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Advances in HIV vaccine development have been hampered by roadblocks associated with failure to prevent infection. In recent years, a number of basic and translational science advances have shown promise in the development for an effective vaccine. In their review, Haynes and colleagues summarize these advances along with the roadblocks that still remain, as well as the most promising approaches to successful vaccine design ( J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014, 134(1): 3-10 ).  This year, the field of HIV-vaccine research had a major disappointment in the announcement of the lack of a vaccine efficacy seen in a DNA prime, recombinant adenovirus type 5 (rAd5) boost HIV-1 vaccine trial developed by the NIH Vaccine Research Center. The vaccine was designed to test the hypothesis that high levels of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) could either protect against transmission or lead to control of plasma HIV-1 viral load. The second failed trial, the Merck recombinant adenovirus type 5 trail, not o...

Asthma often begins early in life and is attributed to more than just genetic factors, because the prevalence continues to rise. Epidemiological studies have indicated roles for prenatal and early childhood exposures, including exposure to diesel exhaust, however, little is known about the mechanisms involved. To elucidate this, Manners et al developed a mouse model of asthma susceptibility through prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust ( J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014; 134(1): 63-72 ) . In this model, pregnant mice were repeatedly exposed to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). Offspring were immunized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) or exposed to PBS (control) then examined for features of asthma. Compared to controls, offspring that were exposed to DEP were hypersensitive to OVA, indicated by airway hyperresponsiveness, elevated serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, and elevated levels of pulmonary and systemic T-helper type 2 (Th2) and Th17 cytokines. The authors determined that natural kill...