NIH-Led Team Discovers New HIV Vaccine Target
Scientists discovered a new vulnerable site on HIV for a vaccine to target, a broadly neutralizing antibody that binds to that target site, and how the antibody stops the virus from infecting a cell. The new target is a part of HIV called the fusion peptide, a string of eight amino acids that helps the virus fuse with a cell to infect it. [Press release the from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discussing online prepublication in Science] Press Release|Abstract
Targeting Multiple Response Regulators of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Augments the Host Immune Response to Infection
Researchers demonstrated that a conserved motif present in the C-terminal domain regulates the DNA binding functions of the OmpR family of M. tuberculosis response regulator (RR). Molecular docking studies against this motif helped to identify two molecules with a thiazolidine scaffold capable of targeting multiple RRs, and modulating their regulons to attenuate bacterial replication in macrophages. [Sci Rep] Full Article
Impact of Pre-Adapted HIV Transmission
Scientists demonstrated that transmission of viruses that are pre-adapted to the human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA) molecules expressed in the recipient is associated with impaired immunogenicity, elevated viral load and accelerated CD4+ T cell decline. [Nat Med] Abstract|Press Release
Costimulatory and Coinhibitory Receptor Pathways in Infectious Disease
Studies are discussed that have addressed how major inhibitory and costimulatory pathways play a role in regulating immune responses during acute and chronic infections. Mechanistic insights from studies of infectious disease provide opportunities to further expand the toolkit to treat cancer and chronic infections in the clinic. [Immunity] Abstract
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BD Expands Reproductive and Sexually Transmitted Infections Portfolio with CE Mark for the BD MAX™ Vaginal Panel
BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) announced that it obtained CE mark for the BD MAX™ Vaginal Panel. The new in vitro diagnostic assay will provide laboratories and clinicians the ability to use a single test to detect microorganisms responsible for Bacterial Vaginosis, Candidiasis and Trichomoniasis, which are the most common infectious causes of vaginitis. [Becton, Dickinson and Company] Press Release
