Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lara R. Mittereder, Jonathan Swoboda, Roberto De Pascalis, Karen L. Elkins
Summary: IL-12p40 is important for the clearance of F. tularensis Live Vaccine Strain (LVS) and its role is independent of its functions as a part of the heterodimeric cytokines IL-12p70 or IL-23. The absence of IL-12p40 in infected mice leads to the development of a chronic and unresolved infection. The study also investigates potential mechanisms for IL-12p40 in F. tularensis clearance.
Review
Microbiology
McKayla J. Nicol, David R. Williamson, David E. Place, Girish S. Kirimanjeswara
Summary: Francisella tularensis is the etiological agent of tularemia, with different routes of infection leading to variable clinical presentations and mortality rates. Understanding the immune correlates of protection against infection by disparate routes is crucial for clinical management, treatment, and vaccine development.
Article
Immunology
Despoina T. Florou, Athanasios Mavropoulos, Efthymios Dardiotis, Vana Tsimourtou, Vasileios Siokas, Athina-Maria Aloizou, Christos Liaskos, Christina Tsigalou, Christina Katsiari, Lazaros Sakkas, Georgios Hadjigeorgiou, Dimitrios P. Bogdanos
Summary: The study showed that tetracyclines, particularly minocycline, can suppress IFN-gamma and IL-17-producing cells from MS patients in vitro, suggesting a potential therapeutic effect in vivo.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaolei Wang, Terrence Tsz-Tai Yuen, Ying Dou, Jingchu Hu, Renhao Li, Zheng Zeng, Xuansheng Lin, Huarui Gong, Celia Hoi-Ching Chan, Chaemin Yoon, Huiping Shuai, Deborah Tip-Yin Ho, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Bao-Zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, Jian-Dong Huang
Summary: Researchers demonstrate the importance of cellular immunity in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 by showing that mice lacking B cells can still develop a robust immune response through vaccination or viral challenge. This study has important implications for understanding the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the immune system.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Kingston H. G. Mills
Summary: IL-17 cytokines have both protective and pathological functions in the context of infection and autoimmunity. They promote protective immunity against pathogens but can also drive inflammatory pathology. Dysregulated IL-17 responses can contribute to immunopathology, and IL-17 is implicated in various inflammatory diseases.
NATURE REVIEWS IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Beatriz Oliveira Fagundes, Thamires Rodrigues de-Sousa, Jefferson Russo Victor
Summary: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease that typically starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood. The major cytokines involved in inflammatory skin diseases, including AD, are IL-4, IL-17, IFN-gamma, and IL-10. The role of gamma delta T cells in AD is still largely unexplored.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Junichi Ishikawa, Akira Suto, Kazuya Abe, Yuki Hayashi, Kensuke Suga, Shigeru Tanaka, Takahiro Kageyama, Arifumi Iwata, Kazumasa Suzuki, Kotaro Suzuki, Hiroshi Nakajima
Summary: Murine IL-17-producing γδT (γδT17) cells consist of natural γδT17 (nγδT17) cells and inducible γδT17 cells. IL-21 is dispensable for the fetal thymic development of nγδT17 cells, but required for the peripheral maintenance of Vδ4(+)nγδT17 cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Brandi E. Hobbs, Courtney A. Matson, Vasileios Theofilou, Tonya J. Webb, Rania H. Younis, Eileen M. Barry
Summary: The FptA and FptF proteins of Ft are crucial for pathogenesis and modulation of host immune response, and LVS Delta fptA and LVS Delta fptF vaccine strains are highly attenuated and provide effective protection against lethal challenge.
Article
Cell Biology
Andra Banete, Katrina Gee, Sameh Basta
Summary: Macrophages exhibit various functional phenotypes based on different stimuli, with IL-4 potentially playing a role in both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory processes. The novel vaccine adjuvant R848 triggers a strong Th1 response, but the presence of IL-4 may affect its immune response. IL-4-induced M phi polarization may have an impact on the outcome of R848 stimulation.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Zhuo Ma, Matthew Higgs, Maha Alqahtani, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi, Meenakshi Malik
Summary: This study reveals the important role of thioredoxin TrxA1 in the oxidative stress response of Francisella tularensis and its regulation of the master regulator oxyR. TrxA1 is also essential for the intracellular survival and growth of Francisella. These findings provide novel insights into the oxidative stress defense mechanisms of Francisella tularensis.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jing Li, Lisha Cheng, Haoyu Jia, Chun Liu, Siqi Wang, Yun Liu, Yue Shen, Shengdi Wu, Fanli Meng, Beishi Zheng, Changqing Yang, Wei Jiang
Summary: In chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, CD161(+)CD4(+) T cells play roles in antiviral, pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic processes. These cells accumulate in the circulation of HBV patients and are associated with disease progression, with higher levels correlating to improved response to antiviral treatment. Additionally, CD161(+)CD4(+) T cells produce more pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to CD161(-)CD4(+) T cells.
CLINICAL & TRANSLATIONAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Naoya Imahashi, Masashi Satoh, Emanuela Clemente, Kazuhisa Yoshino, Mario Di Gioacchino, Kazuya Iwabuchi
Summary: Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class Ib molecules present antigens to subsets of T cells involved in host defense and immune-mediated diseases. MHC-related protein 1 (MR1) selects MR1-restricted T cells, including mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, and presents ligands to them. This study found that MR1-deficient mice exhibited exaggerated allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) lesions with increased recruitment of neutrophils. Additionally, MR1-deficient mice lacking MAIT cells showed an increase in IL-17-producing αβ and γδ T cells in the skin.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Dina Marghani, Zhuo Ma, Anthony J. Centone, Weihua Huang, Meenakshi Malik, Chandra Shekhar Bakshi
Summary: This study elucidates the role of the osrR transcriptional regulator in the pathogenesis of tularemia caused by F. tularensis. The osrR regulator specifically regulates the oxidative and global stress response, virulence, metabolism, and other key pathways genes required by Francisella when exposed to oxidative stress. Understanding such regulatory mechanisms will help identify potential targets for developing effective therapies and vaccines to prevent tularemia.
JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Lindsey A. H. Shallberg, Anthony T. A. Phan, David A. A. Christian, Joseph A. Perry, Breanne E. Haskins, Daniel P. Beiting, Tajie H. Harris, Anita A. Koshy, Christopher A. Hunter
Summary: The study characterizes the TCR-driven phenotypes of CD8(+) T cell responses to Toxoplasma gondii infection using genetic reporters, high parameter flow cytometry, and imaging techniques. The results demonstrate that recent TCR activation contributes to the phenotypic heterogeneity of the CD8(+) T cell response, but has limited impact on memory populations during acute and chronic stages of infection.
Article
Immunology
Alexandra Correia, Pedro Alves, Ricardo Frois-Martins, Luzia Teixeira, Manuel Vilanova
Summary: Neospora caninum is a protozoan that causes abortion and still-births in cattle. In this study, we extended a mucosal vaccination approach using N. caninum membrane proteins and CpG adjuvant by incorporating the carbomer-based adjuvant Carbigen (TM). Immunized mice showed increased proportions and numbers of memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells. When infected with N. caninum, the immunized mice had lower parasite burdens and produced higher levels of IL-17A.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Dieter Mielke, Sherry Stanfield-Oakley, Shalini Jha, Taylor Keyes, Adam Zalaquett, Brooke Dunn, Nicole Rodgers, Thomas Oguin, Greg D. Sempowski, Raquel A. Binder, Gregory C. Gray, Shelly Karuna, Lawrence Corey, John Hural, Georgia D. Tomaras, Justin Pollara, Guido Ferrari
Summary: This study developed four flow cytometry-based assays to evaluate antibody responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection and immunity. These assays showed specific and reproducible detection of functional antibody responses, but with limited overlap. Single or fewer sample dilutions were found to accurately determine response rates and magnitudes, allowing for high-throughput use in large clinical studies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sophie M-C Gobeil, Rory Henderson, Victoria Stalls, Katarzyna Janowska, Xiao Huang, Aaron May, Micah Speakman, Esther Beaudoin, Kartik Manne, Dapeng Li, Rob Parks, Maggie Barr, Margaret Deyton, Mitchell Martin, Katayoun Mansouri, Robert J. Edwards, Amanda Eaton, David C. Montefiori, Gregory D. Sempowski, Kevin O. Saunders, Kevin Wiehe, Wilton Williams, Bette Korber, Barton F. Haynes, Priyamvada Acharya
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, aided by extensive spike protein mutation, has surpassed the previously dominant Delta variant. Cryo-EM structures of the Omicron and Delta spikes reveal the conformational impacts of mutations, with the Omicron spike showing a tightly packed RBD organization and increased flexibility at the fusion peptide site.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandip Ashok Sonar, Jennifer L. Uhrlaub, Christopher P. Coplen, Gregory D. Sempowski, Jarrod A. Dudakov, Marcel R. M. van den Brink, Bonnie J. LaFleur, Mladen Jergovic, Janko Nikolich-Zugich
Summary: Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) age asynchronously, with a reduction in the capacity of older SLOs to maintain naive T cell numbers. Older SLOs exhibit an emigration phenotype and decreased participation in de novo immune responses in mice.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Matthew D. Gallovic, Robert D. Junkins, Adam M. Sandor, Erik S. Pena, Christopher J. Sample, Ariel K. Mason, Leslee C. Arwood, Rebecca A. Sahm, Eric M. Bachelder, Kristy M. Ainslie, Gregory D. Sempowski, Jenny P. -Y. Ting
Summary: The current pandemic emphasizes the importance of effective vaccines against respiratory viruses. This study presents a vaccine strategy using a scalable microparticle platform containing a STING agonist as an adjuvant, which provides durable protection against the influenza virus. Animal studies demonstrate that this vaccine-adjuvant combination can reduce viral shedding, improve vaccine outcomes, and provide sustained protection even a year after a single dose.
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Ryan R. Chaparian, Alfred T. Harding, Cait E. Hamele, Kristina Riebe, Amelia Karlsson, Gregory D. Sempowski, Nicholas S. Heaton, Brook E. Heaton
Summary: This work presents an approach utilizing current influenza vaccine manufacturing infrastructure to generate combination vaccines capable of protecting from both influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2-induced disease. The production of a combined influenza/SARS-CoV-2 vaccine may provide a practical solution to enhance immunity to these important respiratory viruses without the increased cost and administration burden of multiple independent vaccines.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhifen Cui, Cong Zeng, Furong Huang, Fuwen Yuan, Jingyue Yan, Yue Zhao, Yufan Zhou, William Hankey, Victor X. Jin, Jiaoti Huang, Herman F. Staats, Jeffrey Everitt, Gregory D. Sempowski, Hongyan Wang, Yizhou Dong, Shan-Lu Liu, Qianben Wang
Summary: This study utilized a chemically engineered nanosystem encapsulating CRISPR-Cas13d to decrease lung Ctsl expression in mice, extending survival of mice infected with SARS-CoV-2, reducing lung virus burden, and alleviating the severity of pathological changes.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
John S. Davies, Farrah Karimipour, Ling Zhang, Nisha Nagarsheth, Scott Norberg, Carylinda Serna, Julius Strauss, Shinheng Chiou, James L. Gulley, Christian S. Hinrichs
Summary: PD-1 blockade primarily acts through endogenous T cells rather than transferred T cells to mediate a non-synergistic antitumor effect in solid tumor cell therapy.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Matthew J. French, Ryan Wuerker, Greg Dugan, John D. Olson, Brittany R. Sanders, Janet A. Tooze, David L. Caudell, Mark Cline, Gregory D. Sempowski, Andrew N. Macintyre
Summary: The purpose of this study was to understand the delayed immunologic effects of acute total body irradiation (TBI) using nonhuman primates as a model for humans. The results showed that TBI significantly alters the circulating proportions of cellular mediators of adaptive immune memory for several years after irradiation, especially in macaques under 5 years of age and those receiving a high dose of radiation. Rating: 8 out of 10.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Katherine C. Barnett, Yuying Xie, Takanori Asakura, Dingka Song, Kaixin Liang, Sharon A. Taft-Benz, Haitao Guo, Shuangshuang Yang, Kenichi Okuda, Rodney C. Gilmore, Jennifer F. Loome, Thomas H. Oguin III, Gregory D. Sempowski, Scott H. Randell, Mark T. Heise, Yu Leo Lei, Richard C. Boucher, Jenny P. -Y. Ting
Summary: Elevated levels of cytokines IL-1(3 and IL-6 are associated with severe COVID-19. Investigating the underlying mechanisms, it was found that primary human airway epithelia (HAE) are not the source of IL-1(3 released upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. The SARS-CoV-2 E protein upregulates inflammasome gene transcription via TLR2 in leukocytes, while infected HAE supply a second signal, including genomic and mitochondrial DNA, to stimulate leukocyte IL-1(3 release.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jacob T. Heggestad, Rhett J. Britton, David S. Kinnamon, Jason Liu, Jack G. Anderson, Daniel Y. Joh, Zachary Quinn, Cassio M. Fontes, Angus M. Hucknall, Robert Parks, Gregory D. Sempowski, Thomas N. Denny, Thomas W. Burke, Barton F. Haynes, Christopher W. Woods, Ashutosh Chilkoti
Summary: Researchers have developed a rapid point-of-care test called CoVariant-SPOT, which can identify likely variants of SARS-CoV-2 concurrent with COVID-19 diagnosis using antibodies targeting the nucleocapsid protein and spike protein mutations. The test has been shown to distinguish between two variants, Delta and Omicron, and could enhance community surveillance efforts worldwide and inform treatment selection.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cristiane J. Nunes-Santos, HyeSun Kuehn, Brigette Boast, SuJin Hwang, Douglas B. Kuhns, Jennifer Stoddard, Julie E. Niemela, Danielle L. Fink, Stefania Pittaluga, Mones Abu-Asab, John S. Davies, Valarie A. Barr, Tomoki Kawai, Ottavia M. Delmonte, Marita Bosticardo, Mary Garofalo, Magda Carneiro-Sampaio, Raz Somech, Mohammad Gharagozlou, Nima Parvaneh, Lawrence E. Samelson, Thomas A. Fleisher, Anne Puel, Luigi D. Notarangelo, Bertrand Boisson, Jean-Laurent Casanova, Beata Derfalvi, Sergio D. Rosenzweig
Summary: This study describes the first cases of germline biallelic null mutations in ARPC5, a subunit of the Arp2/3 actin nucleator complex. These mutations disrupt actin function and cytokine signaling, causing a range of symptoms including infections, autoimmunity, inflammation, and dysmorphisms. Additionally, the study demonstrates the distinctive impact of this syndrome on interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Sheetal Sawant, Sarah Anne Gurley, R. Glenn Overman, Angelina Sharak, Sarah V. Mudrak, Thomas Oguin, Gregory D. Sempowski, Marcella Sarzotti-Kelsoe, Emmanuel B. Walter, Hang Xie, Marcela F. Pasetti, M. Anthony Moody, Georgia D. Tomaras
Summary: This study presents a validated hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) assay for accurate measurement of H3N2 influenza antibody titers. The assay demonstrated high precision, specificity, and sensitivity, making it suitable for evaluating vaccine-induced protection. This research is of great importance for influenza vaccine development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Kristy A. Terrell, Gregory D. Sempowski, Andrew N. Macintyre
Summary: This study developed automated screening and confirmatory assays for the detection of rat antibodies against a specific humanized antibody. The assays were evaluated and found to be suitable for purpose. The assays were then used to evaluate the levels of antibodies in rat serum after administration of different doses of lipid-nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Taylor E. Gin, Elizabeth A. Petzold, Diya M. Uthappa, Coralei E. Neighbors, Anna R. Borough, Craig Gin, Erin Lashnits, Gregory D. Sempowski, Thomas Denny, Dorothee Bienzle, Benjamin J. Callahan, Christopher W. Woods
Summary: This study collected samples from dogs and cats living with SARS-CoV-2-PCR-positive individuals for testing, and found that a small number of the samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and antibodies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kazusa Ishii, John S. Davies, Andrew L. Sinkoe, Kilyna A. Nguyen, Scott M. Norberg, Crystal P. McIntosh, Tejas Kadakia, Carylinda Serna, Zachary Rae, Michael C. Kelly, Christian S. Hinrichs