Novel map reveals how immune cells fight and remember infections
Mouse immune study gives pointers for development of vaccines and immune therapies

Date:
October 12, 2020
Source:
Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute
Summary:
Researchers have created the first full dynamic map of how
cells learn to fight microbes and then preserve a memory of
this for future infections, by mapping the activity of tens
of thousands of genes in mouse immune cells over the course of
an infection. Published in Nature Immunology, this could guide
research into T cells that are essential for generating immunity,
to help scientists develop new vaccines and therapeutics for a
range of diseases.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers have charted the activity of tens of thousands of genes
in mouse immune cells over the course of an infection. The study from
the University of Melbourne, Australia, the Wellcome Sanger Institute,
and their collaborators created the first full dynamic map of how cells
learn to fight microbes and then preserve a memory of this for future infections.


==========================================================================
The findings, published in the journal Nature Immunology, could help
scientists develop new vaccines and therapeutics for a range of diseases
by guiding their research into a particular set of immune cells, known
as CD4+ T cells, that are essential for generating immunity.

The international research team studied the CD4+ T cells during an
experimental infection of mice with malaria-causing parasites, which
invade and multiply inside red blood cells. With the aid of machine
learning techniques, the research team combined the gene activity data
over four weeks of infection to generate a comprehensive map of the developmental journeys taken by CD4+ T cells.

Dr Ashraful Haque, co-lead author from the University of Melbourne's
Doherty Institute, said: "We traced thousands of individual genes to
generate a map from initial infection to periods when cells firstly
'decide' between various immune roles for fighting the infection,
and secondly preserve memories of that encounter. Our map revealed
several novel genes that were active -- in particular, in a type of
CD4+ T cells called T follicular helper cells. These are essential for
making antibodies that protect against malaria but have not yet been
well studied." The scientists have shared their data through a freely available digital resource. This map allows immunology researchers
worldwide to track the response of individual genes after infection.

Dr Sarah Teichmann, co-lead author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute,
said: "Importantly, while our map was generated using an experimental
model of malaria, it will be useful for studying T cell responses in
almost any infectious or non-infectious disease, or treatment in which
T cells are involved. Further investigations are needed to confirm that
human cells have a similar map to mouse CD4+ T cells. However, we hope
this discovery can point researchers in the right direction towards
developing new vaccines for infectious diseases, new immune-therapies
for certain cancers, and novel ways to prevent auto-immune conditions."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Wellcome_Trust_Sanger_Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Megan S. F. Soon, Hyun Jae Lee, Jessica A. Engel, Jasmin Straube,
Bryce
S. Thomas, Clara P. S. Pernold, Lachlan S. Clarke, Pawat
Laohamonthonkul, Rohit N. Haldar, Cameron G. Williams, Lianne
I. M. Lansink, Marcela L.

Moreira, Michael Bramhall, Lambros T. Koufariotis, Scott Wood,
Xi Chen, Kylie R. James, Tapio Lo"nnberg, Steven W. Lane,
Gabrielle T. Belz, Christian R. Engwerda, David S. Khoury, Miles
P. Davenport, Valentine Svensson, Sarah A. Teichmann, Ashraful
Haque. Transcriptome dynamics of CD4 T cells during malaria maps
gradual transit from effector to memory.

Nature Immunology, 2020; DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-0800-8 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201012115955.htm

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