Challenges Strategies employed to improve vaccine efficacy involve using structure-based design and nanoparticle display to optimize the antigenicity and immunogenicity of target antigens; increasing the antigen dose; using novel adjuvants; stimulating cellular immunity; and targeting other viral proteins, including neuraminidase, matrix protein 2 or nucleoprotein. [Nat Rev Drug Discov] Abstract CD8+ T Cells in HIV control, Cure and Prevention The authors discuss the increasing evidence derived from individuals who spontaneously control infection without anti-retroviral therapy as well as pre-clinical immunization studies that provide a clear rationale for renewed efforts to develop a CD8+ T cell-based HIV vaccine in conjunction with B cell vaccine efforts. [Nat Rev Immunol] Abstract New scientific findings have the potential to shift the strategy for urinary tract infections treatment away from broad-spectrum antibiotics targeting conserved aspects of bacterial replication towards pathogen-specific antibiotic-sparing therapeutics that target core determinants of bacterial virulence at the host-pathogen interface. [Nat Rev Microbiol] 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 NEWSPediatric Researchers in Montreal Unite to Tackle Infection and Immunity on Two Different Fronts Researchers at the Montreal Children’s Hospital of the McGill University Health Center and the CHU Sainte-Justine are coming together within the scope of two new projects, funded under the auspices of the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity: improving the diagnosis and treatment of bacterial pneumonia and better understanding rare immune disorders. [McGill University] Press Release Applied DNA Sciences Inc. announced that it has expanded its existing Joint Development Agreement with Takis Biotech to include the preclinical development of a linear DNA vaccine against 2019-nCoV, the new coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China, infecting more than 28,000 and killing hundreds. [Applied DNA Sciences Inc.] Press Release Government Offers $2 Million for Coronavirus Research Australian researchers trying to develop a vaccine for coronavirus can share in a $2 million federal fund designed to speed up the work. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the grant scheme at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne, where experts were the first to grow COVID-19 in a laboratory outside of China. [McPherson Media Group] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSCoronavirus Latest: Has the Outbreak in China Peaked? A study of nearly 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections in China suggests that the outbreak might already have reached its climax . [Nature News] Editorial Sanofi Announces It Will Work with HHS to Develop Coronavirus Vaccine The drug maker Sanofi Pasteur is entering the race to develop a vaccine to protect against the new coronavirus sweeping through China, the company announced. [STAT News] Editorial The Next Chapter for African Genomics Nigeria is poised to become a hub for genetics research, but a few stubborn challenges block the way. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 12th European Lupus Meeting Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Department Chair – Microbiology and Immunology (Western University) Scientist – Immunology (STEMCELL Technologies Inc.) Postdoctoral Researcher – Pathogen/Host Cell Interactions (University Hospital of Müenster) Postdoctoral Researcher – Microtubules in Viral Infection (Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine) 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) 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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