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Bird feeding helps small birds fight infection

Research from Lund University shows that feeding small birds during winter reduces the need to lower body temperature, allowing them to fight infections more effectively. This study highlights the importance of access to food during winter in modulating a bird's immune response and ability to combat infection.

SourceLund University·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateApr 18, 2023

Resident T-cells key to salmonella immunity

Researchers at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine discovered that tissue resident memory cells are crucial for inducing a powerful immune response against Salmonella. Molecules like interleukin-1 and 2 enhance the formation of these cells in the liver, providing a rapid-response force.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 17, 2023

Mount Sinai researchers discover novel receptors for SARS-CoV-2 and their age-dependent expression, providing new insights for public health

Researchers identified potential novel receptors for SARS-CoV-2 that utilize multiple receptors to facilitate its life cycle. The study reveals a strong correlation between tissue age-dependency and SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced receptor expression, with older adults being more susceptible to severe outcomes.

A herbal compound to fight autoimmunity

A team from Osaka University discovered that celastrol blocks the progression of rheumatoid arthritis by inhibiting a protein complex that promotes autoimmune responses. The researchers found that celestrol binds to COMMD3 covalently, preventing the formation of the COMMD3/8 complex and impairing antibody production.

SourceOsaka University·JournalScience Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2023

Patient-specific cells generated from thymus organoids

The study successfully generated functional patient-specific T-cells and thymic epithelial cells from human pluripotent stem cells using thymus organoids. This breakthrough provides a new experimental model system to investigate thymic insufficiency and function, potentially leading to cell-based treatments for thymic defects.

SourceCell Press·JournalStem Cell Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 23, 2023

Getting around muscle aging

A new study found a protein that regulates macrophage function, clearing residues from regenerating muscle and recovering regenerative capacity in aged mice. The discovery holds promise for regenerative medicine and aging, potentially improving the success of current stem-cell based therapies.

SourceInstituto de Medicina Molecular·JournalNature Aging·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 23, 2023

An extra X chromosome-linked gene may explain decreased viral infection severity in females

A study published in Nature Immunology found that female mouse and human NK cells have more of a specific epigenetic regulator called UTX, which boosts anti-viral function while repressing NK cell numbers. This suggests that therapies need to be tailored to individual differences, including sex.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNature Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 16, 2023

NTU Singapore study shows new way to spur brain immune cells to clear toxic waste linked to Alzheimer’s disease

Researchers at NTU Singapore have found a way to spur brain immune cells to clear toxic waste linked to Alzheimer’s disease by targeting their metabolism. The study reveals a ‘metabolic switch’ in the brain’s immune cells that can be manipulated to improve their function.

SourceNanyang Technological University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2023

Fats help tag medical implants as friend or foe

Researchers discovered that lipid deposition on medical implant surfaces can signal to the immune system whether to attack or ignore the implant. This knowledge could help develop biomaterials that deflect host immune aggression, reducing malfunction rates for devices like pacemakers and surgical mesh.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023

Epilepsy could become easier to pinpoint with blood test

Researchers have discovered higher levels of immune proteins in the blood before and after epileptic seizures. The study suggests a potential biomarker for epilepsy, which could be identified using a simple blood test. This finding may help distinguish epilepsy from other conditions, such as psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

SourceLund University·JournalHeliyon·DateMar 13, 2023

New Swansea University research shows reducing social media use by just 15 minutes a day can improve your health

A study from Swansea University found that reducing social media use by 15 minutes a day can significantly improve physical health and psychological well-being. The results showed a 15% improvement in immune function, 50% improvement in sleep quality, and 30% fewer depressive symptoms.

SourceSwansea University·JournalJournal of Technology in Behavioral Science·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 8, 2023

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy improves outlook in high-risk melanoma

Patients with stage IIIB-IV melanoma who received neoadjuvant pembrolizumab had a significantly lower risk of cancer recurrence compared to those receiving adjuvant therapy only. The study found improved event-free survival rates in the neoadjuvant group, suggesting that starting immunotherapy before surgery generates better outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 1, 2023

Scientists develop new targeted therapeutic strategies against liver metastasis

Researchers have discovered a new mechanism of immune surveillance by liver-resident macrophages called Kupffer cells that prevent liver metastasis from escaping. They successfully cleared tumors in various animal models using a new method for in situ targeted expression and remodels of KCs' anti-tumor function.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 23, 2023

Why men are at higher risk from COVID-19

Researchers at Osaka University found that male patients with COVID-19 have a faster loss of circulating Treg cells, leading to dysregulated antibody responses. Females, on the other hand, have higher levels of these cells, which may help protect them from infection.

SourceOsaka University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 12, 2023

Molecular machines could treat fungal infections

Researchers at Rice University have developed light-activated nanoscale drills that can kill pathogenic fungi, providing a potential new treatment option for fungal infections. The molecular machines target the mitochondria of fungal cells, disrupting cellular metabolism and leading to cell death.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 1, 2023

LJI scientists uncover the structure and function of Inmazeb, the first FDA-approved drug for Ebola virus infection

Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology have discovered the detailed mechanism of action of Inmazeb, a three-antibody cocktail designed to combat Ebola virus infection. The study reveals new information about how the drug interacts with the virus and its potential effectiveness against additional species of Ebolavirus.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalCell Host & Microbe·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 30, 2023

New study suggests a promising therapeutic target for sepsis

A new study published in The American Journal of Pathology suggests that promoting autophagy with rapamycin restores intestinal barrier function during sepsis. The study also identifies the PLK1-mTOR axis as a crucial regulator of autophagy and intestinal barrier dysfunction, providing novel insights for treatment of sepsis.

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 26, 2023

Commonly used antiretroviral drugs used to treat HIV and hepatitis B reduce immune cells’ energy production

Research reveals that commonly used antiretroviral drugs TAF and TDF directly impact mitochondria's energy production in immune cells. The study suggests a larger energy reduction when combined with other antiretrovirals, sparking concerns about potential long-term effects on human cells.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalMetabolism·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 18, 2023

Tracking plasma cell survival

A study by Osaka University tracked the survival of antibody-producing plasma cells, finding that most die shortly after immune response, but a small population can survive for months or years. The researchers identified molecular markers distinguishing these long-lived plasma cells from short-lived ones.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 14, 2022

Long-term immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination is unaffected by pregnancy

A recent study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM found that pregnant individuals have a similar long-term immune response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination as non-pregnant individuals. The study also showed that vaccination during pregnancy provides protection to unborn babies, which is essential for their C...

SourceWeill Cornell Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM·DateDec 13, 2022

Covid vaccines also help protect HIV patients

Researchers found that Covid vaccines effectively protect HIV-positive individuals, particularly after a third booster shot. The study also revealed a surprisingly strong cellular immune response in HIV-positive people, similar to those in healthy individuals.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalFrontiers in Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 9, 2022

Immune system of modern Papuans shaped by DNA from ancient Denisovans

A recent study found that Denisovan DNA sequences near immune-related genes in modern Papuans regulate their activity, affecting how people respond to infections. The research suggests that Denisovan DNA contributed to the adaptation of early modern humans living in New Guinea and nearby islands.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeObservational study·DateDec 8, 2022

Researchers determine genetic variants offered protection during Black Death, associated with current autoimmune disorders

A study found that genetic variants near ERAP2 and TICAM2 provided protection against Yersinia pestis, the bacterium responsible for the Black Death. These variants were also associated with improved detection and resistance to other pathogens, but at a cost: increased risk of autoimmune disorders like Crohn's disease.

Scientists uncover biological explanation behind why upper respiratory infections are more common in colder temperatures

A newly discovered immune response inside the nose fights off viruses, but is suppressed by colder temperatures, making an infection more likely to occur. The study offers the first biological mechanism to explain why viruses like COVID-19 spike in colder seasons.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 6, 2022

How antibody therapy impacts COVID vaccines

Research finds that individuals who received monoclonal antibodies before COVID vaccination exhibit a diverse antibody response, increasing the coverage provided by vaccines. This phenomenon, known as antibody feedback inhibition, is beneficial for diversifying immune responses to viruses.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalNature·DateDec 6, 2022