Published in Immunity
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has caused a devastating pandemic worldwide. Here, we explain basic concepts underlying the transition from an epidemic to an endemic state, where a pathogen is stably maintained in a population. We discuss ...
Published in Immunity
To better understand B cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination, Sokal et al. analyzed memory B cells from COVID-19-recovered and naive individuals. In recovered individuals, vaccination amplifies a broad repertoire of matured MBCs and generates variant-neutralizing plasma cells. In naive individuals, vaccination induces an MBC pool containing...
Published in Immunity
Nucleic acids can adopt the Z-conformation, an unusual left-handed double helix. Tang et al. show that mutations in the Z-RNA recognition domain of the adenosine deaminase ADAR1 result in spontaneous type I interferon production. Analysis of adenosine-to-inosine changes shows enrichment in transposable elements and suggests that editing by ADAR1 cu...
Published in Immunity
De Simone et al. delineate the mechanisms by which hepatocellularly primed HBV-specific CD8+ T cells acquire antiviral effector functions following IL-2 administration. These mechanisms rely on KCs and, in particular, on a hitherto unidentified KC subset, referred to as KC2, that is poised to respond to IL-2 and cross-present viral antigens.
Published in Immunity
Transendothelial cell migration (TEM) is a vital step in neutrophil infiltration of tissues, but the molecular basis of its cessation is unclear. Reglero-Real et al. show that in inflamed tissues, endothelial cell autophagy remodels junctional architecture and acts as a negative regulator of neutrophil TEM.
Published in Immunity
The importance of NK cells in the innate response to viral infection provides rationale for deeper understanding of their role in COVID-19. Here, Krämer et al. utilize longitudinal analysis of NK cells to show early TNF and IFN-α signatures associated with moderate and severe COVID-19, respectively, and NK cell functional impairment in severe disea...
Published in Immunity
Monoclonal antibodies show efficacy in treating COVID-19, but the functional requirements for protection are unclear. In this issue of Immunity , Ullah et al. (2021) develop a stable SARS-CoV-2 reporter virus and use bioluminescence imaging to longitudinally monitor infection and assess neutralizing monoclonal antibody interventions in mice. They f...
Published in Immunity
Antigenic variability in SARS-related coronavirus decreases the likelihood of cross-neutralization by monoclonal antibodies. Onodera et al. identify a broad neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 antibody in humanized mice that targets a vulnerable site of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 variants. Structural analysis reveals that the broad neutralization is coordinated b...
Published in Immunity
VanBlargan et al. describe a potently neutralizing mAb, SARS2-38, that recognizes a panel of SARS-CoV-2 variants and confers therapeutic protection in vivo . Structure analysis of SARS2-38 bound to the viral spike protein reveals the basis of its broadly neutralizing activity, highlighting an epitope target for antibody therapeutics and vaccine des...
Published in Immunity
Neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are effective in treating COVID-19, but the mechanism of immune protection is not fully understood. Here, we applied live bioluminescence imaging (BLI) to monitor the real-time effects of NAb treatment during prophylaxis and therapy of K18-hACE2 mice intranasally infected with SARS-CoV-2-nanoluciferase. Real-time imag...
