Volume 218, Issue 1, 1 July 2018

Mosquito saliva facilitates arboviral infection by taking advantage of the host’s innate and adaptive immune responses to saliva. This provides a rationale for creating “universal” vaccines against mosquito salivary proteins, rather than against the viruses contained within the saliva.

The risk of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) acquisition by women per condomless sex act was 3-fold and 4-fold higher during late pregnancy and the postpartum period, respectively, relative to the nonpregnant period. Enhanced HIV-1 prevention and testing strategies are needed during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

In adults with treated human immunodeficiency virus infection, receipt of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 12 months after receipt of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) enhanced PCV13 immunogenicity but reduced the number of PCV13-induced polysaccharide-specific immunoglobulin M–expressing memory B cells.

Human immunization with a polymorphic malaria vaccine candidate, MSP2, induced functional cross-reactive antibodies targeting conserved epitopes. This contrasts with naturally acquired antibodies, which target polymorphic epitopes, mediating immune escape. Findings reveal potential to overcome antigenic diversity for effective malaria vaccines.

This study highlights the relevance of preexisting pathogen-specific antibodies for restricting rapidly spreading necrotizing soft-tissue infections caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, as well as the potential beneficial effect of intravenous immunoglobulin–based therapy for ameliorating the severity of these devastating infections.

Repetitive aerosol exposure in the rabbit tuberculosis model generated a greater number of cavities and increased lung damage than when the same inoculum was given once. The model was used to test an anti–MMP-1 drug, cipemastat, as a host-directed therapy.

A reduced ability to produce IL-2 and a limited response to this cytokine may affect the function of CD4⁺ T cells in RSV-infected infants.

Using data from PATRICIA and Costa Rica Vaccine trials, the risk of detecting a new HPV-18 infection and associated lesions was compared between women HPV seropositive and seronegative at enrollment. High HPV-18 naturally acquired antibodies were associated with partial protection.

The 9vHPV vaccine was efficacious, immunogenic, and well-tolerated in Asian participants from 2 international, randomized clinical trials. Data support 9vHPV vaccination programs in Asia.

Temporal trends in human papillomavirus vaccine coverage were assessed among 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys participants aged 9–26 years. Coverage substantially increased among males, but minimal gains were observed among females. Coverage remains below national targets.

PreS mutations, detected in released viral genomes, did not affect HBsAg expression in HBeAg-negative chronic HBV-infected patients. In these patients, HBsAg is presumably derived from the integrated DNA. This HBsAg source should be considered for novel antiviral strategies.

Microneedle (MN) patches containing measles and rubella (MR) vaccine induced comparable immune responses to subcutaneous injection in infant rhesus macaques and protected them from measles challenge. Use of MN patch vaccines could help to increase MR vaccination coverage rates.

This study provides the strong evidence in tracing the evolutionary origin and elucidating its evolutionary dynamics of the reemerging GII.P16/GII.2 noroviruses, and illustrates the mechanism behind its predominance.

Zoonotic simian foamy virus (SFV) establishes persistent infections in humans. A case-control study of Cameroonian hunters showed the absence of clinical signs and the presence of hematological abnormalities in SFV-infected humans, half of whom had mild or moderate anemia.

Functional analysis of activated Akt/protein kinase B in Schistosoma mansoni revealed that Akt regulates the expression and evolution of the glucose transporter SGTP4 at the parasite surface and concomitant glucose uptake in schistosomules and adult worms.

Our study reveals that human tissue challenged with mycobacterial antigens induces differential expression of genes that regulate multiple metabolic pathways. We demonstrate that variable expression of these metabolic genes influences the cytokine response of immune cells stimulated by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.