The infectious propagules of Aspergillus fumigatus are coated with antimicrobial peptides.

Fungal spores are unique cells that mediate dispersal and survival in the environment. For pathogenic fungi encountering a susceptible host, these specialised structures may serve as infectious particles. The main causative agent of the opportunistic disease aspergillosis, Aspergillus fumigatus, produces asexual spores, the conidia, that become dissipated by air flows or water currents but also serve as propagules to infect a susceptible host.

Characterization of pre-existing and induced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T cells.

Emerging data indicate that SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T cells targeting different viral proteins are detectable in up to 70% of convalescent individuals. However, very little information is currently available about the abundance, phenotype, functional capacity and fate of pre-existing and induced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T cell responses during the natural course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we define a set of optimal and dominant SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 T cell epitopes.

NK-cell responses are biased towards CD16-mediated effector functions in chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background & Aims: Phenotypic and functional natural killer (NK)-cell alterations are well described in chronic hepatitis B virus (cHBV) infection. However, it is largely unknown whether these alterations result from general effects on the overall NK-cell population or the emergence of distinct NK-cell subsets. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is common in cHBV and is associated with the emergence of memory-like NK cells.