Review
Immunology
Erica E. Vine, Jake W. Rhodes, Freja A. Warner van Dijk, Scott N. Byrne, Kirstie M. Bertram, Anthony L. Cunningham, Andrew N. Harman
Summary: Understanding the role of mononuclear phagocytes in HIV transmission is crucial for designing effective vaccines and blocking strategies. With advancements in single cell technologies, new subsets of mononuclear phagocytes are continuously being discovered, which has important implications for our knowledge of HIV transmission.
MUCOSAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Maya Gough, Dhiraj K. Singh, Bindu Singh, Deepak Kaushal, Smriti Mehra
Summary: Mycobacterium tuberculosis has developed mechanisms to parasitize macrophages and overcome killing by oxidative burst, allowing it to persist after an inflammatory response. Through the use of nonhuman primates, researchers have found that macrophages play an important role in the control of tuberculosis infection, particularly through the interplay between Type I interferon signaling and IFN-gamma signaling.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Erik Lundgren, Ethan Romero-Severson, Jan Albert, Thomas Leitner
Summary: We have developed a multi-biomarker augmented phylogenetic inference method to reconstruct HIV transmission history more accurately by incorporating probabilistic information about infection times obtained from observed biomarkers. Testing on multiple epidemiological scenarios demonstrated that the method can achieve up to 90% accuracy in ideal situations and around 50% accuracy in realistic within-host HIV-1 evolution. The addition of more biomarkers and sequence data per infected host improved the performance of the method.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. Verma, S. Mukhopadhyay, P. Barnable, M. G. Plagianos, N. Teleshova
Summary: Estradiol (E2) has an inhibitory effect on HIV-1 infection, possibly through the expression of CFL1 in PBMCs and endocervical mucosa. Targeting the cytoskeletal signaling pathway may be a potential prevention strategy against HIV-1.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maral Hajipour, Khatereh Mokhtari, Mohammad Mahdevar, Maryam Esmaeili, Maryam Peymani, Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani, Sepideh Mirzaei, Mehrdad Hasehmi, Kiavash Hushmandi, Kamran Ghaedi
Summary: This study identified lncRNAs affected by PPARγ activation through bioinformatics analysis and found that treatment with PIO significantly increased the expression levels of related genes and lncRNAs, providing a new strategy for understanding the function and activity of PPARγ in colon cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Li Liang, Mengling Liu, Xun Sun, Yitao Yuan, Ke Peng, Khalid Rashid, Yiyi Yu, Yuehong Cui, Yanjie Chen, Tianshu Liu
Summary: SATB-2, ORP-1, MYB, and CDX-2 are associated with cetuximab sensitivity and increased tumor immune cell infiltration in patients with CRC.
CANCER CELL INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Botle Precious Damane, Thanyani Victor Mulaudzi, Sayed Shakeel Kader, Pragalathan Naidoo, Suzana D. D. Savkovic, Zodwa Dlamini, Zilungile Lynette Mkhize-Kwitshana
Summary: The progress in HIV treatment has resulted in longer life expectancy, but people living with HIV are more prone to developing colorectal cancers due to chronic inflammation. Infections, especially parasitic infections, increase the risk of cancer and contribute to chronic inflammation, thereby promoting oncogenesis.
Article
Immunology
Chiamaka V. Ukegbu, George K. Christophides, Dina Vlachou
Summary: Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite stable numbers of new cases and deaths in recent years, efforts for disease elimination are ongoing but new approaches are needed. Researchers have identified three new genes - PIMMS01, PIMMS57, and PIMMS22 - that play important roles in the formation of ookinetes and could serve as new targets for intervention strategies to block malaria transmission.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Selase D. Deletsu, Haruki Kitamura, Takaomi Ishida, Jin Gohda, Shoji Yamaoka, Hiroaki Takeuchi
Summary: RNA interference screening identified STMN1 as a host factor required for maintaining HIV-1 latency. Depletion of STMN1 enhances HIV-1 expression and may contribute to HIV-1 transcription. STNM1 depletion is suggested as a potential therapeutic target to eradicate HIV-1.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Ashley N. Nelson, Maria Dennis, Jesse F. Mangold, Katherine Li, Pooja T. Saha, Kenneth Cronin, Kaitlyn A. Cross, Amit Kumar, Riley J. Mangan, George M. Shaw, Katharine J. Bar, Barton Haynes, Anthony M. Moody, S. Munir Alam, Justin Pollara, Michael G. Hudgens, Koen K. A. Van Rompay, Kristina De Paris, Sallie R. Permar
Summary: By immunizing SHIV-infected rhesus macaques with heterologous HIV envelope proteins, the autologous antibody response against the primary exposure antigen is enhanced, suggesting the potential of a universal maternal HIV vaccination regimen to target the maternal autologous virus pool.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eun Bi Lim, Ho-Suk Oh, Kang Chang Kim, Moon-Ho Kim, Young Jin Kim, Bong Jo Kim, Chu Won Nho, Yoon Shin Cho
Summary: This study identified HLA-C gene as a new candidate gene for colorectal cancer (CRC) and demonstrated its influence on CRC development through cancer-related signaling pathways.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Tarasova, Nadezhda Biziukova, Andrey Shemshura, Dmitry Filimonov, Dmitry Kireev, Anastasia Pokrovskaya, Vladimir V. V. Poroikov
Summary: Viruses can cause infections that impact human life for different durations. HIV, the most common cause of HIV infection, can affect the immune system and lead to complications and decreased quality of life. Our study aims to identify molecular mechanisms involved in viral infection progression, using HIV as a case study. We identified human proteins and genes involved in HIV infection progression and analyzed their impact on associated biological processes in clinical studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Ruijun Pan, Chaoran Yu, Yanfei Shao, Hiju Hong, Jing Sun, Zhou Zhang, Peiyong Li, Minhua Zheng
Summary: This study identified the potential role of the ribosome pathway in circulating tumor cells, providing new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for colorectal cancer.
ANALYTICAL CELLULAR PATHOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Kruthika Iyer, Alapani Mitra, Debashis Mitra
Summary: This study reveals that HIV-1 modulates the host environment for successful replication and propagation by downregulating the host heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) binding protein (HSPBP1). The viral transactivator protein Tat is responsible for the downmodulation of the HSPBP1 promoter, leading to the suppression of HSPBP1 during HIV-1 infection.
Article
Immunology
Scott Sherrill-Mix, Michelle Yang, Grace M. Aldrovandi, Jason M. Brenchley, Frederic D. Bushman, Ronald G. Collman, Satya Dandekar, Nichole R. Klatt, Laurel A. Lagenaur, Alan L. Landay, Roger Paredes, Gilda Tachedjian, Jim A. Turpin, Sergio Serrano-Villar, Catherine A. Lozupone, Mimi Ghosh
Summary: This article provides a summary of the findings presented at the 6th International Workshop on Microbiome in HIV Pathogenesis, Prevention, and Treatment held in October 2020. The research highlights the roles of the microbiome in immune response and HIV transmission and pathogenesis, and explores the potential for microbiome alterations to decrease transmission and impact comorbidities.
AIDS RESEARCH AND HUMAN RETROVIRUSES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Stefania Dispinseri, Ilaria Marzinotto, Cristina Brigatti, Maria Franca Pirillo, Monica Tolazzi, Elena Bazzigaluppi, Andrea Canitano, Martina Borghi, Alessandra Gallinaro, Roberta Caccia, Riccardo Vercesi, Paul F. McKay, Fabio Ciceri, Lorenzo Piemonti, Donatella Negri, Paola Cinque, Andrea Cara, Vito Lampasona, Gabriella Scarlatti
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 vaccination induces antibodies that recognize virus variants, but these antibodies have reduced neutralization ability against the variants. Individuals with prior mild COVID-19 may rapidly lose neutralizing antibodies after disease and have post-vaccination antibody levels similar to those without prior infection. In individuals naive to SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination can transiently reactivate pre-existing seasonal coronavirus antibody responses and subsequently reduce the ability to neutralize alpha and beta variants.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Olivia Bonduelle, Chloe Chaudesaigues, Monica Tolazzi, Ehsan Suleiman, Simon de Bernard, Karine Alves, Julien Nourikyan, Mylene Bohec, Laura G. Baudrin, Dietmar Katinger, Patrice Debre, Gabriella Scarlatti, Vincent Vieillard, Behazine Combadiere
Summary: This study compared the efficacy of W614A-3S peptide formulated in squalene emulsion (SQE) or aluminum hydroxide (Alum) in inducing broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs). The results showed that SQE was more efficient than Alum in inducing W614A-3S-specific bNAbs. The study also analyzed the quality of peptide-specific B cells and found significant differences in gene expression and BCR sequences between the two adjuvant formulations.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Claire-Maelle Fovet, Camille Pimienta, Mathilde Galhaut, Francis Relouzat, Natalia Nunez, Mariangela Cavarelli, Quentin Sconosciuti, Nina Dhooge, Ilaria Marzinotto, Vito Lampasona, Monica Tolazzi, Gabriella Scarlatti, Raphael Ho Tsong Fang, Thibaut Naninck, Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet, Jerome Van Wassenhove, Anne-Sophie Gallouet, Pauline Maisonnasse, Roger Le Grand, Elisabeth Menu, Nabila Seddiki
Summary: This study provides a deep analysis of early immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in newborn nonhuman primates. It reveals that neonatal NHPs have a milder disease compared to adult NHPs and exhibit an early innate immune response, a balanced cytokine response, and changes in the microbiota composition.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Alessandra Gallinaro, Maria Franca Pirillo, Yoann Aldon, Serena Cecchetti, Zuleika Michelini, Antonella Tinari, Martina Borghi, Andrea Canitano, Paul F. McKay, Roberta Bona, Maria Fenicia Vescio, Felicia Grasso, Maria Blasi, Silvia Baroncelli, Gabriella Scarlatti, Celia LaBranche, David Montefiori, Mary E. Klotman, Rogier W. Sanders, Robin J. Shattock, Donatella Negri, Andrea Cara
Summary: This article discusses the development of an HIV-1 vaccine based on IDLV, demonstrating its ability to induce specific and persistent immune responses in mice and macaques, and showing that displaying stabilized trimeric Env can induce more sustained humoral responses.
Article
Biology
Marie Alexandre, Romain Marlin, Melanie Prague, Severin Coleon, Nidhal Kahlaoui, Sylvain Cardinaud, Thibaut Naninck, Benoit Delache, Mathieu Surenaud, Mathilde Galhaut, Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet, Mariangela Cavarelli, Pauline Maisonnasse, Mireille Centlivre, Christine Lacabaratz, Aurelie Wiedemann, Sandra Zurawski, Gerard Zurawski, Olivier Schwartz, Rogier W. Sanders, Roger Le Grand, Yves Levy, Rodolphe Thiebaut
Summary: The definition of correlates of protection is crucial for the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. A model-based approach using mathematical modeling of viral dynamics and data mining of immunological markers identified and quantified two main mechanisms: a decrease in cell infection rate and an increase in clearance of infected cells. Inhibition of RBD binding to ACE2 is a robust mechanistic correlate of protection across different vaccine platforms.
Article
Hematology
Annalinda Pisano, Loredana Le Pera, Raffaella Carletti, Bruna Cerbelli, Maria G. Pignataro, Angelina Pernazza, Fabrizio Ferre, Maria Lombardi, Davide Lazzeroni, Iacopo Olivotto, Ornella E. Rimoldi, Chiara Foglieni, Paolo G. Camici, Giulia d'Amati
Summary: This study identified distinctive pathways between remodeled arterioles and cardiomyocytes in patients with HCM and controls at the transcriptome level. By analyzing the transcriptome profile, insights into the molecular pathways associated with microvessel remodeling in HCM can be obtained.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chiara Foglieni, Maria Lombardi, Davide Lazzeroni, Riccardo Zerboni, Edoardo Lazzarini, Gloria Bertoli, Annalinda Pisano, Francesca Girolami, Annapaola Andolfo, Cinzia Magagnotti, Giovanni Peretto, Carmem L. Sartorio, Iacopo Olivotto, Giovanni La Canna, Ottavio Alfieri, Ornella E. Rimoldi, Lucio Barile, Giulia D'Amati, Paolo G. Camici
Summary: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a common genetic cardiac disorder. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying HCM phenotypes and found that certain genes and proteins, as well as a network of myosin-encoded microRNA and long-noncoding RNAs, play a modulatory role in HCM myocardium, potentially contributing to phenotypic diversity and providing therapeutic targets.
Article
Immunology
Marco Baratella, Valeria Iannone, Mariangela Cavarelli, Chiara Foglieni, Paola Vigano, Christiane Moog, Ugo Elmore, Silvia Nozza, Massimo Alfano, Andrea Salonia, Stefania Dispinseri, Gabriella Scarlatti
Summary: This study investigated the effects of human seminal plasma on the colonic mucosa. It was found that cytokines and chemokines in seminal plasma can affect the migration of mononuclear cells and the distribution of specific cell subsets on the colonic mucosa, which may have implications for pathogen sampling.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria Lombardi, Marta Bonora, Luca Baldetti, Marina Pieri, Anna Mara Scandroglio, Giovanni Landoni, Alberto Zangrillo, Chiara Foglieni, Filippo Consolo
Summary: This study found significant differences in the expression levels of platelet miR-126, miR-374b, miR-223, and miR-320a between LVAD patients and healthy controls. The expression levels of platelet miR-25, miR-144, miR-320, and miR-451a changed significantly during LVAD support, and these miRs were implicated in cardiac- and coagulation-associated pathways. Patients who experienced bleeding had significantly higher expression levels of platelet miR-151a and miR-454 before LVAD implantation, and these miRs were also differentially expressed before the clinical manifestation of bleeding events. This study provides evidence of significant modulation of platelet miRs expression driven by LVADs and suggests the potential predictive value of platelet miRs in bleeding events.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Gregory M. Martin, Rebecca A. Russell, Philip Mundsperger, Scarlett Harris, Lu Jovanoska, Luiza Farache Trajano, Torben Schiffner, Katalin Fabian, Monica Tolazzi, Gabriella Scarlatti, Leon McFarlane, Hannah Cheeseman, Yoann Aldon, Edith E. Schermer, Marielle Breemen, Kwinten Sliepen, Dietmar Katinger, Renate Kunert, Rogier W. Sanders, Robin Shattock, Andrew B. Ward, Quentin J. Sattentau
Summary: Chemical cross-linking is used to stabilize protein structures and inactivate pathogens and toxins in vaccines, but its potential to distort protein structure has limited its use. This is particularly important for proteins that require a high degree of structural conservation to induce specific biological outcomes. In this study, the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) trimer was cross-linked using the reagent EDC, resulting in improved trimer stability without significant structural distortion. The cross-linking process selectively modified the antigenicity and immunogenicity of the trimers, making it a promising approach for protein-based vaccine design.
Article
Cell Biology
Matthieu Van Tilbeurgh, Pauline Maisonnasse, Jean-Louis Palgen, Monica Tolazzi, Yoann Aldon, Nathalie Dereuddre-Bosquet, Mariangela Cavarelli, Anne-Sophie Beignon, Ernesto Marcos-Lopez, Anne-Sophie Gallouet, Emmanuel Gilson, Gabriel Ozorowski, Andrew B. Ward, Ilja Bontjer, Paul F. McKay, Robin J. Shattock, Gabriella Scarlatti, Rogier W. Sanders, Roger Le Grand
Summary: To decrease late-stage failure in vaccine development, innovative prediction methods are needed. By studying combinations of early innate responses and immune signatures, vaccine immunogenicity for HIV can be predicted.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Stefania Dispinseri, Monica Tolazzi, Gabriella Scarlatti
Summary: Since the 1980s, numerous phase I human immunization studies have been conducted for HIV/AIDS, but only nine have progressed to phase IIb/III clinical trials. However, two HIV immunization vaccine trials started in 2016 and 2017 failed to meet efficacy criteria during interim analysis and were consequently halted. The challenges in developing a safe, effective, and long-lasting HIV vaccine remain unchanged, but there are new tools and technologies that can expedite vaccine strategy development.
NEW MICROBIOLOGICA
(2022)
