Immunology & Cell Biology最新文献

NK cells are innate immune cells that target infected and tumor cells. Mature NK (mNK) cells undergo functional maturation characterized by four distinct stages, during which they acquire their cytotoxic properties. mNK cells from non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice exhibit a defect in functional maturation and have impaired cytotoxic functions. Hence, we tested whether the impaired cytotoxic function observed in mNK cells from NOD mice can be explained by their defect in functional maturation. By comparing the function of mNK cells from B6, B6^g7 and NOD mice, we show that the expression of granzyme B is severely impaired in mNK cells from NOD mice, agreeing with their inability to control tumor growth in vivo. The low level of granzyme B expression in mNK cells from NOD mice is found at all stages of functional maturation and is therefore independent of their functional maturation defect. Consequently, this study demonstrates that phenotypic functional maturation of mNK cells can be uncoupled from the acquisition of cytotoxic functions.

In this commentary, I discuss my non-traditional pathway to a PhD, a late-bloomer's account of balancing a young family and PhD studies, a guide for those contemplating the same path.

In the vast and diverse continent of Africa, the field of immunology holds immense significance as it navigates the complex landscape of infectious diseases and public health challenges. In this article, we speak with Professor Clive Gray, who provides powerful and valuable insights into the unique research opportunities and immunological advancements supported by Africa's unique blend of social, economic and environmental factors and also discusses the societal and cultural challenges that need to be overcome for equitable research to be achieved across the continent.

T-cell development occurs in the thymus and is tightly regulated to produce a diverse enough repertoire of mature T cells that can recognize any potential pathogen. The development of T cells is dependent on small numbers of uncommitted precursors that continually seed the thymus from the bone marrow. As they progress along the developmental pathway, there is a massive expansion in cell number to generate the necessary diversity in T-cell receptor chain usage. It is recognized that there are two proliferative bursts that occur early in T-cell development, one prior to β-selection and one after, and these are responsible for the expansion. While the proliferation following β-selection is well-characterized, the earlier proliferative burst has yet to be precisely defined. In this study, we employ single-cell RNA sequencing coupled to trajectory inference methods to pinpoint when in T-cell development thymocytes are induced into cell cycle. We show that the first proliferative burst is initiated in the double-negative (DN) 2a stage before T lineage commitment occurs, with cell cycling downregulated by the DN3a stage. A second burst is then initiated at the DN3b stage, immediately after β-selection. We subsequently employ fluorescence-activated cell sorting–based analysis for DNA content to confirm these two proliferative bursts.

PhD training can be incredibly versatile, leading to many downstream careers. There is potential to gain training to help you enter any of these careers after graduation. However, it is often only in retrospect that the options and optimal strategies become clear. Here we provide a strategic framework to empower PhD researchers to build and expand their career options in a method compatible with tomorrow's career ecosystem. The strategic framework encourages early career researchers to take a self-directed approach to establish flexible career goals, diversify exposures and build professional networks. Researchers increase their chances of success by building early markers of multiple career pathways into their PhD program. The framework emphasizes self-direction, adaptability and resilience, enabling early career researchers to embrace new opportunities and to navigate uncertainties. This structured approach empowers PhD researchers to maximize their opportunities, positioning them for long-term success in the various career options within and beyond academia.

Immunology & Cell Biology 2023; 101: 672; https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12667

Correction to: Immunology & Cell Biology 2023; https://doi.org/10.1111/imcb.12654

Conflicts of Interest were omitted from this article. This information appears below. The authors apologize for this error.

A Bertoletti reports a pending patent for a method to monitor SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in biological samples. He is also co-founder and owns shares in (a) LION TCR, a biotech company developing T cell therapy against virus-related cancers, and (b) T-cell Diagnostic, a company providing immunological monitoring in clinical samples.

Pathways to tenured teaching positions are fraught with obstacles and require a combination of luck, perseverance and a competitive track record. Despite this, there are strategies that one can employ to increase your chances of success but, first and foremost, one must be an excellent communicator. Excellent communicators make for talented teachers, but one must also enjoy teaching or risk energy, i.e. your students will lack (co)stimulation. Academics who are new to teaching immunology need support from their community of practise (such as ASI Education Special Interest Groups) given that immunology can be challenging to teach. For every rule that we teach our students, there are equally many exceptions that confuse and confound. The complexity of our discipline also owes to the highly conceptual curriculum and abstract discipline language. To this end, this work seeks to provide advice to current and aspiring early-career immunology educators, utilising lessons learnt from my experience as an academic over the last decade. Topics include: understanding the needs of the student cohort; active learning strategies to engage students; ethical dilemmas for publishing pedagogical papers and the attainability of tenure. Like exogenously processed antigens, there is no hard and fast rule about one's pathway to academia; some take the canonical road (MHC class II) and others break the rules (cross-presentation). Whichever the path, teaching is a rewarding career and as long as you view your students as collaborators you have nothing to lose.

The July 2023 issue contains a Special Feature about CD4⁺ T cells in infection and vaccination. CD4⁺ T helper cells are composed of many specialized subsets that play critical roles in immune memory. These cells have been somewhat overshadowed in the infectious disease and vaccination literature by their CD8⁺ counterparts and B cells/antibodies, which have been easier to study with available techniques. Therefore, we designed this issue to shine a light on some of the latest knowledge on how CD4⁺ T cells contribute to protective immunity. This Special Feature includes both original research and review articles on techniques to study CD4⁺ T-cell subsets and their roles in influenza A virus or human papilloma virus infection, sepsis and following vaccination to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. This collection highlights how new techniques are enabling rapid knowledge gain on how these cells underpin key aspects of the generation of effective immune responses, information that will be essential for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.

Research positions have become increasingly less stable, thus increasing the frequency at which research laboratories need to be relocated. A laboratory relocation can be a positive transition for you and your team; however, it requires careful planning in order to minimize the disruption and mitigate potential harms. Here we discuss key planning steps involved in successfully relocating your laboratory.