Research on how the immune system defends the body. Covers immune-cell imaging, T-cell responses, longevity genetics, and cancer immunotherapy.
Bruce S. Rabin has made significant contributions to the understanding of the immune system's interaction with the nervous system, endocrine organs, and mental health. He has elucidated many dark corners of immunology and brought sound immunologic principles to the study of mental health and disease in humans.
Researchers have found that the omentum's fat cells can suppress the immune system by sequestering activated T cells, a finding that could lead to new drugs with fewer side effects. The omentum also helps regenerate damaged tissues through mesenchymal stem cells.
Dr. Quake recognized for revolutionary work in drug discovery, genome analysis, and personalized medicine, enabling large-scale automation of biology and improving human health outcomes. His microfluidic technology has enabled non-invasive prenatal testing and single-cell gene expression analysis.
Researchers identified an immune system deficiency that shows a fourfold higher likelihood of death. High levels of free light chains are associated with increased rates of death from cancer, diabetes, and cardiac respiratory disease.
A new antibody treatment has shown promising activity in patients with advanced kidney cancer, melanoma and lung cancer. Patients who received the treatment experienced a positive response without severe side effects.
Richard Lerner's discovery of combinatorial antibody libraries has led to the development of two market-leading drugs, Humira and Benlysta, alleviating suffering from autoimmune diseases. His work has significantly impacted disease treatment and prevention, showcasing his dedication to advancing human health.
La Jolla Institute scientists discovered a mechanism key in drug allergy, identifying HLA gene-linked hypersensitivity reactions before use in humans. The finding could lead to pre-screening of drugs at risk of causing severe reactions.
Researchers created an innovative biomimetic model of the human immune system called MIMIC®, enabling faster and more effective vaccine development. The MIMIC platform provides a novel in vitro model for evaluating human immune responses against candidate drugs, adjuvants, and vaccines.
Loyola researchers found a molecule called transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) that can amplify the immune response in some cases and suppress it in others. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to regulate the immune system, such as activating it to attack tumor cells or suppressing it to prevent organ rejection.
Scientists have pinpointed the region on dengue virus that humans target with their immune system, challenging current vaccine research. The discovery reveals human antibodies bind to a complex structure on assembled dengue viruses, not small fragments as previously thought.
Researchers found that a monkey's social status affects its immune system, allowing for accurate predictions of an individual's rank. The study used microarrays to analyze gene expression levels and showed that inflammation patterns change along with social rank.
A new guideline from the American Academy of Neurology confirms IVIg as an effective treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). The therapy has been shown to be as effective as plasma exchange in treating GBS, with long-term use also helping to manage CIDP. Serious side effects a...
Researchers at Tel Aviv University create gold nanoparticles that trigger an immune response when coated with specific chemical residues, revealing a key link between hydrophobicity and immune system activation. This breakthrough has the potential to improve drug delivery systems and lead to more effective medications and vaccinations.
Research published in BioMed Central's Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery found that opera and classical music increased survival time before organs failed. Music may act via the parasympathetic nervous system, reducing inflammation and increasing regulatory cells.
Researchers at Cardiff University discovered a new group of cells with strong immunosuppressive properties derived from cheek tissue. These cells can completely inhibit lymphocyte action with small doses, offering promise for combating diseases like diabetes and organ rejection.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have made significant breakthroughs in developing a new melanoma vaccine that uses a genetic combination of human DNA from melanoma cells and a cousin of the rabies virus. Early studies show a cure rate of 60% in mouse models with minimal side effects. The vaccine delivers a broad spectrum of genes derived fr...
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham discovered a chemical compound that inhibits the mutant form of LYP, a protein implicated in multiple autoimmune diseases. The findings suggest a new potential therapy for autoimmune diseases, including Type I diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.
A new EU project, TargetBraIn, is investigating the potential of the immune system to aid in stroke recovery. The research seeks to balance the positive and negative effects of inflammation, with the goal of developing more effective treatments for this growing health issue.
AIDS experts at Johns Hopkins have developed a vaccination strategy that boosts other immune system T cells and prepares them to attack HIV before reactivating it. The approach aims to eliminate latent HIV virus from infected T cells, which has proven difficult to eradicate.
The $3.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide medication and treatment to uninsured patients in the Augusta area, while also expanding rapid testing and education efforts. With this funding, nearly 1,300 HIV-positive patients can receive life-long treatment with a single pill daily.
Researchers have found a new potential target for rheumatoid arthritis by developing an agent that prevents activated T cells from migrating towards the site of inflammation. The agent, PS372424, binds to a specific receptor CXCR3 on activated T cells and 'blinds' them, preventing further damage.
Research suggests that T cells play a role in stress-dependent hypertension, and that medications targeting the immune system may also help control anxiety disorders. Mice studies found that T cell deficiency led to reduced blood pressure sensitivity to stress.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered a protein, TMED7, that can shut down part of the immune system after an infection has been cleared. This finding could lead to new ways to prevent over-activation of the immune system in diseases.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine are studying children with weakened immune systems to identify the viruses that make them sick. They will collect samples from 400 children and analyze them using advanced technologies to draw conclusions about which viruses cause illness.
Researchers refuted the neurodegenerative hypothesis, which suggested myelin damage occurred without an immune system attack. The study found that immune defense played a role in triggering MS-like autoimmune disease.
Research reveals that bacteria can cause disease through frontal attack or stealthy manipulation of the host's immune system. Bacteria that destroy phagocytes have low infectivity, while those with high growth rates and quorum-sensing capabilities are more infectious.
Researchers propose a new approach to treating infectious diseases by targeting tolerance to infection. This strategy aims to reduce tissue damage and promote host protection. By distinguishing between failed resistance and failed tolerance, scientists can choose more effective therapeutic approaches.
Researchers have identified a promising strategy for HIV vaccine design using mathematical techniques also used in quantum physics and stock market analyses. They found high-order evolutionary constraints in the Gag region of HIV, which could be targeted by vaccines.
Research found that micronutrient supplements before pregnancy alter gene methylation in offspring, impacting their immune system. The study's findings have significant public health implications for regions with food security issues.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have identified a single viral protein called LMP1 that the immune system watches over to keep the Epstein-Barr virus in check. The study suggests two possible options for treating EBV-fueled lymphomas in immunosuppressed patients, including using CD4+ T cells and NKG2D-Fc fusion proteins.
Yale University researchers found that the circadian clock regulates a key immune system gene response to bacteria and viruses, suggesting that sleep patterns disruptions contribute to illnesses. The study also suggests that timing of vaccinations may be improved based on jet lag influence on immune system.
Research reveals that a circadian clock controls the expression and function of TLR9, an immune system protein, leading to enhanced or impaired immune responses depending on the time of day. The study's findings have significant implications for sepsis treatment and prevention.
Scientists at The University of Nottingham have identified a new molecule DC-SIGN that plays a role in damping down the body's allergic response to house dust mites. This discovery could pave the way for developing new therapies or treatments for preventing allergies.
A researcher at Indiana University has discovered a compound that could counteract HIV's ability to hijack the immune system's protection mechanism. The compound, which binds to the CD59 protein, enables antibodies and complement proteins to attack infected cells instead of just viral particles.
Scientists have developed a new method using DNA sequencing to identify cancer cells that can be targeted by the immune system. By analyzing genetic data from cancer cells and normal cells, researchers were able to identify specific mutated genes whose altered proteins trigger immune system attacks.
A study led by Uppsala University reveals that structural modifications of DNA are duplicated or lost more commonly in older individuals. This may explain the impaired immune system with age. The researchers found large rearrangements in blood cells of people over 60, as well as smaller changes in younger individuals.
A recent study suggests that seasonal variations in the immune system may impact the effectiveness of a vaccine targeting type 1 diabetes. The vaccine, which uses the GAD65 antigen, showed promise in earlier trials but failed to demonstrate significant effects in its latest phase 3 trial. The study's authors propose that factors such a...
Researchers discovered that leprosy pathogen Mycobacterium leprae manipulates micro-RNs to evade the human immune system, specifically targeting vitamin D-dependent immune pathways. This finding offers new treatment avenues for infectious diseases.
A Northwestern University study identifies a key player in the human immune system, revealing its crucial role in activating the immune response. The protein, STIM1, was found to regulate not only one function but also another critical step in immune activation.
Matthias Mann's work on mass spectrometry revolutionized the analysis of proteins, enabling quantitative analysis of cancerous tumors. Fiona Powrie's research on bacterial intestinal flora and immune system interactions opens new perspectives for treating chronic inflammatory diseases.
Scientists have identified a crucial molecule called PfSET10 that instructs malaria parasites to employ their 'invisibility cloak' to hide from the immune system. The research sheds light on how Plasmodium falciparum causes disease and evades the immune response, with implications for developing targeted treatments.
A study by the NIH found that over 32 million Americans have autoantibodies, which are proteins made by the immune system that target body tissues. The prevalence of these autoantibodies is higher among women, older individuals, and African-Americans.
Scientists at Virginia Tech have discovered a novel antiviral immune pathway in culicine mosquitoes, which produces virus-derived small RNAs similar to piwi-interacting RNAs. This finding suggests a robust immune system, but understanding how viruses overcome it remains an open challenge.
Researchers have discovered how to harness the bacterial immune system to selectively target and silence genes. This finding has far-reaching implications for biotechnology and biomedical research, allowing for the modification of gene expression in bacteria used for biofuels and pharmaceuticals.
A recent study published in Neurology reveals a sophisticated link between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially leading to new treatments and prevention strategies. Researchers found that EBV triggers inflammation and nerve cell damage in the brain, which is known to cause MS symptoms.
Thomas Jefferson University researchers have created a human immune system mouse model that closely mimics the response to a tick-borne infection in humans. The study found that mice developed B1b-like cells, specialized antibody-producing systems used to fight bacterial pathogens, which helped resolve the infection.
A team of researchers at UCSF has discovered that tiny immune cells called macrophages can switch on the brown fat in response to cold temperatures, inducing it to burn energy and produce heat. This finding suggests that the immune system plays a role in thermoregulation, potentially leading to new strategies for enhancing metabolism.
A new treatment using leukemia patients' own infection-fighting cells appears to protect them from infections and cancer recurrence after fludarabine-based chemotherapy. With a restored immune system, patients can stop taking prophylactic antibiotics and may have prolonged progression-free survival.
A phase I study at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that low-dose IL-2 therapy reduced symptoms of chronic graft-versus-host disease in half of patients, with significant improvements in skin and liver function. The treatment also allowed some patients to taper off or stop immune-suppressing medications.
A £3.6 million project seeks to illuminate a fundamental mechanism controlling cells in the immune system as we age. Understanding this process may lead to new possibilities for improving health in older people.
A recent study published in Clinical Cancer Research found that arginine supplementation can reactivate cancer-fighting T-cells in patients with glioblastoma. This is achieved by replenishing the amino acid arginine, which is depleted due to persistent neutrophil activity. The result is an improved immune response against cancer cells.
Researchers identified a new immune system defect in aged mice that makes them more susceptible to severe respiratory viral infections. Inhibiting the immune molecule PGD2 can reverse this defect, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach for older patients with severe respiratory viral infections.
A new study reveals that the recipient's immune system, specifically T-cells, alternately discourages and encourages stem cells to regrow bone and tissue. Administering regulatory T-cells or anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin increases the rate of bone growth and defect repair.
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have identified a new molecular signature for biliary atresia, a devastating pediatric liver disease. The study found that some children with the condition exhibit high levels of Th2 immune system activity, providing a potential target for new therapies.
Researchers investigate how c-myc gene mutations interact with p53 and Bcl2 genes in Burkitt's lymphoma. The study shows that the nature of the second 'hit' determines immune response against developing tumours, with implications for cancer therapy.
Researchers found that connexin 36 protects mouse pancreatic beta-cells against apoptosis triggered by immune molecules prevalent at the onset of Type 1 diabetes. Promoting connexin 36 expression and function could provide a therapeutic strategy to protect beta-cells from immune system attack.
Research suggests that natural intestinal flora may play a crucial role in the emergence of multiple sclerosis. Beneficial bacteria can activate immune cells and trigger an overreaction of the immune system in genetically predisposed individuals. This finding has important implications for disease prevention and treatment.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide have identified a key gene that regulates the immune system, providing vital clues to reversing autoimmune diseases. The discovery is part of a $2 million grant to investigate new therapies for conditions such as multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.
Centenary Institute researchers have identified a set of immune cells in the outer layer of the skin that prevent the immune system from attacking friendly bacteria. This discovery opens up new possibilities for treating inflammatory bowel disease and other immune-mediated disorders.
Researchers have developed a method to create tolerance in the immune system by attaching peanut proteins onto blood cells and reintroducing them. This approach has shown promise in preventing life-threatening allergic reactions. By tricking the immune system, researchers hope to target multiple food allergies at once.