bims-inflim 2018-06-24 papers

Issue of 2018–06–24
three papers selected by
Christine Oshansky-Weilnau

Trends Microbiol. 2018 Jun 13. pii: S0966-842X(18)30131-8. [Epub ahead of print]

This infographic briefly summarises the natural history, replication cycle, and pathogenesis of influenza viruses, the cause of seasonal influenza and of influenza pandemics. Influenza viruses infect many vertebrates, with Influenza A, B and C viruses (IAV, IBV, and ICV) infecting humans. High mutation rates allow the evasion of immunity. IAV from different host species can 'reassort' their segmented genomes, producing pandemic strains that are antigenically novel but otherwise well adapted to humans. The 'Great Influenza' pandemic of 1918 remains the worst outbreak of infectious disease in history. There is concern that highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5 and H7 subtypes may evolve to cause similar pandemics. In humans, influenza viruses infect the respiratory epithelium. The haemagglutinin (HA) proteins of IAV and IBV, or the haemagglutinin-esterase-fusion (HEF) proteins of ICV, bind sialic acid, causing endocytosis. Unusually among RNA viruses, the viral genome replicates in the nucleus. New viruses assemble at the cell surface and are released by the receptor-cleaving neuraminidase (NA) proteins of IAV and IBV or the ICV HEF protein.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tim.2018.05.013

Cell. 2018 Jun 06. pii: S0092-8674(18)30641-X. [Epub ahead of print]

Developmental Origin Governs CD8+ T Cell Fate Decisions during Infection.

Norah L Smith, Ravi K Patel, Arnold Reynaldi, Jennifer K Grenier, Jocelyn Wang, Neva B Watson, Kito Nzingha, Kristel J Yee Mon, Seth A Peng, Andrew Grimson, Miles P Davenport, Brian D Rudd.

Heterogeneity is a hallmark feature of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates. Following infection, naive T cells differentiate into various subsets of effector and memory T cells, which help to eliminate pathogens and maintain long-term immunity. The current model suggests there is a single lineage of naive T cells that give rise to different populations of effector and memory T cells depending on the type and amounts of stimulation they encounter during infection. Here, we have discovered that multiple sub-populations of cells exist in the naive CD8+ T cell pool that are distinguished by their developmental origin, unique transcriptional profiles, distinct chromatin landscapes, and different kinetics and phenotypes after microbial challenge. These data demonstrate that the naive CD8+ T cell pool is not as homogeneous as previously thought and offers a new framework for explaining the remarkable heterogeneity in the effector and memory T cell subsets that arise after infection.

Keywords: CD8(+) T cell; development; effector cell differentiation; epigenetics; homeostatic proliferation; immune ontogeny; immunological memory; neonate; post-thymic maturation; virtual memory cells

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.05.029

Arch Dis Child. 2018 Jun 16. pii: archdischild-2017-313530. [Epub ahead of print]

Maternal immunisation in pregnancy to protect newborn infants.

Kathryn M Edwards.

Keywords: infectious diseases; influenza vaccine; maternal immunization; pertussis vaccine; vaccines

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2017-313530