IMaymmunology 2016 | ISSN 1356-5559 (print) News
#BritainBreathing: citizen science and immunology come together
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Immunology News | May 2016
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For further information: +44 (0)20 7610 3062 • [email protected] • www.peprotech.com Quality • Consistency • Integrity A WORD FROM THE EDITOR 3 © Shutterstock With long, sunny (hopefully!) days and any queries. Voting is also currently bird song is in the air, welcome to summer open for the elections to a number of 2016 edition of Immunology News. Another committees. Please do vote – as members herald of summer for many of us is the of the BSI, it’s important that you have rise in pollen levels and the commensurate a say in who sits on our committees increase in hay fever sneezes and wheezes. and represents you in BSI matters. This year however the BSI has a plan to As always, this magazine is for BSI take advantage of this allergy season and members and we want to hear from you on you can read all about our new citizen what issues you want us to discuss, both science project, #BritainBreathing, which in the field of immunology and the wider aims to work with the UK public to discover research environment. Please do send more about seasonal allergies on page 16. us your thoughts and feedback through. Finally, this is an important year for the BSI with our 60th anniversary and Best wishes, new 5-year strategic plan. You can read more about both of these events in this Jennie Evans magazine, but do let us know if you have [email protected]
The Team Contents Editorial Advisory Board: FEATURES: Edd James (Southampton) 12 Louisa James (London) CD4 T cells: Donald Palmer (London) conductors or Mihil Patel (Cardiff) communicators? Ushani Srenathan (London) Accreditation schemes: Managing Editor: 14 what you need to know Jennie Evans Sub Editor: Rebecca Ramsden Design: Qube Design Associates
British Society for Immunology 4 Society news 34 Red Lion Square London 19 Congratulations WC1R 4SG Tel: +44(0)203 019 5901 22 Future focus Email: [email protected] #BritainBreathing: www.immunology.org 16 our citizen science app 26 Around the BSI groups Enquiries and correspondence: 28 Journal news Jennie Evans: [email protected]
Advertising queries: Sarah Green: Follow us: [email protected] britsocimm Registered Charity No. 1043255 and registered in England & Wales britsocimm as company no. 3005933 Biomedical scientist: 20 a day in the life britsocimm © 2016 British Society for Immunology The views expressed by contributors britsocimm are not necessarily those of the Society, nor can claims of advertisers Brit.Soc.Imm be guarenteed. The Society, Editorial Board and authors cannot accept britishsocietyforimm liability for any errors or omissions. british-society-for-immunology
Immunology News | May 2016 4 SOCIETY NEWS
not to remain in the EU will potentially have likely to be a very stimulating discussion VIEW FROM … a major impact on collaboration, careers and we would love for as many members THE CHIEF and the direction of future research. The as possible to join us to be part of this BSI is a member of the group CaSE, the audience, so that you have the opportunity EXECUTIVE Campaign for Science and Engineering, to ask questions and share a drink with us the leading independent advocate for afterwards. The event will be ticketed and science in the policy arena. They represent we will shortly be sending out the details As we speed a broad church of scientific organisations of how to apply (which will also be on our through the and are making the case for integration, website). This debate will be held on 11 year, there is not isolation. We await the results of October, beginning at 6pm and finishing now a matter of the referendum with anticipation. at around 7.20pm, followed by drinks. weeks before the As you’re all aware, 2016 marks the Finally, the BSI team is now installed country goes to BSI’s 60th anniversary. As part of our in our new office in central London at 34 the polls to decide celebrations, we are holding a public Red Lion Square. We have spare desks whether or not debate at the Royal Society in London here for members to use if you need the UK should entitled ‘The changing face of research’. access to coffee and wi-fi. Please do remain part of Our esteemed panellists will include come in and say hello to the team. the EU. For science, and in particular Professor Peter Openshaw (BSI President), healthcare, we have already seen fierce Professor Sir Robert Lechler (President Jo Revill lobbying from both sides and this is of the Academy of Medical Sciences) and Chief Executive, set to continue as the referendum date Professor Fiona Powrie (Director of the British Society for Immunology draws near. For scientists, clinicians and Kennedy Institute at Oxford University). academics, the decision on whether or With such a distinguished line-up, it’s
JOINING THE TREND – YOUR ‘SMART’ NEW WEBSITE IS COMING SOON!
The last time we redesigned the BSI website was back in 2007. That was the same year, incidentally, that Apple launched the first generation iPhone, helping usher in the smartphone revolution that has placed a powerful computer in the hands of billions of people worldwide. As the example of the iPhone demonstrates, we live in a constantly changing world, with technological advancements altering the way we live our lives. Nowhere is this truer than with the internet, and thanks to mobile technology and the use of smartphones and tablets, the web is a ubiquitous presence in today’s society. All of this means our website needs to stay on top of the technological trend, which is why we are in the process of redeveloping it. Many of you might have visited our site using a mobile phone and realised that it isn’t fully optimised. Moreover, the restrictive architecture makes it difficult to display our online In January 2016 we appointed Moore- within the year meaning that we should resources, and as the Society moves Wilson as the web agency that will be taking have a new website up and running to into new and exciting activities with the forward this project. Moore-Wilson brings help us mark our 60th anniversary. implementation of our new five-year a wealth of experience, having redeveloped We will be keeping you updated strategy, we need a site that is capable websites for other learned societies and throughout the process, and look forward of presenting the best that the BSI has to member organisations. We have set them to showing you more as we proceed. offer. This is especially important for you, the brief of developing a website with a focus If you have any thoughts about our the member, and we hope that by offering on how members use the site; this means web development, do get in touch with increased functionality through the new we will be running focus group sessions me at [email protected]. site we can better highlight BSI events, to generate feedback on our current streamline the process of registering website, which will directly feed into how Jamie Harris for meetings, and offer more tailored we develop the new website’s functionality. Digital Officer, content targeted towards your interests. The entire process should be completed British Society for Immunology
Immunology News | May 2016 SOCIETY NEWS 5
SOCIETY NEWS
Immunology in RCP specialty spotlight The Royal College of Physicians featured immunology in their March Specialty Spotlight. This included a video interview with Dr Rohit Ghurye, ST4 Clinical Immunology at The Royal London Hospital, who discusses clinical immunology, what working and training in the specialty involves, and what it takes to be a successful clinical immunologist. You’ll find a whole range of resources for those considering a career in clinical immunology at http://bit.ly/1WF7zI8.
We’ve moved The headquarters of the BSI has recently moved. We can now be found at 34 Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4SG. This is just a minute away from Holborn tube station. Our new phone number is +44 (0)20 3019 5901. We have ‘hot desks’ available in our BSI response to office to any BSI member who finds Research Excellence themselves in London and needs a Framework (REF) review quiet place to work for a few hours. If you’d like to use one of our hot desks, In March, the BSI issued a response please email [email protected]. to Lord Stern’s review of the Research We look forward to seeing you. Excellence Framework (REF). In this, we highlighted our concerns regarding the REF’s definition of impact, and how this Upcoming BSI may influence the research agenda, as ICI 2016 registration meetings well as the REF’s sometimes regretful utility as an HR tool for HE institutions. still open Visit www.immunology.org/events We also cover issues such as the use of Registration is still open for the for more information metrics, the need to offer more detailed International Congress of Immunology, feedback for participating researchers taking place in Melbourne, Australia on IMMUNOMODULATION and the REF’s role in supporting 21–26 August 2016. This is the largest 8 June 2016, Southampton collaborative research. You can read our global event in immunology and a full response at http://bit.ly/1Xv4jQ7. great opportunity to hear from some THEORETICAL & EXPERIMENTAL of the leading international experts in IMMUNOLOGY the field. For more information and 16 – 17 June 2016, Cambridge to register, visit www.ici2016.org. JOINT BSI & NVVI CONGRESS 2016 6 – 9 December 2016, Liverpool
FOCIS symposium – Tolerance strategies in multiple sclerosis
FOCIS 2016 is taking place in Boston, USA on 22–25 June 2016. We’re hosting a joint symposium with the Immune Tolerance Network on ‘Tolerance strategies in multiple sclerosis’ at 12:45–16:45 on 22 June. Speakers include David Baker, Vijay Kuchroo, Margarita Dominguez-Villar, David Wraith, Eoin McKinney and Fred Karnell. For more details, visit http://bit.ly/1Wrskt3 – we hope to see you there!
Immunology News | May 2016 6 SOCIETY NEWS
SOCIETY NEWS Looking to the future: our five-year strategy
As the Society celebrates its 60th year, making it a diamond anniversary, there are lots of opportunities for us to look at what has been achieved across the decades. It’s also a good opportunity to spend some time thinking about how we should use our resources and collective insight and knowledge to do as much as possible to support immunology in all its rich diversity.
Over the past eight months, we have developed and published a five-year strategy for the BSI that sets out our mission, our values and our objectives. This means that we can prioritise the areas of work where we can make the most difference and ensure that we have the resources and the staff to carry these out effectively. Behind it all lies our mission to promote excellence in research, scholarship and clinical practice in order to improve human and animal health. Listening to our members Strategies serve many different purposes; for the Society, it enables us its own future, by reaching policy-makers 1. Membership – fine-tuning to ensure that we have a clear direction and those leading research to ensure that your experience and that we also have the resources and we have a strong and credible voice and On the membership front, we started the skills to deliver the work effectively. are not left out of important debates. As work by developing a new membership Last September, staff and trustees came we discussed what our strategic aims database, which, together with a refreshed together to think about the unique position would look like, everyone was aware website, will enable members to sign in that the BSI holds for its members, and that members on both the scientific and easily, find the information they desire with that in mind, to shape its priorities clinical side were asking for more careers and also improve communications. For for the next five years. This involved support. This is something that all learned example, it will allow us to target our discussing and analysing the various societies are facing and we now need to communications to your individual needs, activities and pieces of work that we understand more of what immunologists such as meetings of interest that are currently carry out, and to think about need by way of this support in this area. coming up locally or on specific subject what more we might wish to achieve. areas. We are lucky to have a dynamic Strategy – priority areas Much of that discussion kept coming and enthusiastic body of members who back to what you had told us through Our strategy carries four main areas want to support and learn from each the membership survey carried out in for priority: membership, influencing other, and our systems should enable summer 2015. This raised common themes and communicating, supporting that to happen more effectively. which we realised had to be central to education and careers, and building our purpose. One was the idea of helping up our income. For each area, we have 2. Influencing and communicating – both current and future generations of set out what the priorities will mean in a recognised voice for immunology immunologists by passing on ideas and terms of new activities in the short-, As a learned society, the public isn’t knowledge, as we always have done medium- and long-term. We are also likely to have heard of our name but – from the post-war scientists to the clear that this complements our ‘business they certainly have heard a lot about millennials. Another was the importance as usual’ work, so that we remain an the immune system, vaccine research, of meetings and lively exchanges and organisation that is helpful, reliable and the microbiome and the importance of debates on innovation, both at a regional supports members when it matters, as basic laboratory research. We represent level and through our Congress. well as offering new opportunities. the voice of immunology in the UK, and But there was also a new emphasis increasingly many other organisations from members on the importance of the want to know not only about our work Society taking an active role in shaping but our opinions on issues of public
Immunology News | May 2016 SOCIETY NEWS 7
‘We would like to set up a network Our mission
of teachers to share resources and Our mission is to promote excellence in immunological research, scholarship promote best practice, as well as and clinical practice in order to improve human and animal health. celebrate those who inspire others We accomplish this by: • Working with our members into immunology.’ to support current and future generations of immunologists. importance. One example of this is when 4. Income – diversify and safeguard • Sharing our passion for the Science and Technology Committee One of the founding aims of the BSI immunology through meetings, held their inquiry last year into the UK’s was to start a journal for the profession. publications and the media. response to the Ebola outbreak. The chair, We are extremely lucky to have income Nicola Blackwood, highlighted our written from our two journals, Immunology and • Building up an understanding of submission which raised concerns about Clinical & Experimental Immunology, of our work by engaging with the the lack of a co-ordinated platform for the over £1million annually, which enables public and those working in the research, development and manufacturing us to run so many activities, meetings research and health environments. of new vaccines or treatments and to offer a wide range of travel against emerging disease threats. awards and grants. However, if we want • Working with partners in Our strategy highlights that we want to do more, we need to diversify our pursuit of our mission, building our views and opinions as an organisation income streams and simultaneously on common interests. not simply to be heard and understood but safeguard the funds for the future. With Our values also to be valued, and seen as evidence- the right projects we can collaborate based, rigorous and authoritative by with partners in science and healthcare Our values are: others. Many members also help us to raise money for specific activities. • We are a friendly, accessible with our public engagement and media community which supports Keeping true to our aims work, and this is an area which many diversity, working across different learned societies are developing as It is worth mentioning that our sectors and national borders. science becomes increasingly focussed strategy will be kept under review on reaching out to communities and and revised, as and when necessary, • We give a powerful voice to explaining its value directly to the public. because circumstances and priorities immunological science and can change. It also needs to lead to health, advocating on issues 3. Education and careers – support for all outcomes. In the words of Sir Winston for the benefit of society. During our strategy development, it Churchill, “However beautiful the became clear that we should not try strategy, you should occasionally look • Our strategy and governance to be ‘all things to all people’. It’s very at the results”. Our strategy may not reflect our charitable purpose, easy to dissipate resources by copying be exactly beautiful but it is succinct, at upholding standards of others and trying to do too much on the just eight pages long, so no-one has to openness and independence. periphery. However, one area where plough through a heavy report. We will Strategic priorities you, as members, have said very clearly review it each year and look at what has that you would like more support is been achieved and if not, ask why not. Our strategic priorities in education and career support. The strategy sets out our vision which for 2016–2020 are: In many ways, this is the most holds true to the original aims of the BSI’s 1. To harness the collective strength challenging area of our plan because we founding members. As we now represent of our membership, growing our need to help members at different career professionals who work throughout the numbers and increasing our support. stages and in different settings. One area entire immunology chain – from lab bench that we are keen to explore is to map out through into hospitals and clinics – as 2. To shape the future by influencing these pathways to understand that diversity well as in animal health, we are there to high-level policy and research and to identify the gaps. We will need your share ideas. Please send us your thoughts priorities, communicating effectively help and input into this as it could be a on this document and share more of and strengthening the public’s major project for us to undertake. Over your ideas with us in 2016 and beyond. understanding of immunology. the past decade, universities have seen a new focus on helping young scientists at Jo Revill 3. To offer support to current and an earlier stage of their career to access Chief Executive, future generations of immunologists training. There is also a strong feeling British Society for Immunology across their careers. that the role of educators in immunology needs to be far better recognised and 4. To invest in our future and we would like to set up a network of build on our rich heritage, teachers to share resources and promote You can read our full strategy at: forging new partnerships in best practice, as well as celebrate those http://bit.ly/1SvyRwM. pursuit of our mission. who inspire others into immunology.
Immunology News | May 2016 8 SOCIETY NEWS
SOCIETY NEWS BSI elections: your vote matters
The BSI is run by a Board of Trustees, and supported by numerous other committees (see figure). These primarily comprise BSI members, although some have ex-officio members, who hold their position because of another role they hold, perhaps with another organisation. However, our Board, Forum and Secretary roles are open to the wide membership via an election process – so please be aware of the opportunities available to you!
• Congress Secretary Board of Trustees • Public Engagement Secretary • Groups & Meetings Secretary • Education Secretary
Groups Congress Clinical Finance Journals Forum & Meetings Committee Committee Sub-Committee Committee Committee
Patient Advisory Panel
You will likely have seen the call for Secretary roles experience or local knowledge to the nominations that was sent to all members meeting, ensuring there is a voice for the at the end of April, and you will shortly • Congress Secretary constituency they represent, and enabling receive an email from the Electoral Reform • Groups & Meetings Secretary the BSI to have a fuller understanding of Services about an election for these how best to support those members. vacancies. Please pay close attention to These are roles which have specific areas We also have a Congress Committee the details and please do vote! All your of responsibility, but are not Trustee who work on the planning and delivery votes count, and as members of the positions; however they report to the of the BSI Congress. In particular, the BSI, it’s very important that you have Board, and may be asked on committee reviews and approves the a say in who sits on your committees occasion to attend Board meetings scientific programme for Congress, and and represents you in BSI matters. to provide activity reports. is involved, as required, in organising and chairing specific sessions, and BSI Forum reviewing abstracts. It also works with Your vote counts! • Regional Representative: Society staff to plan events such as Northern Ireland public engagement activities linked to You will be voting on the following: • PhD Representative the conference. This committee follows • Early Career Representative a different election procedure to our BSI Board of Trustees • Industry Representative other committees, so do keep an eye • Trustee • Veterinary Representative out for open calls for nomination which will happen throughout the year. The Board of Trustees is the governing The BSI Forum is the BSI’s ‘think tank’ body of the BSI and is responsible for and the place where the issues and ideas Emilie Thomas ensuring that the organisation operates that are of importance to the Society and Committee and Governance Manager, properly, responsibly and effectively. its members are raised, discussed and British Society for Immunology The Board has four overarching areas developed. The Forum develops ideas Email: [email protected] of responsibility – finance, governance, and proposals for the consideration of strategy and the appointment the Board of Trustees. Individual role and supervision of the CEO. holders bring their particular level of
Immunology News | May 2016 SOCIETY NEWS 9
SOCIETY NEWS Six reasons you should come to the joint BSI NVVI Congress 2016
Dates for your diary
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15 September 2016 The BSI NVVI Congress 2016 is taking 2. Present your ideas: You’ve spent all year CONGRESS BURSARY APPLICATIONS: place in the vibrant city of Liverpool working away in the lab, your experiments 20 September 2016 on 6–9 December 2016. We want are done and your next job is to tell people you to look forward to it as much about them. The BSI NVVI Congress EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: as we are so we’ve come up with six is the perfect opportunity to showcase 20 October 2016 your research to a large cross-section reasons why you should join us there. of the UK and international immunology 1. Cutting-edge science: Our Congress is community. Changes to our programme CONGRESS DATES: the premier UK immunology conference, this year mean that there are even more with an impressive international reputation. oral communications slots up for grabs, 6–9 December 2016 This year, we’re teaming up with our providing an even better launch pad to Dutch colleagues to bring you a host of get your work out there. What are you top class UK and international invited waiting for? Abstract submission closes 5. Broaden your horizons: Lots of us feel speakers including Yasmine Belkaid on 15 September, so get writing and guilty about taking time out of the lab (NIH, USA), Gabriel Nunez (Michigan, send us your ground-breaking findings. but actually it can be key to increasing USA) Bali Pulendran (Emory, USA) and your productivity, providing a different Gerd Sutter (Munich, Germany), and our 3. Networking: This word can fill perspective on your work and opening keynote speaker, Akiko Iwasaki (Yale, even the most gregarious person with your mind to new ideas, opportunities USA). Additionally, whether it’s lung apprehension, but in reality it’s a crucial and connections. We have a multitude immunology, unconventional T cells or skill to help you exchange ideas and of parallel sessions on offer so come immunogenomics that floats your boat, build links to aid you in your next career to our Congress and be inspired! our parallel sessions have something step. The BSI NVVI Congress provides to suit all immunological tastes. you with the perfect opportunity to 6. Have fun: What better way to celebrate brush up your skills, get your name out the end of the year than with a good old there and make those vital contacts to knees up with your immunology chums? help foster your career and research. The Congress is a great opportunity to catch up with friends, old and new. 4. Liverpool: Icons such as the River This year’s Congress party takes place Mersey, the Beatles and Anfield football at PANAM on the Albert Dock and ground might first spring to mind … but will again be followed by a disco – we did you know that Liverpool was also the are hoping for the same enthusiastic first city in the world to have a school of and impressive dance moves as those tropical medicine? The city itself offers showcased by some at the last Congress! many cultural delights, whether it’s visiting the many museums and attractions around the Albert Dock or taking in some of the www.bsicongress.com city’s famous sporting venues and events, Liverpool is the city with the warm welcome @bsicongress that has something to offer everyone.
Immunology News | May 2016 10 SOCIETY NEWS
SOCIETY NEWS Society marks the big 6-0
2016 marks a big date for the British Society for Immunology – our 60th anniversary! From its creation in 1956 by a small group of hard working visionary immunologists to its current standing of over 3,000 members from around the world, the Society has come a long way and we want to celebrate the huge accomplishments of immunology during this time and look to a bright, exciting future for the discipline. We have a number of activities planned for this year, which are listed below.
BSI’s celebratory 60th anniversary lecture © Kaihsu Tai We’re delighted to announce that, in Oxford University. The discussion is sure to recognition of our 60th anniversary, the stimulate some lively and thoughtful debate BSI is hosting a special one-off public and we’d love for as many BSI members as lecture at the Royal Society in London on possible to join us. Tuesday 11 October. The event, entitled The main event will begin at 18:00 and ‘The changing face of research’, will finish around 19:20, with a drinks reception examine how biomedical research has afterwards for BSI members. The event will evolved over the past 60 years, from animal be ticketed (although free to attend) and and self-experimentation that would be we will shortly send out details of how to unimaginable today, to big data and global apply (details will also be available on our collaboration. The BSI’s President, Peter website). Openshaw, will lead the discussion and We hope as many of you as possible will be joined on stage by Professor Sir are able to join us to celebrate what has Robert Lechler, President of the Academy been a wonderful 60 years for British of Medical Sciences and Professor Fiona immunology and to look forward with hope Powrie, Director of the Kennedy Institute at and aspiration to the next 60.
Immunology impacts To take a wider look at the importance of immunology within biomedical research as a whole, the BSI has commissioned a report to delve into some of the key areas of immunology and investigate their impact on society and the future directions that the discipline might take. From neuroimmunology to vaccines, microbiota to emerging health threats, we’ll be taking a look behind the headlines to hear from leading immunologists who have shaped the current direction of the discipline and find out where they think A history of immunology in 60 objects the future of immunology might lie. We hope to publish this report in October to To help mark our 60th anniversary, we are equipment that ushered in new techniques coincide with our anniversary lecture and looking to collect a list of objects, or things, or ways of working, or had a key role in will bring you more news on this soon. through which the story of immunology and an important discovery. Or it could be its history can be told. In doing so we hope something a little less tangible, like a to communicate how far the study and specific cell, protein or molecule. We We hope that you enjoy our line- practice of immunology has come, from are open to any and all suggestions! up of activities to celebrate this the days of pre-Jenner variolation, right At this stage we want to hear all your special year for the BSI. If you would like up to the latest technologies at the cutting suggestions for objects, or things, and to get involved or if you have any ideas for edge of immunological practice. But we why we should include them on our additional activities that the BSI should need your help to come up with a good list! list. Ideally we will need a picture of carry out, please do get in touch! When we talk about objects, we really the object, a brief description of what just mean something that is in some way it is and why it is important, and how Jennie Evans connected to – or has in itself influenced you think it has changed immunology. Communications Manager, – a seminal step-change in immunology Please email your suggestions to Jamie British Society for Immunology or its application in medical or veterinary Harris at [email protected]. Email: [email protected] practice. It could be an important piece of
Immunology News | May 2016 SOCIETY NEWS 11
SOCIETY NEWS Policy Update ©Shutterstock
It’s nearly 12 months since the Conservative Government swept to an unexpected majority victory at the General Election, setting on course a political trajectory that has had – and could yet have – significant impacts on science, immunology and the way our members conduct their work.
Comprehensive Spending Review – what’s in the ‘real-terms’ investment? Last November many in the science community would have been relieved as the Chancellor committed to protect, in real-terms until the end of 2020, the relies on a complex set of influences Government has been emboldened to Government’s investment in publicly funded and relationships. Perhaps nowhere enact tougher immigration policy reforms. scientific research. Several months on is this brought into sharper focus than These include recent proposals for an and we now have a clearer view of the in trying to understand the possible increased salary threshold for skilled intricacies of the settlement announced implications of the next big date on workers (up from £20,800 to £30,000) in the Comprehensive Spending Review. the political calendar: 23 June. as well as the imposition of a levy on We now know, for example, that the employers hiring non-EU workers. The EU referendum – difference between a flat cash and a real Thankfully, the Home Office announced terms ring fence is made up by £1.5bn implications for UK science at the end of March that PhD-level roles taken from the Official Development The European referendum is almost would be exempt from these proposals, Assistance budget. This money is reserved upon us – but what is at stake? Funding offering a reprieve for some non-EU for science ‘relating directly and primarily’ is of course one thing, and some might immunologists in the UK who might have to problems in developing countries, such be tempted to characterise the EU as an fallen on the wrong side of the regulations. as research on tropical diseases. This eighth research council. Others might Despite these exemptions it’s easy to means that the science resource budget point to the harmonisation of regulatory see why some remain concerned that – public money channelled through the protocols – such as in the areas of attempts to curtail immigration are research councils – remains roughly the medicines licensing and clinical trials sending out the wrong message. The UK’s same. Some councils however, such as – as other positive influences. There is reputation as an open and welcoming the BBSRC, have seen a £300m drop in also the question of influence, with the country is in danger of being eroded their five-year allocation. Their budget UK currently enjoying considerable sway by a stream of communications that is is also front-loaded, meaning that they over the European research agenda as widely perceived as anti-immigration. will be funding less science per annum a ‘full member’ of the European club. Rather than being isolationist, perhaps by the end of this parliament than at the Then there is immigration. A driving what is needed is a celebration of the start. The MRC by contrast has seen a factor in some of the arguments against global links and relationships that make 6% rise in its allocation, with the value the European project and a political hot the UK one of the best places in the of grants and fellowships awarded by potato for the Government, any departure world to be an immunologist. This will the body rising towards 2020/21.1 could see moves to impose new border be a key area of focus for the BSI as There is no doubt that the addition of controls on those coming from EU nations. we move forward. Stay tuned for more initiatives such as the Global Challenges Brussels’ rules on immigration are non- information in the next couple of months. Research Fund, as well as the £1bn Ross negotiable when it comes to participation in Fund partnered with the Gates Foundation, European science programmes, and failure Chris Lowry has positively augmented the spending to adhere to these rules can be punished. Public Affairs Manager, power available for immunological Take the example of Switzerland, which British Society for Immunology research. As the Chair of the Science and in 2014 narrowly voted to restrict mass Technology Committee, Nicola Blackwood, immigration and has had its membership recently pointed out in a letter to the of the Horizon 2020 framework downgraded Chancellor,2 what may be needed now as a consequence. The result of this is a REFERENCES is some long-term thinking on science research community in limbo, unable to 1. Department for Business Innovation and Skills 2016 funding, taking us beyond this parliament. apply for the main types of funding and http://bit.ly/1TUDndG It’s easy to see funding as a totemic excluded from participating in international 2. Nicola Blackwood (Chair, Commons Science and issue, but the reality is of course much strategic committees and expert groups. Technology Committee). Letter to: George Osborne, 7 more complicated, and good science With a majority in the Commons, the March 2016 http://bit.ly/1Ys2mUJ
Immunology News | May 2016 12 FEATURE ARTICLE
CD4 T cells: conductors or communicators?
CD4 T cells, we often read, are the orchestrators of immune responses, TCR repertoire towards self-recognition conducting a host of other cell types within lymphoid and non-lymphoid – as such, they are the first of many cell organs. This presents an image of CD4 T cells as standing somewhat apart from types that shape the identity of CD4 T cells. Second in line are medullary thymic the fray: directing dendritic cells and macrophages; driving on B cells and CD8 epithelial cells. These cells sculpt the T cells towards a cacophonic response of cytokines, proteolytic enzymes and TCR repertoire further, whittling out resolvins. Of course, such metaphors only work so far before they fall apart. many of the T cells that recognise self- But the image of the driven, decisive CD4 T cell with a master plan is now peptides so strongly that they pose a far from our current understanding of how adaptive immune responses are risk to self-tolerance. In collaboration with thymic dendritic cells, and maybe initiated, shaped and resolved. thymic B cells, these epithelial cells are one of the first cell types to dictate With the discovery of new immune cell T cell development: epithelial directly CD4 T cell function by driving the types from dendritic cells in the 1970s cells regulate T cell life differentiation of thymic regulatory T cells. 1 by Ralph Steinman, and the more recent and death decisions uncovering of innate lymphoid cells, it T cell activation is a collaborative is becoming increasingly clear that CD4 CD4 T cells live and breathe by their T T cells are players in plastic and co- cell receptors (TCRs), the cell surface and dynamic process operative immune responses. From their molecule that gives them their specificity. CD4 T cells leave the thymus as resting, generation in the thymus to their decision TCRs are stitched together during T cell inactive cells. This is not to say that to become memory cells, CD4 T cells are development in the thymus. Without the they float around, distant from the rest reliant on other immune and somatic cells ability to recognise self-MHC molecules, T of the immune system. CD4 T cells to inform their decisions. The immune cells are blind to the world. Cortical thymic recirculate through secondary lymphoid response is a conversation not a dictation. epithelial cells are the cells that focus the organs scanning MHC class II molecules ‘CD4 T cells use the information they receive in a flexible and responsive manner rather than one that is prescribed and rigid.’
Immunology News | May 2016 FEATURE ARTICLE 13
‘…the image of the driven, decisive CD4 T cell with a master plan is now far from our current understanding of how adaptive immune responses are initiated, shaped and resolved.’ on dendritic cells (DCs) for a peptide Since Tim Mossman and Bob Coffman defining one. Immunologists tend to focus that they recognise as their specific first described Th1 and Th2 cells in 1986, on what B cells get out of this interaction. antigen. These periodic encounters immunologists have sought to put activated CD4 T cells may also benefit: work from with self-peptide-MHC II complexes CD4 T cells in discrete boxes.2 Initially several investigators, including David provide survival signals to CD4 T cells. based on cytokine production and now, Gray,4 indicates that these interactions Interleukin 7, produced by stromal in addition, on cell surface marker and may promote the survival of activated cells, provides additional survival signals signature transcription factors expression, CD4 T cells into the memory pool. to CD4 T cells. Stromal cells play a T cell subsets have proliferated almost CD4 T cells that migrate to the infection number of supporting roles for CD4 T as much as activated T cells proliferate! site must, if they are to contribute to cells – not least creating the scaffold over While strong, repeated polarising pathogen control, also see their antigen which immune cells migrate. Through signals may drive an activated CD4 T again. These interactions may warn the the production of chemokines, they cell to differentiate down one particular CD4 T cell that a sustained inflammatory also dictate where immune cells reside pathway, the reality of a heterogeneous anti-pathogen response is still required. within secondary lymphoid organs. and unsynchronised immune response Alternatively, they may prompt the CD4 T It is within the T cell zone of lymph in vivo is likely to be more complex. cell to instigate a different task, beginning nodes that DCs congregate following the process of turning down the response, T cell differentiation – to migration from peripheral organs. DCs and initiate tissue repair. Some of these receive pathogen-derived signals that remain or migrate? CD4 T cells will survive into the memory cause upregulation of a vast array of We have a fair understanding of many pool, potentially differentiating into the costimulatory molecules, cytokines of the factors that direct CD4 T cell recently described population of tissue and chemokines. These matured DCs differentiation. Polarising cytokines, made resident memory T cells. These cells arrive in lymph nodes ready to inform by a range of cell types including DCs, remain at infection sites, ready and armed CD4 T cells of the nature and extent innate lymphoid cells and stromal cells, for subsequent infections, a process that of the infection the host faces. It is play a dominant role in this decision. T will again require the co-operation of this information that CD4 T cells must cell intrinsic factors – especially how an array of immune and stromal cells. decode to enable them to make the right well the TCR binds to peptide–MHC II – Communication and cooperation are decision about their, and the host’s, fate. can also influence the fate of activated CD4 T cell priming by DCs involves T cells as described by Kim Bottomly key to successful immune responses two main events: proliferation and and colleagues in the late 1990s.3 Over the course of their entire life, CD4 T differentiation. Proliferation ensures that What is much less clear is how the cells receive encouragement and direction sufficient antigen-specific CD4 T cells are decision is made about which CD4 T cells from the many and various cells that they generated to carry out the many jobs for remain in the lymph node and which leave encounter. These conversations affect which CD4 T cells are responsible. These to rout out the pathogen at the infection when and how they are activated and different jobs require the activated CD4 T site. In lymph nodes, the conversation whether they survive. CD4 T cells use the cell to take on new functions that are best between CD4 T cells and B cells, which information they receive in a flexible and suited to deal with the evading pathogen. causes germinal centre formation, is a responsive manner rather than one that is prescribed and rigid. CD4 T cells could, therefore, be said to be participants in a structured improvisation rather than the conductors of a pre-defined score.
Megan MacLeod Centre for Immunobiology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation University of Glasgow
REFERENCES 1. Steinman RM, Cohn ZA 1973 Journal of Experimental Medicine 137 1142–1162 2. Mosmann TR et al. 1986 Journal of Immunology 136 2348–2357 3. Constant SL & Bottomly K 1997 Annual Reviews of
© NIAID Immunology 15 297–322 4. Barr TA, et al. 2012 Infectious Disorders – Drug Targets 12 222–231
Immunology News | May 2016 14 FEATURE ARTICLE RCP accreditation schemes launched for allergy and immunology clinical services ©Shutterstock
In the drive to improve patient care, accreditation constitutes an integral tool in raising the quality and outcomes of clinical services. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) runs a number of accreditation schemes in various disciplines, and has recently launched the Improving Quality in Allergy Services (IQAS) and Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services (QPIDS) schemes, which accredit allergy and primary immunodeficiency services, respectively. The launch of these schemes marks real progress in the RCP to adopt the accreditation scheme. the evidence presented and perform a site drive for patient-focussed, standardised The RCP has adapted the process to bring assessment. If services are found to meet and quality care for patients with it in line with its methodology and has the standards, they are accredited for five improved organisational aspects including years; whereas services which do not meet allergies and immunodeficiency. governance and quality assurance. one or more of the standards are provided with a comprehensive report detailing Background Process the areas which require improvement. The need for an allergy accreditation Accreditation is a cyclical process of self- Once services have uploaded evidence of scheme was highlighted in the RCP assessment, quality improvement and compliance in these areas, they are granted working party report ‘Allergy services: peer assessment. Services begin in stage accreditation. Once accredited, services still not meeting the unmet need’.1 IQAS one, where they perform a gap analysis undertake an annual renewal assessment was launched initially as a registration against the accreditation standards and to demonstrate their continued compliance scheme, consisting of a ‘light touch’ identify areas requiring improvement. Once with the standards, and after five years self-assessment process, which was a service has made these improvements undergo a full reaccreditation assessment aimed at preparing the specialty for the and uploaded evidence to show adherence as per stage two. An annual fee is paid by development of accreditation standards to the standards, they move to stage two, services to cover the costs of the support prior to the establishment of the current where peer assessors remotely assess services and assessment process. accreditation scheme. IQAS is run with expert guidance from the Joint Committee on Immunology and Allergy (JCIA). The QPIDS accreditation scheme was originally established by the UK Primary Stage 1: Stage 2: Immunodeficiency Network (UKPIN) Pre-assessment The assessment following the findings of a Department of Health-sponsored national audit of primary immunodeficiency services.2 By 2015, 15 inspection visits had been undertaken and there were ten accredited centres (some centres had gone through the accreditation cycle more than once). The requirement Stage 4: Stage 3: for accreditation for commissioning of Reaccreditation Annual review specialist services and better awareness of the scheme led to increased demand, and as a result, UKPIN approached the
Immunology News | May 2016 FEATURE ARTICLE 15
and allergy services state that ‘all centres ‘The launch of these schemes marks should participate and actively work towards… accreditation’, and commitment real progress in the drive for patient- to achieving accreditation is a prerequisite for commissioning of those specialist focussed, standardised and quality services receiving referrals from primary care for general and specialist care. care for patients with allergies and The future At time of writing there are 19 services immunodeficiency.’ registered with IQAS and 23 with QPIDS which are working towards the The standards Benefits of the schemes accreditation standards, and we hope other services to join by the end of the Each scheme’s standards have been The primary objective of accreditation is to year. The next milestone for each scheme developed after extensive consultation improve the quality, safety and outcomes will be the first accredited service, with the respective specialties and related of healthcare. This is achieved through: with both schemes expecting the first professional bodies, including the JCIA, services to be ready for accreditation British Society for Allergy and Clinical soon. Services are encouraged to register Immunology (BSACI), UKPIN and the • Recognising good practice so it as soon as possible to take advantage BSI. The standards cover all aspects may be furthered and shared of the support services available, and of a clinical service and are organised BSI members in clinical services can into six domains for each scheme: • Identifying sub-optimal practice get involved by working with their so it may be improved colleagues to prepare for accreditation. Further information IQAS • Standardising care within services and between services Further information on the schemes Domain 1: Patient experience is available from the QPIDS and IQAS • Identifying the staff and resources websites at www.qpids.org.uk and Domain 2: Service structure required to deliver high quality care www.iqas.org.uk, or by contacting [email protected]. Domain 3: Facilities • Sharing documents, policies and processes between services Tim Shaw Domain 4: Quality and safety Programme Manager – IQAS and • Involving patient representatives QPIDS, Royal College of Physicians Domain 5: Audit and research and patient groups in the management of services M. T. Krishna Domain 6: Training and development Consultant Allergist and Immunologist, • Establishing a culture of Heart of England NHS Foundation continuous quality improvement Trust and Honorary Reader at Aston Medical School, IQAS Clinical Lead, QPIDS • Providing external validation Royal College of Physicians of service quality Domain A: Organisation and Claire Bethune administration Consultant Immunologist, The Care Quality Commission’s Plymouth Hospital NHS Trust Domain B: Staffing (CQC) chief inspector of hospitals has QPIDS Clinical Lead, Royal acknowledged that accreditation has a key College of Physicians Domain C: Facilities role in hospital inspections, recognising the value of such schemes as information Domain D: Clinical care sources. Additionally, the Any Qualified REFERENCES Provider (AQP) and Best Practice Tariff 1. Royal College of Physicians. 2010. Allergy services: Domain E: Home therapy programmes recognise the accreditation still not meeting the unmet need. London: RCP. schemes run by the RCP as the standard 2. Spickett & Chapel 1998. Report on the audit of Domain F: Audit, education & of quality for commissioning of services. patients with primary antibody deficiency in the management Furthermore, the NHS England service United Kingdom 1993-1996. Newcastle upon Tyne specifications for specialised immunology Hospitals NHS Trust.
‘The primary objective of accreditation is to improve the quality, safety and outcomes of healthcare.’
Immunology News | May 2016 16 FEATURE ARTICLE
Citizen science is a simple idea with big potential – it aims to involve large numbers of people who have no formal training in scientific research. So far, citizen scientists have classified galaxies to discover more about their morphology, tracked nematode worms to investigate how genes affect behaviour and identified invasive plant species to help combat the threat from these non-native species to name but a few projects. Despite their increasing popularity, until now, there haven’t been any citizen science projects that focus on immunology research. All that has changed however, with the launch in March of #BritainBreathing, the BSI’s joint citizen science project to find out more about seasonal allergies.
decoding the science behind allergies
What is #BritainBreathing? #BritainBreathing is our citizen science With one in four people in the UK project to investigate the effects that suffering from seasonal allergies, this Our next step was to run some initial seasonal allergies, such as hay fever or seemed an obvious area to concentrate workshops with people who have allergies asthma, are having on the people of Britain. on. It’s a topic that everyone can relate to gauge interest and inform the app We want to work with the public to find to – we all either have a seasonal allergy design. Feedback was very positive. Using out how seasonal allergy symptoms differ ourselves or know someone who does. ‘paper prototyping’ techniques, workshop across the country and what the triggers Additionally, seasonal allergies are a attendees sketched out the functionalities for this might be. Working with the Royal fascinating scientific area with lots of that they thought a mobile app should Society of Biology and researchers from unanswered questions. “Seasonal allergies have, using mock phone screens, printed the University of Manchester, we have are increasing in developed countries buttons, ‘widgets’, pencils and paper (see developed an app (currently available on such as the UK but we don’t know what figure 1). They also provided thoughts Android) that allows people to record and is driving this,” says lead researcher and on how the app should operate (quick monitor their own allergy symptoms while BSI trustee Sheena Cruickshank from and easy to use) and prioritised the also contributing to a large open data set the University of Manchester. “What has most important functions to include. that the project team will use to answer been missing to answer this question is The most useful feature which would some of the key unknown questions wide-scale human data about what is incentivise continuing participation was about seasonal allergies. We hope that really happening.” The #BritainBreathing voted to be personal symptom tracking, this project will not only further research project gives us the perfect opportunity followed by access to the shared data in this area, but also engage the public to generate a large nationwide dataset about allergy location and severity. The to discover more about the science and of allergy symptoms, so we can increase findings from these workshops have health implications of seasonal allergies. our understanding in this area. really driven how we’ve developed the #BritainBreathing app and hopefully Why did the BSI decide to get How did we develop the mean that we have reward mechanisms involved in this project? #BritainBreathing app? in place to incentivise people to continue The BSI has a long history of running Our first step was to bring together a inputting their symptoms on an ongoing innovative and impactful public multidisciplinary team with experience basis. It was then down to our team to engagement projects. Getting involved with and expertise in the various areas work with the app developers to ensure citizen science and working in partnership needed to make the project a success. that these features were fully realised. with the public to produce novel and Along with public engagement and How does the #BritainBreathing meaningful scientific findings seemed to communications input from the BSI and us the logical progression of this work. Royal Society of Biology, we are working app work? However, we needed to find the right topic with several departments at the University The #BritainBreathing app is free to to work on that would incentivise and of Manchester (Life Sciences, Computer download on Android from Google Play inspire a large demographic of the public. Science and the Health eResearch Centre) – search for “BritainBreathing”. The app to ensure we have all bases covered. itself allows people to record their allergy
Immunology News | May 2016 FEATURE ARTICLE 17 symptoms in a simple and straightforward triggers might be. As #BritainBreathing hopefully be a great resource for users way. You are first asked how you are feeling will be an open data resource, we actively to compare their experience of allergies today and then you need to record how encourage approaches from other to others in their region and beyond. allergies are affecting your eyes, nose researchers who feel that access to this What are our future plans? and breathing on sliding scales. These data might be applicable in their study. data are anonymously shared with the The #BritainBreathing team is attending Why should people use the research team, along with information a number of events and festivals over the on time and approximate location. This #BritainBreathing app? summer, including Cheltenham Science will create a large open data resource #BritainBreathing is a great opportunity Festival, the Lambeth County Show and which we can then combine with other for the public to get involved in scientific bluedot festival at Jodrell Bank, to raise publicly available data (such as weather, research on allergies and directly the profile of the #BritainBreathing pollen or pollution statistics) to try to contribute to increasing our understanding project and to talk to people about increase our understanding of when allergy of when and why seasonal allergies the science behind allergies. If you’re symptoms are occurring and what the occur. We’ll be regularly updating users interested in volunteering with us at and anyone else who’s interested with any of these events, do let us know! our progress and the latest news from Additionally, #BritainBreathing has the project team via our website (www. been chosen as one of the official citizen britainbreathing.org) and news alerts. science projects for Manchester’s year as The current version of the app also has European City of Science. Celebrations ‘#BritainBreathing is our citizen science project to investigate the effects that seasonal allergies, such as hay fever or asthma, are having on the people of Britain.’
a built in tracker that allows people to kick off this June and we hope that monitor their own symptoms over time. this will also improve our profile. This is a great way to find out and record Finally, we’re aware that we need to how allergies are affecting you from day encourage as many people as possible to to day. Finally, we hope that the app will use the #BritainBreathing app and a big also help to raise public awareness and part of this is launching the app on iOS too. understanding of allergies and provide We are currently raising funds for this and people with the opportunity to learn more we will have more news to bring you soon. about how and why allergies occur. Once the app is established, we will start to analyse the data and hopefully What’s happened since the be able to show how effective it can be launch of #BritainBreathing? to use ‘people power’ to answer difficult Lots! Our first priority was to encourage research questions. Please do download as many people as possible to download the app and encourage friends and family the app and use it. Since our launch in to do likewise. Every data point counts! March, we’ve received substantial media coverage, the highlight of which was a Jennie Evans feature piece and interview with our lead Communications Manager researcher Sheena Cruickshank on BBC British Society for Immunology Radio 4’s Inside Science (still available Email: [email protected] on iPlayer for those of you who are interested). We will keep on highlighting #BritainBreathing to the media over the www.britainbreathing.org summer period as we approach peak hay fever season, meaning more people @BritBreathing will be motivated to download the app. We now have access to the first Download app: http://bit.ly/1Tg4zmH round of data submitted to the app and Launch video: http://bit.ly/26SU3HE team members from the Department of Computer Science at the University of Manchester are busy creating an interactive map on our website to visualise allergy symptoms across the App design workshops using paper prototyping to sketch out country. This should launch soon and will the functionalities that the app should have. ©HeRC
Immunology News | May 2016 18 AD269-ImmunologyADVERTISEMENTS News Summer 2016_Press.pdf 1 4/6/2016 1:48:54 PM
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Immunologygo violet_print ad_7.5x4.5_final_02.16.indd News | May 2016 1 04.05.16 10:24 MEMBERS’ ACHIEVEMENTS 19 Congratulations This is the section of the magazine where we celebrate the achievements of our members. Our congratulations to all who are mentioned here.
Travel grant success
The following members were recently awarded BSI travel grants:
Tanvi Agrawal, Marwan Al-Maqtoofi, Siobhan Bearder, William Blanchett, Sharon Campbell, Nele Dieckmann, Marie Dittmer, Anna Domogala, Lewis Entwistle, Andrew Eustace, Jacob Galson, Harriet Gliddon, BSI trustee shortlisted Mohammad Jafarnejad, Tein Foong Leong, for BBSRC Innovator of Spyridon Makris, Emily McNaughton, the Year Madhvi Menon, Elizabeth Oliver, Marie Pariollaud, Tom Partridge, Neil Patel, Sheena Cruickshank (BSI trustee and Maelíosa McCrudden Hassan Rostam, Andrew Sage, Katja Srpan, University of Manchester) has been Freya Svedberg, Sarah Thompson, Vivian shortlisted for BBSRC’s Innovator of the Turner, Janneke van Blikswijk, Mieszko Year 2016, a competition that recognises Wilk, Helen Wright and Ibrahim Yaseen. and rewards individuals and small teams who have harnessed the potential of their Next application deadline is midday, excellent research. Sheena was nominated 1 August 2016. More information for her work in public engagement. at http://bit.ly/1dMUKpL.
Medical Elective and Summer Placement Award Scheme (MESPAS) This BSI scheme supports early career scientists to conduct extended placements in labs other than their own. Recent Beth Holder awards are: Piru Pathmarajah (University College Immunology success at London) to complete an Allergy and SET for Britain Immunology Elective at Yale Medical School. Radhwan Al-Zidan (Edinburgh Napier BSI members fared exceptionally well Communicating University) to study the use of TCR gene- at the recent SET for Britain event, a Immunology Grants transfer in the treatment of autoimmune poster competition for early-career disease with Graham Wright (Edinburgh researchers held at Westminster to The BSI is delighted to fund three Napier University). engage members of both Houses of projects through our Communicating Paritosh Devbhandari (University of Parliament with current research. Immunology Grants. Cambridge) to study memory immune Maelíosa McCrudden (Queen’s James Penny and colleagues (University response to influenza virus and CMV with University Belfast) won the overall event of Manchester) will visit Madagascar to Geoffrey Smith (University of Cambridge). with her poster entitled ‘Dissolving study parasite infection rates and raise microneedles: a new method of awareness of infection transmission The MESPAS scheme is now closed for painlessly delivering medications and in school children. Louisa Wood and the year as all funds have been awarded. therapeutics across the skin’. You can colleagues (Babraham Institute) will expand read more from her on page 22. Beth the reach of their ‘Weapons of Microscopic Holder (Imperial College London) Destruction’ video to a European audience We would love to hear from also won the bronze award in the by translating it into different languages. you about your achievements. Biological and Biomedical Sciences Megan MacLeod and colleagues (University Have you or a colleague recently category for her poster entitled of Glasgow and boredomresearch) will take received grant funding, passed ‘Exosome trafficking from immune their Silent Signal animations ‘Afterglow’ your PhD viva or accepted a new cells to the placenta: a novel mode and ‘Immunecraft’ to Glasgow Science appointment? If so, let us know by of maternal–placental messaging’. Festival. The next grant deadline is 1 July. emailing [email protected]. For more details, visit: http://bit.ly/1rpXUXj.
Immunology News | May 2016 20 OPINION The role of a biomedical scientist in immunology
There are many biomedical scientists working in clinical immunology labs in the UK but I suspect if you asked most people what we do, they will have no idea what role we fulfil in the NHS.
We rarely appear in medical drama other lab specialty is because we see that we can perform our job to the highest programmes on television and the general the sample to an end point to provide the standard. As we can be audited by the HCPC perception is that the NHS consists solely clinician with a complete answer to why randomly, we have to be able to provide them of doctors and nurses. As a profession they are testing the patient. A lot of our with a portfolio of evidence to show that we we are very reticent to put ourselves in tests are screening tests followed on by can perform our role at the appropriate level. the spotlight so perhaps the fault lies further testing to give the clinician an aid Our laboratories are regularly assessed more with us than with anyone else. in the diagnosis of the patient’s condition. by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service Typically, no immunology laboratory (UKAS), which specifies requirements ‘Proper science’ – our day-to-day role is the same; depending on which site for quality and competence in medical So, what do we do? We aid in the diagnosis the laboratory is on, they may all provide laboratories. and monitoring of any condition which is different services. There tend to be larger Every day, no matter what technique we caused by a failure or dysregulation of the laboratories, based in teaching hospitals, may be doing, we are obliged to make sure immune system. These conditions range which cover a full range of testing but there that every test platform we use is properly and from primary immunodeficiency, HIV, are also smaller satellite labs – usually safely controlled to ensure that the results we malignancy, allergy, vasculitis, connective situated in district general hospitals, give to clinicians are accurate and pose no risk tissue disease and numerous other which may only cover screening tests to the patient. This means that we participate autoimmune conditions including coeliac that are then sent to a referral laboratory in both internal and external quality control disease. In our lab we carry out both adult (if required) for further analysis. procedures. If issues arise from either of and paediatric immunology testing. these we then use our skills to find out the Training pathways The tests we perform cover a range source of the problem and to correct it so that of test platforms from flow cytometry, To become a biomedical scientist, you need our tests remain of the highest quality. enzyme immunoassay and indirect to be educated to degree level and mu st be Behind the scenes immunofluorescence to protein registered with the HCPC (Health and Care measurement and electrophoresis. As Professions Council), which checks that we We regularly interact with clinicians and these techniques are very different it are fit to practice as health professionals. nurses to give out results and suggest means that our job is varied and, unlike There are various further education pathways further laboratory testing where appropriate some laboratory disciplines, is not solely that you can take after registration. This can but, as we tend to be remote from the front automated, giving us the opportunity to include an MSc in biomedical science and end of the NHS, our role is less visible to the still do what we call ‘proper science’. the specialist and higher specialist diplomas general public. The testing mechanisms we use vary widely; in immunology, which are under the remit of Since virtually all conditions require some this means my day can consist of analysing the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). form of laboratory testing to diagnose, it various cell types using a flow cytometer, All of these qualifications require a high remains a mystery why we do not regularly to looking at tissue immunofluorescence standard of expertise in laboratory testing pop up in Casualty or Holby City, so I down a microscope or looking at serum and an in depth knowledge of the specialty. hope that from this small insight into the immunofixation on a patient suspected We are obliged to participate in continuous professional life of a biomedical scientist you of having multiple myeloma. professional development throughout our are better informed of what the mysterious The main reason I enjoy working in career in order that we keep up to date in our person working in a clinical laboratory clinical immunology compared with any skills and knowledge to reassure the public actually does.
Christina Ross ‘Our job is varied and, unlike some Biomedical scientist, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde laboratory disciplines, is not solely Christina is the biomedical scientist automated, giving us the opportunity to representative on the BSI’s Clinical Committee and the Chair of the UK still do what we call “proper science”.’ Immunology Managers Group.
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Immunology News | May 2016 22 EDUCATION & CAREERS FUTURE FOCUS SET for success at the Houses of Parliment It was shortly before Queen’s University Belfast shut down for the Christmas holidays at the end of 2015 that I finally decided to enter SET for Britain (www.setforbritain.org.uk), a
poster competition at Westminster © Royal Society of Biology for early career researchers. Although a complete Twitter newbie, I first heard of the competition through L to R: Dr Stephen Benn, Vice President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Professor Richard Vaughan-Jones, the Twittersphere some weeks President, The Physiological Society; Dr Maelíosa McCrudden (Gold Award Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, beforehand. As projects, deadlines Parliamentary & Scientific Committee. and energy wound down at the end that descriptions of your work should conventional needles and syringes to of the year, time and inspiration were be aimed at an ‘interested lay person’. deliver medications, including vaccines. on my side and I sent in my abstract This in itself was a challenge – strike a The needles, with incorporated drug, and application, with no expectations balance: don’t pitch too high and lose puncture the stratum corneum, the in mind. In early January 2016, I the audience in a sea of complicated outermost layer of the skin, to form received word that my work had been terms but similarly, don’t pitch too low pores. Upon contact with the interstitial and alienate those who are already well fluid, the needles dissolve and the shortlisted for presentation at the versed in the themes you are covering. drug contained within diffuses to the Houses of Parliament. microcirculation of the skin layers. This Novel ways to deliver medicines innovative technology marries the patient- Initial encounters with With this in mind, the research I chose friendly benefits of a transdermal patch public engagement to present focused on the work I’ve carried with the potential delivery capabilities out on dissolving microneedle (MN) arrays, of conventional hypodermic injections. I’ve worked as a postdoctoral research minimally-invasive devices, consisting The use of MN arrays holds the potential fellow in the School of Pharmacy at of numerous microscopic projections on of alleviating the requirement for sharps Queen’s University Belfast since 2012, a solid baseplate, which we’ve used to disposal, as the needles ‘self-disable’ as having graduated with my PhD from the deliver medications across the skin. They they dissolve; could also have tremendous same institution in 2008. I had, up to this do not cause pain or bleeding as they do impact on those people who suffer point in my career, been actively involved not reach deep enough into the skin layers needle phobia – approximately 10% of the in public engagement and outreach to reach blood vessels or nerves. The population; and benefit patients in the work but I had mainly concentrated needles are composed of water-soluble developing world, as vaccine-containing my efforts on bringing science into polymers and incorporate a drug of interest MNs could be delivered efficaciously the classrooms of primary and post- within their structure. The research team in this ‘dry’ format, thus removing primary pupils throughout Northern in which I work is investigating these as the need for cold-chain storage. Ireland, in order to make science more viable, novel alternatives to the use of accessible and hopefully exciting. Our experiments would range from deciphering the properties of gels used to coat ‘I feel that these accolades reflect not tablets, to dissecting baby nappies to understand how the materials they were composed of could capture moisture! solely on my efforts but also on those of SET for Britain was different. This was an opportunity for me to present my own my dedicated colleagues who work with postdoctoral research to parliamentarians, peers from other universities and industry me in the laboratory each day.’ experts. The competition guidelines stated
Immunology News | May 2016 EDUCATION & CAREERS 23
‘The judges were very engaging 2016. As such, I received the Eric Wharton Medal in honour of Dr Eric Wharton, who founded the competition in 2007. and asked interesting and pertinent I feel that these accolades reflect not solely on my efforts but also on those questions, stretching you to think of my dedicated colleagues who work with me in the laboratory each day. beyond the confines of your own As a research team, we have all been thrilled by this recognition of our ongoing research. SET for Britain provides a subject area’ wonderful platform for scientists – and early career researchers specifically – to A daunting backdrop and asked interesting and pertinent bring their work to the attention of policy In terms of my experience of the day questions, stretching you to think beyond makers and government and as a result, itself, nothing can quite describe the the confines of your own subject area, in to underpin the importance of continued overwhelming sight of Big Ben and the order to maximise the impact of your work. support for scientific research and R&D. imposing Houses of Parliament on the There were opportunities to meet On a personal note, my receipt of the banks of the Thames on a crisp spring other postdoctoral researchers, PhD awards coincided with International day, when you know you are going inside students and academics and initial Women’s Day, which gave them those impressive buildings to talk about feelings of tension slowly dissolved in the extra resonance. My involvement what you do, how it will benefit the public atmosphere of comradeship, good humour in SET for Britain ended up being and ultimately why it even matters! Upon and perhaps also in the glasses of wine more than just a ‘day out in London’ meeting fellow, anxious presenters at the provided! This truly was a unique event as I had initially anticipated; it has poster boards, the nerves settled and I and location to present my research. boosted my morale and refreshed was able to truly embrace and enjoy the my zeal for science communication The icing on the cake experience. The event was organised so – not bad for a Twitter newbie! as to allow ample time for interaction with I was delighted to be awarded the the judges, fellow scientists and politicians gold award, the Mendel Medal, in the Maelíosa McCrudden – including your own local politician if Biological and Biomedical Science division Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of they were able to make it. The judges, of the competition, and subsequently Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast invited from a diverse range of universities overwhelmed when I was also selected around the country, were very engaging as the overall winner of SET for Britain
© David S Goodsell, RCSB Protein Data Bank Wellcome Image Awards
The Wellcome Image Awards are an eye-catching celebration of science, medicine and life, rewarding the most informative, striking and technically excellent images that communicate significant aspects of biomedical science. Top prize this year went to a stunning watercolour and ink depiction of the Ebola virus with several other entries also having an immunological angle. You can view all the shortlisted entries at www.wellcomeimageawards.org.
Watercolour and ink illustration looking inside an Ebola virus particle. The virus is surrounded by a membrane (pink/ purple) stolen from an infected cell. This is studded with proteins from the virus (turquoise) which extend outwards and look like trees rooted in the membrane. These proteins attach to the cells that the virus infects. A layer of proteins (blue) supports the membrane on the inside. Genetic information (RNA; yellow) is stored in a cylinder (nucleocapsid; green) in the centre of the virus. This virus is about 100 nanometres (0.0001mm) wide, which is 200 times smaller than many of the cells that it infects.
Immunology News | May 2016 24 OBITUARY
transplantation immunologists in the 1960s and ’70s, and the solution to the puzzle, to which Batchelor and his colleagues contributed, was the finding that the sera had helped to generate ‘immunoregulatory’ T lymphocytes, which can subdue the response of the conventional T lymphocytes that are normally responsible for the rejection of foreign grafts. However, so far as organ transplantation is concerned, ‘enhancement’ proved to be largely confined to the rat. Another area of research to which Batchelor made seminal contributions was the study of the histocompatibility antigens – a highly complex system of cell surface molecules triggering graft rejection. Each individual is virtually unique for his or her histocompatibility antigens, with the exception of identical twins. These molecules are deeply involved in the way that different kinds of cells interact and collaborate with each other to produce immune responses; in the mouse they are known as the H-2 system, in humans as HLA. JR Batchelor 1931 – 2015 We owe their discovery to pioneers including Peter Gorer (of Guy’s Hospital) The most dramatic medical advance in the second half of the 20th century was, and George Snell (Bar Harbor, Maine) in arguably, in the field of tissue and organ transplantation – now commonplace for the mouse, and subsequently Jean Dausset a great many organs, but unthinkable in the 1950s. Richard Batchelor, who has (Paris), J van Rood (Leiden) and Rose Payne (Stanford University) in human populations. died aged 84, played a very significant part in this revolutionary development. Subsequently many others became involved. Batchelor became a regular participant in As director of the Blond McIndoe technique and showed that the lifespan of the frequent histocompatibility workshops Research Centre in East Grinstead, West kidneys transplanted between genetically in which the complexity of the HLA Sussex, founded as a tribute to the great different rats could be substantially system was studied with on-the-spot plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe prolonged, in many cases indefinitely, by comparative experiments, leading to the who treated and rehabilitated badly the transfer of antisera containing high correct identification and classification burnt airmen during the second world levels of antibodies directed against the of the antigens and to an internationally war, Batchelor led a team of research tissue markers – the histocompatibility accepted nomenclature. Tissue typing of scientists who attempted to elucidate antigens – of the donor kidney. organ donors’ recipients thus became many of the basic obstacles that stood This paradoxical result – the antibodies the norm, especially once Paul Terasaki in the way of successful transplantation might have been expected to cause the had devised a technique using minuscule of foreign tissues and organs. accelerated destruction of the kidneys – amounts of antibody and cells. Even A stream of publications from the late was evidently brought about by antibodies with the advent of immunosuppressive 1960s onward was devoted to this objective. induced after multiple immunisations drugs, it is still of the utmost importance Once a Korean surgeon, S Lee, had of the antibody donors – the ‘enhancing’ in bone marrow transplantation. foreshadowed a technique for transplanting antibodies. The ‘enhancement’ of rat Batchelor and his colleagues went on kidneys in laboratory rats, Batchelor and kidneys became a big preoccupation of to study the association of specific HLA his colleague ME French perfected the types with certain autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, for which they can ‘Batchelor become a regular participant be important diagnostic markers. He spent some weeks, together with Peter in the frequent histocompatibility Morris (later Sir Peter), in the remote highlands of New Guinea determining the HLA distribution of the native population. workshops ... leading to the correct This arduous fieldwork allowed them to identify the origin of a population that had identification and classification of been isolated since time immemorial. Although born of English parents, the antigens and to an internationally Esme (nee Cornwall) and Basil Batchelor, in Woking, Surrey, Batchelor spent accepted nomenclature.’ his childhood in Madras, India. (His grandfather, Lt Col Jesse Cornwall, had
Immunology News | May 2016 OBITUARY 25
‘Batchelor became a regular member of a small elite of mainly British and American immunologists and transplant surgeons regularly invited to the annual round table discussions.’ been deputy director of the Indian Medical helped the institute to make its transition master, as well as chairman of the board Service and his father had moved to India from London to Oxford. At one time or of governors of its school. His wife, Moira, to become a director of Binny’s, a shipping another he was the European editor of a physician and a passionate gardener, and banking company, and a decorated the journal Transplantation, chairman of suffered from a debilitating condition for captain during the first world war.) He was the Medical Research Council’s grants the last 15 years of her life and Batchelor later educated at Marlborough college and committee, and president of several became her devoted principal carer; qualified as a doctor in Cambridge. His first professional societies, including the she predeceased him by six months. research experience was in the laboratory international Transplantation Society. He is survived by four children, of Gorer who, being a heavy smoker, died Batchelor became a regular member of a Simon, Annabelle, Lucinda and prematurely of lung cancer, leaving the small elite of mainly British and American Andrew, and nine grandchildren. young Batchelor in charge of his laboratory. immunologists and transplant surgeons This proved to be a formative experience regularly invited to the annual round • John Richard Batchelor, and Batchelor never looked back. He table discussions in a ski resort in Austria immunologist, born 4 October became a fellow of the Royal Colleges of organised by the Institute of Surgical 1931; died 21 December 2015 Pathologists and Medicine and a valued Science in Munich. A keen sportsman all member of the transplantation community. his life (cycling, hockey and real tennis), Written by Leslie Brent After his long stint as director of the Blond he skied very competently and was the McIndoe Research Centre, he went on to winner of ‘the English professors’ downhill This article was first published in the become professor of tissue immunology race’ on the Axamer Lizum, his faster but Guardian (www.theguardian.com/ and, later, head of the immunology more reckless competitors, Roy Calne science/2016/feb/23/jr-batchelor- department at the Royal Postgraduate (later Sir Roy) and myself, having come obituary). Reproduced Courtesy of Medical School at Hammersmith Hospital. to grief towards the end of the race. Guardian News & Media Ltd He became deputy chairman of the He had family connection with the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and Skinners’ Company and served as its
Immunology News | May 2016 26 BSI REGIONAL AND AFFINITY GROUPS Infection and Immunity Group: tackling global pathogens © Shutterstock
The BSI Infection and Immunity Affinity Group (IIAG) aims to highlight research in the area of immune responses to infectious diseases. Infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria, kill more people worldwide than any other cause, and emerging infectious pathogens such as Ebola and Zika viruses represent serious public health concerns. Although the immune system is effective in protecting us against infection most of the time, some pathogens are able Image caption to go here to manipulate the immune response lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. to survive and cause serious disease. When this happens, the immune response is unable to protect and can be responsible for the morbidity and pathology associated with both acute (sepsis) and chronic infection. Therefore, research into understanding how these pathogens cause disease and survive by We work closely with other BSI groups engagement activities or would like to get evading the immune response, and how with overlapping interests and have involved with the group, please email us the immune system reacts to protect organised some very interesting joint via our contact details on the website. against these infections, is critical for meetings with the Vaccine Affinity Group development of effective strategies to treat and the Maths Modelling Affinity Group. IIAG committee: and diagnose these diseases, particularly With full support from the BSI, we are Chair: Dr Caroline Rowland, Dstl; in the context of multidrug resistance also keen to work with other societies Secretary: Dr Riccardo D’Elia, Dstl; and emerging infectious diseases. whose remit overlaps with the I&I area, Treasurer: Dr Tom Laws, Dstl; For this reason, infection and immunity and as part of this, we are organising a Dr Diane Williamson, Dstl; (I&I) research is an expanding, reactive joint meeting with the British Association Dr Andrew Williams, UCL; and exciting field both in the UK and for Lung Research in July 2016 on ‘Host– Prof. Eric Blair, University of Leeds; worldwide and covers a wide range of pathogen interactions in the lung’… Dr Mark Travis, The University research including investigating host– watch this space for further details! of Manchester; pathogen interactions during infection, We are committed to disseminating Dr Andy Stagg, QMUL microbial pathogenicity, biomarkers of research, meetings and funding Dr Karl Staples, University of Southampton infectious diseases and sepsis, and the opportunities in the field to as wide an development of immunotherapies and audience as possible and have set up a diagnostics for infectious diseases. The twitter feed (@Infimmag), which has a www.immunology.org/ primary aim of the IIAG is to provide a growing number of followers. In future, infection-immunity forum for disseminating research in the the group would also like to get further I&I field, and to stimulate collaborations involved in public engagement activities; @Infimmag and sharing of information. In order so, if you have ideas for meetings or public to do this, we have organised annual one-day meetings over the past few years, with high quality speakers covering a range of topics, including Around the groups ‘Immune responses to infection and inflammation’ and ‘Immunotherapy The BSI Autoimmunity Affinity Group Would you like to see an for infectious diseases’, and organised is relaunching. For more details, visit article on your BSI group sessions at the BSI Congress on topics www.immunology.org/autoimmunity or in this section? If so, email media@ such as ‘Pathogen evasion of immune email Professor Lucy Walker at immunology.org to let us know. responses’ and ‘Biomarkers of sepsis’. [email protected].
Immunology News | May 2016 BSI REGIONAL AND AFFINITY GROUPS 27 Histocompatibility & Immunogenetics Group: the science underpinning successful transplantation
Solid organ and haematopoietic progenitor with the other BSHI committees and of Aberdeen. This proved to be a morning cell (bone marrow) transplantation has has a number of direct responsibilities. filled with interesting talks from great saved or transformed thousands of lives These include the development of the speakers and we were not only pleased over the past 50 years. Developing an scientific programme for the annual BSHI with the high number of attendees, but also understanding of the complex genetic conference, which is now in its 27th year, with the joint collaboration between BSHI systems and immunological responses and is one of the main events in the BSHI and the British Society for Immunology. involved in ensuring safe and successful calendar. This year we are fortunate to hold The field of H&I is scientifically transplantation has been crucial. our meeting at Keble College, University interesting and rapidly developing as a Healthcare scientists specialising in of Oxford on 13–14 September 2016. discipline. I find that working in an area of histocompatibility and immunogenetics Our group also coordinates the pathology that has such a direct impact on (H&I) perform laboratory investigations and peer review of abstracts submitted for the quality of life of transplant recipients provide clinical advice on the compatibility presentation at the conference and – as well as helping to fulfil the wishes and risk of proceeding to transplant reviews applications for BSHI bursaries of their donors – extremely rewarding. with a particular donor and recipient. and awards. We are also involved in the Working within the H&I Affinity Group The British Society for Histocompatibility continual professional development has allowed me to develop and share my and Immunogenetics (BSHI) is the scheme, which is run by BSHI, and we scientific interests with my peers, and professional body for H&I scientists within publish reviews and articles of interest in our group has helped progress the aims the UK and was formed in 1989. With over our Society’s quarterly newsletter (now up of BSHI, which we hope will increase our 450 members, there are BSHI members to its 103rd edition!). BSHI is affiliated to the understanding of the immune mechanisms in all clinical H&I laboratories within International Journal of Immunogenetics, involved in the care of patients who require the UK and Ireland and many European which publishes peer-reviewed research a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant. laboratories. Consultant clinical scientists papers and our affinity group has been Further information about BSHI can be in H&I or consultant immunologists direct involved in the commissioning of review found at our website: www.bshi.org.uk. the laboratories within the UK. BSHI has articles for publication in this journal. a number of groups which focus upon the Our team has organised joint sessions at specific aims of the Society such as an congresses organised by other associated If you have any queries or ideas Education Board, a Professional Advisory societies. At the last British Society about the group, please get in Group, a Training and Development for Immunology Congress in Brighton touch via [email protected] Executive and a number of Special Interest 2014, we held the session ‘Generation, Groups. We also have a Research Executive, properties and clinical relevance of Luke Foster which, as well as acting as the academic antibodies in autoimmune disease and Clinical Scientist arm of BSHI, is the H&I Affinity Group allo-transplantation’, which was a joint Head of Molecular Laboratory of the British Society for Immunology. proposal between the H&I Affinity Group NHS Blood and Transplant, Birmingham The H&I Affinity Group works closely and Professor Robert Barker, University
H&I Affinity Group committee:
Chair – Professor David Briggs NHS Blood and Transplant, Birmingham Secretary – Luke Foster NHS Blood and Transplant, Birmingham Mian Chen Churchill Hospital, Oxford Catherine Cormack Churchill Hospital, Oxford Zareen Deplano NHS Blood and Transplant, Colindale Dr Vivian Hanson Anthony Nolan, London Dr David Lowe Royal Liverpool Hospital BSHI members networking and catching-up in the Scholar’s Garden at the University of Cambridge during the 26th annual BSHI Conference
Immunology News | May 2016 28 JOURNAL NEWS Immune Update The BSI A round-up of new research published in the British Society for Immunology’s official journalsImmunology and Clinical & Experimental Immunology. Members journals can access these journals free of charge at www.immunology.org/journals.
Immunology
Illuminating vitamin D effects on B cells – ©Benedict Campbell. Wellcome Images the multiple sclerosis perspective Vitamin D is associated with many immune- investigating vitamin D effects on B cells. mediated disorders. In multiple sclerosis Rolf et al.’s review elaborates on vitamin D (MS) a poor vitamin D status is a major interactions with antibody production, T-cell- environmental factor associated with disease stimulating capacity and regulatory B cells. incidence and severity. The inflammation in MS is primarily T-cell-mediated, but Rolf et al. 2016 Immunology increasing evidence points to an important 147 275–284 http://bit.ly/1PDlWa4 role for B cells. This has paved the way for
T-bet as a key regulator of mucosal immunity Initially understood to be a key regulator of of innate immune responses across innate immune systems, focussing interferon-γ-producing helper T cells, our mucosal surfaces. This homeostatic role is particularly on mucosal populations knowledge of T-bet’s functional roles has demonstrated by the spontaneous colitis including innate lymphoid cells, dendritic expanded to encompass a growing range of that occurs when T-bet is deleted from cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes. cellular lineages. In addition to regulating innate immune cells in RAG−/− mice. Using other interferon-γ-producing adaptive this model as a focal point, Rami Mohamed Mohamed & Lord 2016 Immunology immune cells, it is now clear that T-bet and Graham Lord review our understanding 147 367–376 http://bit.ly/1V0Ybjd plays a fundamental role in the regulation of T-bet’s regulation of adaptive and Clinical & Experimental Immunology
©Ed Uthman Unravelling the immunological roles of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) activity and/or structure homologue (DASH) proteins
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (CD26, DPP4) is homologues have been discovered in the a multi-functional protein involved in T past two decades and are referred to as cell activation by co-stimulation via its DPP4 activity and/or structure homologue association with adenosine deaminase, (DASH) proteins. This review unravels the caveolin-1, CARMA-1, CD45, mannose- complex roles of these DASH proteins in 6-phosphate/insulin growth factor-II immunology. receptor and C-X-C motif receptor 4. The proline-specific dipeptidyl peptidase Wagner et al. 2016 Clinical & Experimental also modulates the bioactivity of several Immunology DOI: 10.1111/cei.12757 chemokines. However, a number of http://bit.ly/22XZIt3 enzymes displaying either DPP4-like activities or representing structural
CD4 T cell differentiation in type 1 diabetes Susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D) is choice has profound consequences for biomarker development, improve patient associated strongly with human leucocyte their subsequent cytokine production stratification and potentially reveal new antigen (HLA) genes, implicating T cells and migratory potential. In turn, targets for therapeutic intervention. in disease pathogenesis. In humans, these features dictate which other CD8 T cells predominantly infiltrate the immune cell types T cells interact with Walker & von Herrath 2016 Clinical & islets, yet their activation and propagation and influence, thereby determining Experimental Immunology probably requires CD4 T cell help. CD4 T downstream effector functions. A better 183 16–29 http://bit.ly/1freuV4 cells can select from several differentiation understanding of the phenotype of CD4 fates following activation, and this T cells in T1D will undoubtedly inform
Immunology News | May 2016 JOURNAL NEWS 29
A summary of some of the latest papers from the world of immunology. Around the Written by Edd James, Louisa James, Donald Palmer, Mihil Patel journals & Ushani Srenathan.
© Shutterstock T cell fate and clonality inference from single-cell transcriptomes The incredible diversity of lymphocyte similarity and provides a crucial link antigen receptors poses technical challenges between antigen specificity and phenotype. when studying cellular dynamics over By applying this innovative approach to a the course of an immune response. In a murine model of Salmonella typhimurium major step forward, Stubbington et al. have infection, they found expansions of clonally developed a novel computational method related T cells that spanned a broad range for reconstructing T cell receptor (TCR) of effector and memory cell phenotypes. sequences from single-cell RNA-sequencing data. This allows clonally related T cells Stubbington et al. 2016 Nature to be identified based on TCR sequence Methods 13 329–332
The role of tumour-necrosis in chronic viral infections Persistent viral infections are inhibitory mechanisms ultimately driven characterised by chronic inflammation by TNF. Beyer et al. show that blockade and a dysfunctional T cell response. of TNF or disruption of signalling via the Through examination of patients with TNF receptor in T cells in vivo, allows chronic HIV infection and the use of chronic chronic LCMV infection to be controlled, murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis characterised by clearance of virus and low virus (LCMV) infection, Beyer et al. PD1 expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. demonstrate that the pro-inflammatory This work opens up the exciting possibility cytokine, tumour necrosis factor (TNF), that blocking TNF may be an effective links both of these characteristics. They intervention in chronic viral infections. identified an RNA fingerprint of CD4+ T cells revealing that their exhaustion Beyer et al. 2016 Nature (dysfunction) is regulated by multiple Immunology 17 593–603 Is transient inhibition of ROR-γt a safe and Limited in vivo killing capacity of cytotoxic T cells effective therapy for To assess in vivo killing of virus-infected cells the chance of target cell death. The group intestinal inhibition? by CD8+ T cells, Halle et al. used two-photon then used NFAT-GFP and H2B orange Th17 cells contribute to Crohn’s microscopy to image explanted mouse reporter constructs and calculated that, in disease (CD); however, inhibiting lymph nodes. Killing against mouse CMV the system used, cytotoxic T cells killed 2–16 IL-17 can exacerbate disease. RAR- and vaccinia virus was low but increased virus-infected cells/day. The data indicate related orphan receptor-γt (ROR-γt) in the former when immune evasion was that in vivo CTL activity may be more limited promotes Th17 cells and may be a removed. Additional movies showed that than previously thought and may explain potential therapeutic target. In this not every interaction between antigen- the failure of some T-cell-based vaccines. paper, Withers et al. demonstrate specific T cells and target cells resulted in that chemical ROR-γt inhibition in killing, and that, the more contact events Halle et al. 2016 Immunity 44 233–245 Citrobacter rodentium-infected mice and cumulative contact time, the greater reduces IL-17+ and IL-22+ Th17 cell frequencies but not IL-17+ and IL- Human immune system function disrupted by simulated night shift 22+ ILC3s in the colon lamina propria and mesenteric lymph node. Rorc The circadian system impacts many biological © Shutterstock deletion showed similar frequencies processes and there is evidence indicating and phenotype of ILC3-like cells the existence of an immune clock. Cuesta compared with ILC3s in the control. et al. further tested this hypothesis in their Comparable with mice, ROR-γt study, which involved taking peripheral blood inhibition of cultured cells from mononuclear cells (PMBCs) every 4 hours paediatric CD patients maintained and measuring IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α or ILC3s and reduced Th17 cells. ROR-γt IL-2 and IFN-γ after in vitro stimulation with requirements differ between ILCs and lipopolysaccharide or phytohemagglutinin, Th17 cells, and targeting ROR-γt in respectively. They observed that the cytokines that the immune system may be influenced CD while maintaining the protective released from individuals from a day- by the circadian system and may offer an function of ILC3s shows promise. oriented schedule was rhythmic; with IL-1β, explanation to various immune disorders IL-6 and TNF-α being bimodal with a day suffered by shift workers. Withers et al. 2016 Nature peak and a night peak. In contrast, IL-2 and Medicine 22 319–323 IFN-γ only had one peak, which occurred Cuesta et al. 2016 Journal of at night. These observations revealed Immunology 196 2466–2475
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