Research on how the immune system defends the body. Covers immune-cell imaging, T-cell responses, longevity genetics, and cancer immunotherapy.
James Allison's discovery of the drug ipilimumab, which blocks CTLA-4 and treats T cells not cancer, has led to a significant increase in survival rates for patients with late-stage metastatic melanoma. The AACR-CRI award recognizes his contributions to cancer immunology and builds on Dr. Lloyd Old's pioneering work in harnessing the i...
Researchers at University of South Florida led by Michael White found that plant proteins, AP2 factors, control the transition from acute to chronic Toxoplasma stage. These factors help the parasite decide when to grow or form tissue cysts that can remain dormant for years.
Researchers found that women with HIV are at risk of acquiring cancer-causing forms of HPV, including types 52 and 58, which are not covered by current vaccines. Treating HIV may also protect women from HPV-related cancers.
A University of Houston research team partnered with NASA and astronauts on the International Space Station to examine how spaceflight affects the immune system. They will collect blood, saliva, and urine samples from two astronauts before, during, and after a mission to monitor natural killer cells and assess viral reactivation risks.
Researchers found that 35% of schizophrenia patients in relapse had UTIs, compared to 5% and 3% of stable outpatients and healthy controls. The association suggests that UTIs may trigger schizophrenia relapse.
Researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered that TNF-a plays a critical role in inducing immune suppression during chronic inflammation. They found that TNF-a directly affects myeloid-derived suppressor cells, leading to impaired host immune responses.
Engineered stem cells produce US2 protein to increase survival by 59%, potentially improving treatment for bowel disease, traumatic brain injury, and organ transplants. The modified cells can modulate inflammation and promote healing, offering new hope for patients in need of regenerative therapies.
Researchers suggest a more flexible understanding of the immune system's interaction with microbes, considering both pathogens and beneficial bacteria. The human body hosts ten times more bacterial cells than human cells, which play crucial roles in improving body functions.
Researchers discovered a way to re-activate the immune system to fight parasitic worms, potentially leading to vaccines for diseases like elephantiasis and river blindness. This breakthrough could also inform treatments for allergies.
Researchers from Cardiff University and La Jolla Institute have identified a previously unknown cellular mechanism that could prove critical in creating a CMV vaccine. This discovery sheds light on the virus's stealthy nature and its ability to evade immune detection.
A team of researchers from La Jolla Institute and Cardiff University has identified a novel cellular mechanism that could aid in creating a CMV vaccine. The study found that a specific CMV protein blocks the ability of immune pathways to kill infected cells, providing an important piece of the CMV puzzle.
Scientists have discovered a way to revive genetic diversity in Tasmanian devils, allowing them to develop a vaccine against the deadly devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The vaccine aims to boost the devils' immune system and give them a fighting chance against the contagious cancer.
A study found that high salt intake can induce aggressive immune cells involved in triggering and sustaining autoimmune diseases. This is the result of increased sodium chloride leading to a dramatic induction of Th17 immune cells, which play a pivotal role in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at Yale School of Medicine found that dietary salt can induce and worsen pathogenic immune system responses in mice, leading to a more severe form of multiple sclerosis. They discovered the key molecular pathway involved in this response and proposed regulatory networks that govern autoimmune disease.
Researchers developed a nanogel-based delivery system targeting immunosuppressive drug mycophenolic acid at tissues associated with immune cells. The treatment showed improved survival rates and delayed kidney damage in mouse models of lupus.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University identified a biological marker, telomere length, that predicts resistance to the common cold in young and midlife adults. Telomeres shorten as people age, but their length also becomes a predictor of disease susceptibility starting at around age 22.
Researchers discovered a specific B lymphocyte marker that indicates the onset of cGVHD, a devastating syndrome where the patient's tissues are attacked by transplanted immune cells. This easily measured marker could help guide new therapies to mitigate or prevent cGVHD, which affects half of all bone marrow transplant procedures.
Researchers found that melanoma cells can transfer proteins to the immune system, allowing it to gather crucial intelligence and develop cytokines to kill cancer cells. This process, called positive feedback loop, tips the scales in favor of the immune cells.
A recent study discovered that a lack of proteins Bax and Bak in immune cells can lead to severe autoimmune disease. The research suggests that these proteins play a crucial role in regulating cell death, and their deficiency may be linked to diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.
Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered that the flu virus can essentially tell time, with a clock that dictates when it multiplies, infects cells, and spreads. This finding provides a novel design platform for the flu vaccine and could lead to new antiviral drugs that target the virus's internal clock.
The bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis causes excess IL-10 production, inhibiting T-cell function and leading to infection. Early intervention is crucial to prevent chronic periodontal disease.
Researchers at Lund University discovered that antibodies in the immune system can be turned around by certain bacteria, affecting their recognition and neutralization. The study shows that this phenomenon varies depending on the severity of the infection, with more serious diseases having the correct antibody orientation.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have obtained a detailed molecular picture that shows how glucocorticoid hormones shut off key immune system genes. The finding could help guide drug discovery efforts aimed at finding new anti-inflammatory drugs with fewer side effects.
Hebrew University researchers discovered how Plasmodium falciparum hides its genes from the immune system by using an insulator-like DNA sequence. This breakthrough could lead to strategies to disrupt this ability and prevent malaria deaths, mainly among pregnant women and children.
Research reveals IkBNS promotes formation of Foxp3, key feature of regulatory T cells, and influences NFkB family of transcription factors. Manipulating IkBNS could lead to therapeutic breakthroughs for autoimmune diseases and inflammation.
Recent research revealed mosquitoes possess surprisingly effective immune systems, destroying pathogens by utilizing the circulatory system's unique characteristics. A Vanderbilt study discovered a new mechanism for eliminating pathogens, increasing effectiveness in disease control strategies.
Researchers from University of Zurich found turning off specific cytokines reduces Alzheimer's amyloid-ß deposits by 65% in mice. Behavioral testing showed substantial improvements when p40 molecule-blocking antibody was administered, suggesting potential human therapy.
Researchers discover Arih2 gene essential for immune system function, potentially leading to treatment breakthroughs for chronic infections like HIV and hepatitis. The gene's role in regulating the immune response could lead to new treatments that reinvigorate the immune system and help clear these infections.
A biodegradable nanoparticle has been shown to halt multiple sclerosis in mice by tricking the immune system into stopping its attack on myelin. This technology also shows promise for treating Type 1 diabetes and airway allergies such as asthma.
Researchers have developed a novel treatment that selectively inhibits the part of the immune system responsible for attacking myelin, reducing inflammation in autoimmune disorders like MS. The therapy uses microscopic particles to induce tolerance in animal models, showing potential for treating MS, type I diabetes, and food allergies.
Researchers discovered a genetic mutation in the TREM2 gene linked to increased Alzheimer's disease risk. The study found that this rare mutation occurs in just 0.3% of the population but makes patients three times more likely to develop the disease.
A large-scale study of over 34,000 individuals has identified 71 new genetic regions linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), increasing the total number of discovered regions to 163. The findings highlight the complex interplay between the immune system and microbial infections in IBD.
A team of researchers at the Weizmann Institute has discovered how immune cells produce a wide range of receptors to fight different diseases. By analyzing the genetic sequences of lymphocyte receptors in mice, they found that the flexibility and length of DNA segments play a crucial role in determining the likelihood of two distant se...
Sortilin plays a crucial role in transporting immune system substances, including interferon-gamma and granzyme A. In its absence, the immune system is weakened, but autoimmune diseases are reduced.
Research published in The FASEB Journal found that changes in gravity during animal development affect antibody production and white blood cell regeneration. This could have significant implications for understanding human diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Scientists have visualised the interaction between gluten and T-cells of the immune system, providing insight into how coeliac disease is triggered. The discovery could lead to a blood test and therapeutic vaccine for patients with coeliac disease.
A new clinical trial at Loyola Medicine uses a genetically engineered immune system to fight melanoma. The treatment involves removing killer T cells from a patient and modifying them to recognize tumor cells as abnormal.
Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a gene-based therapy that specifically targets the immune response of myasthenia gravis, erasing the need for systemic immunosuppression. The technique uses genetically engineered dendritic cells to destroy faulty T-cells, reducing autoantibodies and halting the autoimmune attack.
A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has identified a crucial signaling molecule involved in counterbalancing the immune system attack. Regulatory T cells, or Tregs, play a key role in suppressing inflammatory responses and preventing autoimmune diseases.
The La Jolla Institute has secured a seven-year, $22 million contract renewal to further develop the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), a global resource for mining information on immune responses to diseases. The database contains thousands of epitopes and experimental data points, which are crucial for designing vaccines and treatments ...
Scientists at Emory University School of Medicine have shown that the immune system can compensate for a
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have determined the structure of a critical protein from the Marburg virus, which blocks the human immune system. The breakthrough provides a major step forward in understanding how the deadly virus works and may be useful in developing potential treatments for those infected.
Researchers found that direct fed microbials lead to increased energy expenditures by the immune system in broiler chickens. This could have long-standing implications for poultry health and disease management.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a gene therapy regimen that safely restores immune systems to children with ADA-deficient severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a devastating disease. The treatment showed promising results in restoring immune function to three out of six patients, offering new hope for these children.
Researchers have successfully restored the immune systems of some children with SCID using a refined gene therapy approach, eliminating the need for life-long injections. The treatment involves inserting a healthy copy of the ADA gene into bone marrow stem cells, preventing immune-destroying toxicity.
Research suggests cancer produces negative immune response in dendritic cells, hindering desired responses. Flawed dendritic cells could aid in preventing autoimmune disorders, however.
A new study suggests that manipulating the microbiome may be a way to regulate weight gain. Researchers found that mice raised in a germ-free environment did not gain extra weight, even on a high-fat diet. The study highlights the importance of gut bacteria and the immune system in digestion and obesity.
A clinical study found that an antibody against interferon-gamma compromised the immune systems of HIV-negative people, making them vulnerable to infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria. The study identified autoantibodies as a possible cause of adult-onset immunodeficiency in Southeast Asia.
Research reveals long-term consequences of chronic CMV infection on the immune system, including weakened responses to other viruses and increased susceptibility to infections. The study shows that prolonged CMV presence contributes to immune ageing, making older individuals more prone to infectious diseases.
Scientists have developed a new method to study how the immune system interacts with bacteria during chronic infections. The method uses 5 mm silicone tubes and combines light microscopy and electron microscopy to visualize the interaction between white blood cells and bacteria.
Human HLA genes are evolving rapidly, improving disease-fighting abilities but complicating organ transplant matching. The vast number of variants makes it unlikely to identify a perfect match through worldwide searches.
A 'fight' between bacteria and the immune system may lead to chronic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. The study's findings highlight the importance of controlling the early environment through breastfeeding, a diverse diet, or probiotics.
Researchers created a model by transplanting human immune elements into an immunodeficient mouse, allowing it to mount human-like immune responses against HIV. The study successfully replicates critical host-pathogen interactions and provides a promising tool for accelerating HIV vaccine development.
Researchers at Caltech have found evidence of a link between immune irregularities and autism. The study suggests that specific changes in an overactive immune system can contribute to autism-like behaviors in mice, potentially related to prenatal experiences.
Researchers found that aging mice's dendritic cells accumulated oxidation-damaged proteins, impairing their function. Administering antioxidants reversed some effects, suggesting a potential therapy to improve vaccine responses in the elderly.
A study published in Molecular Medicine found that blocking the GRP receptor reduces extreme immune response elements and reveals a new inflammatory pathway. The research also shows that patients with septic shock have higher levels of GRP, which may explain their multiple organ dysfunctions.
A Stanford-led study found that short-term stress stimulates immune activity, mobilizing key cells to fight infections and wounds. The research offers hope for developing new treatments to improve recovery from surgery or vaccines.
A new study reports that human microbes have coevolved with humans, forming unique partnerships essential for our immune system. The findings suggest that modern hygiene and antibiotics may be contributing to the rise of autoimmune disorders by erasing these beneficial bacteria.
A recent study found that mice carrying a set of friendly microbes fail to develop a proper immune system, highlighting the importance of host-specific microbiota. The researchers suggest that a coevolved relationship between humans and their gut microbiome may be compromised by modern lifestyle factors.
Gut bacteria play a crucial role in regulating the immune system and preventing autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Larger-than-normal populations of specific gut bacteria may trigger disease development, particularly in genetically predisposed individuals.