CMV Triplex Vaccine to Enhance Adaptive NK and T-cell Reconstitution After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) augments adaptive (CD56NKG2CCD57) natural killer (NK) and CMV-specific T cells, with potential antitumor effects. Our recent work found an association between higher abundance of adaptive NK cells after auto-HCT and lower risk of relapse in patients with multiple myeloma. Triplex vaccine is a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara expressing immunodominant CMV antigens, which significantly enhanced CMV-specific T-cell immune responses in allo-HCT recipients.

Terminal life history: late-life fecundity and survival in experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster.

There are two life history landmarks that can be used to define the terminal period in individual Drosophila melanogaster females: the cessation of daily oviposition, which defines the start of the retired stage, and final oviposition, which defines the start of post-ovipository survival. The terminal period is a substantial component of D. melanogaster life history.

First-in-human trial of rhIL-15 and haploidentical natural killer cell therapy for advanced acute myeloid leukemia.

In vivo expansion of haploidentical natural killer (NK) cell infusions with interleukin-2 (IL-2) can induce remission of refractory acute myeloid leukemia, but efficacy may be hampered by concurrent stimulation of host regulatory T cells. To overcome this limitation, we substituted the NK homeostatic factor IL-15 in 2 phase 1/2 trials. Forty-two patients received either intravenous (IV) (NCT01385423) or subcutaneous (SC) (NCT02395822) recombinant human IL-15 (rhIL-15) after lymphodepleting chemotherapy and haploidentical NK cells.

Monocyte Subpopulation Recovery as Predictors of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Outcomes.

Monocyte recovery after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) has been correlated with overall survival (OS). However, monocytes are heterogeneous and consist of classic (CD14CD16), intermediate (CD14CD16), and nonclassic (CD14CD16) subpopulations, with unique functional properties. We hypothesized that monocyte subpopulation reconstitution would vary based on allogeneic stem cell source and would be associated with outcomes.

Fecundity for free? Enhanced oviposition in longevous populations of Drosophila melanogaster.

Artificial selection for increased life span in experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster sometimes produces long-lived populations that exhibit greater fecundity than unselected controls. The absence of a trade-off between survival and reproduction in these cases might be an artefact of the rich diet of typical lab culture; if nutritional resources are not limiting then there may be no need to trade off. Here I test the rich diet hypothesis by estimating genetic correlations between survival and age-specific fecundity in three nutritional environments.