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JCI online early table of contents: March 2, 2009

Studies reveal that PICK1 protein plays a crucial role in acrosome formation, and its deficiency leads to low sperm count and abnormal sperm movement in male mice. This discovery may shed new light on the human disorder of globozoospermia, which affects male fertility.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 2, 2009

Scans show immune cells intercepting parasites

Researchers identified a key role for dendritic cells in responding to Leishmania parasites, which cause illness in developing nations and have been detected in US soldiers. The study provides insights into the early stages of the immune response and has implications for vaccine development.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateDec 10, 2008

Bee smart, bee healthy

Researchers found a positive correlation between learning performance and immune response in bumblebees, contradicting previous predictions. Bumblebee colonies with strong learning abilities also showed improved resistance to bacterial infection.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalBiology Letters·DateOct 30, 2008

Chronic stress alters our genetic immune response

Researchers found that chronic stress alters the genetic immune response by changing the pattern of gene expression in monocytes, a type of white blood cell involved in the body's immune response. This altered response can lead to increased inflammation and contribute to the risk for illnesses like depression, heart disease, and diabetes.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateAug 27, 2008

Bees go 'off-color' when they are sickly

A new study from the University of Leicester found that bumble-bees' impaired immune response leads to reduced learning abilities and altered behavior when infected. This research has important implications for understanding bee colony survival and the decline of wild bumble-bee species.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalBiology Letters·DateJul 15, 2008

Math could help cure leukemia

Researchers have developed a mathematical model that predicts optimal timing for a cancer vaccine in CML patients based on their immune response, which may lead to a cure. The model suggests boosting the immune system at a specific time when it starts weakening can provide a strong stimulation to combat leukemia cells.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJun 19, 2008

UCLA researchers develop new PET scanning probe that will allowing monitoring of the immune system

Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have created a new probe that allows for the modeling and measurement of the immune system in action. The probe enables scientists to monitor the immune response at the whole body level in 3D, facilitating faster diagnosis and treatment evaluation of immunological disorders.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Medicine·DateJun 8, 2008

New technology for boosting vaccine efficiency

Cure Lab, Inc. has developed a new technology that combines two forms of vaccine antigens: one easily processed by the proteosome and another resistant to it. This combination elicits a stronger immune response than using either form alone, promising improved vaccine efficiency.

SourceCure Lab, Inc.·JournalVaccine·DateApr 24, 2008

Crossing the species line

A recent article in Developmental and Comparative Immunology reveals that plants possess elements of specificity and responsiveness to disease-causing agents, similar to animal immunity. The study suggests that the plant immune surveillance genes diversify at a rate stimulated by pathogen presence, shedding new light on plant immunity.

SourceElsevier·JournalDevelopmental & Comparative Immunology·DateJan 31, 2008

Influenza spreads readily in winter conditions

A new study by researchers links low temperatures and relative humidities to the rapid spread of influenza, validating the seasonal flu theory. The study found that low relative humidities facilitate viral transmission, with opposite effects at higher humidity levels.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateOct 18, 2007

Modeling pathogen responses

A new study by David Heckerman and colleagues developed a statistical framework to model HLA-dependent T cell response data. The approach identified 12 correct predictions out of 16, providing significant implications for understanding and developing an HIV vaccine.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateOct 11, 2007

Hunger hormone fights aging in the thymus

Research suggests that ghrelin improves thymic mass and T cell output with increased diversity of the TCR repertoire in mice, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic approach to boost immune function in elderly or immunocompromised individuals.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 6, 2007

Auto immune response creates barrier to fertility; could be a step in speciation

Researchers at the University of North Carolina and Max Planck Institute discovered that an autoimmune response can create a barrier to producing viable offspring in plants. This phenomenon, known as hybrid necrosis, can be triggered by specific gene combinations, suggesting a potential early step in the development of new species.

Immune response in melioidosis

Researchers found that only Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) played a significant role in the immune response to Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative bacterium causing melioidosis. This discovery suggests that inhibiting TLR2 may be a potential treatment strategy for this severe infection.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJul 30, 2007

Children under stress develop more fevers

A study published in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine found that children under ongoing family stress have more fevers with illness than other children. Interestingly, the immune system's natural killer cell function in these children also increases, unlike adults who experience decreased function.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine·DateMar 5, 2007