Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Mobilizing white blood cells to the lung: New discovery could lead to an improved influenza vaccine

Mobilizing white blood cells to the lung: New discovery could lead to an improved influenza vaccine

July 11, 2008

Findings just published in the scientific journal Immunity by researchers at the Trudeau Institute shed new light on how a previously-unknown messaging mechanism within the human immune system prompts specific influenza-fighting cells to the lung airways during an infection.

Infections from the influenza virus are responsible for hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and as many as 40,000 deaths in the United States each year. Although researchers have known for some time that white blood cells congregating in the lung and directly attacking the virus play an important role in defending against influenza, it has never been clear how exactly these white blood cells know when they are required in the lung.




Now new research in the Trudeau Institute laboratory of Dr. David Woodland offers important insights into the navigational aids used by these cells as they maneuver through the human body. Trudeau investigators have shown that lungs which have been infected with the influenza virus produce a series of chemicals, or chemokines, which act as beacons for specific types of white blood cells. While circulating in the bloodstream, these white blood cells recognize the chemical messages signaling the presence of the virus and the need for them to move into lung tissues.

According to Dr. Woodland, director of the Trudeau Institute and lead researcher on the project: "An important aspect of these findings is that this response occurs early in the disease process, typically within a couple of days of the initial infection. It also turns out that only a fraction of the available white blood cells are capable of recognizing these chemokine messages. Discovering that this response occurs rapidly, and that only a specific subset of white blood cells can recognize these messages, helps provide important new information for researchers working towards developing better a better influenza vaccine."

Trudeau Institute



Related White Blood Cells Current Events and White Blood Cells News Articles White Blood Cells Current Events and White Blood Cells News RSS White Blood Cells Current Events and White Blood Cells News RSS
Hundreds of genes distinguish patients likely to survive advanced melanoma
Although the chances of surviving advanced melanoma aren't very good with current therapies, some patients can live for years with cancer that has spread beyond the skin to other organs.

Magnetic nanoparticles to simultaneously diagnose, monitor and treat
Whether it's magnetic nanoparticles (mNPs) giving an army of 'therapeutically armed' white blood cells direction to invade a deadly tumour's territory, or the use of mNPs to target specific nerve channels and induce nerve-led behaviour (such as the life-dependant thumping of our hearts), mNPs have come a long way in the past decade.

Study reveals a 'missing link' in immune response to disease
The immune system's T cells have the unique responsibilities of being both jury and executioner. They examine other cells for signs of disease, including cancers or infections, and, if such evidence is found, rid them from the body. Precisely how T cells shift so swiftly from one role to another, however, has been a mystery.

Immunotherapy demonstrates long-term success in treating lymphoma
Targeted immunotherapy has been an attractive new therapeutic area for a number of cancers because it has the potential to destroy tumor cells without damaging surrounding normal tissue. New study results demonstrate high success rates using specialized white blood cells to prevent or treat lymphoma associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-lymphoma) in patients who have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT).

Bacteria 'launch a shield' to resist attack
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen and the Technical University of Denmark along with other collaborators in Denmark and the US found that the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa can 'switch on' production of molecules that kill white blood cells - preventing the bacteria being eliminated by the body's immune system.

Taking medicine for HIV proves hard to swallow for many people
Highly active antiretroviral therapy has increased the longevity and quality of life for people living with human immunodeficiency virus. But it requires strict adherence in taking the medicine, something that is extremely difficult for many individuals to do.

Scientists create NICE solution to pneumonia vaccine testing problems
Medical clinics the world over could benefit from new software* created at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where a team of scientists has found a way to improve the efficiency of a pneumonia vaccine testing method developed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB).

The bowels of infection
Current research suggests that latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may exacerbate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The related report by Onyeagocha et al, "Latent cytomegalovirus infection exacerbates experimental colitis," appears in the November 2009 issue of The American Journal of Pathology.

Herbal tonic for radiotherapy
Antioxidant extracts of the leaves of the Gingko biloba tree may protect cells from radiation damage, according to a study published in the International Journal of Low Radiation.

Stanford study identifies cellular mechanism that causes lupuslike symptoms in mice
Macrophages, the scavenger cells of the body's immune system, are responsible for disposing of dying cells. Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified one pathway in this important process in mice that, if disrupted, causes a lupuslike autoimmune disease.
More White Blood Cells Current Events and White Blood Cells News Articles
White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes

2008 reissue of White Blood Cells, the third album by alternative rock band The White Stripes. The band's commercial breakthrough, this 2001 album went gold,spinning off the Top 20 Modern Rock hits 'Fell In Love With A Girl' and 'Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground.' White Blood Cells peaked at number 61 on the Billboard 200 and it reached number 55 in the UK, being bolstered in both territories by the "Fell in Love with a Girl" single. The album was dedicated to Loretta Lynn, creating a friendship between Lynn and both Jack and Meg White. In 2004, Jack White would produce Lynn's comeback hit album Van Lear Rose.16 tracks.

White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes, White Stripes

This, the much anticipated third album by Detroit's critically acclaimed brother and sister duo, The White Stripes was recorded in early February this year at the legendary Easley Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and if The White Stripes were the Velvet Underground this would be their Loaded. It's becoming apparent that THE WHITE STRIPES ARE the great white hope and they have developed an enthusiastic following across the country and around the world. White Blood Cells has 15 original tracks performed by Jack and Meg White, no orchestras, session musicians or studio trickery has been employed. 2001 release.

White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes

This, the much anticipated third album by Detroit's critically acclaimed brother and sister duo, The White Stripes was recorded in early February this year at the legendary Easley Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and if The White Stripes were the Velvet Underground this would be their Loaded. It's becoming apparent that THE WHITE STRIPES ARE the great white hope and they have developed an enthusiastic following across the country and around the world. White Blood Cells has 15 original tracks performed by Jack and Meg White, no orchestras, session musicians or studio trickery has been employed. 2001 release.

White Blood Cells - RED vinyl

White Blood Cells - RED vinyl
by White Stripes



White Blood Cell (Leukocyte) Corporeals Plush

White Blood Cell (Leukocyte) Corporeals Plush
by Giant Microbes

Don't let his cute looks fool you -- this highly trained killer takes out enemy cells with extreme prejudice. Learn how to stay on his good side.

White Blood Cells [Limited Edition with Bonus DVD]

White Blood Cells [Limited Edition with Bonus DVD]
by The White Stripes

Limited Edition features 2 previously unreleased tracks, "Hand Springs" & "Lafayette Blues" and 4 videos, "Fell in Love with a Girl," "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "Hotel Yorba" & "We're Going To Be Friends".

White Blood Cells

White Blood Cells
The White Stripes (Primary Contributor)



The White Stripes - White Blood Cells

The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes (Author)

Here's the matching folio to the acclaimed 2001 breakthrough from this Detroit duo, darlings of the international music media. Note-for-note tab transcriptions of Jack White's playing on 16 tracks: Aluminum * Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground * Fell in Love with a Girl * Hotel Yorba * I Can't Wait * I Think I Smell a Rat * I'm Finding It Harder to Be a Gentleman * Offend in Every Way * The Union Forever * We're Going to Be Friends * and more.

Elephant

Elephant
by The White Stripes

Double colored vinyl. One white. One red.

  White Blood Cells
by The White Stripes

This, the much anticipated third album by Detroit's critically acclaimed brother and sister duo, The White Stripes was recorded in early February this year at the legendary Easley Studio in Memphis, Tennessee and if The White Stripes were the Velvet Underground this would be their Loaded. It's becoming apparent that THE WHITE STRIPES ARE the great white hope and they have developed an enthusiastic following across the country and around the world. White Blood Cells has 15 original tracks performed by Jack and Meg White, no orchestras, session musicians or studio trickery has been employed. 2001 release.

© 2009 BrightSurf.com