Articles tagged with Antibodies
A cocktail of powerful antibodies from recovered COVID-19 patients locks down the infection machinery, preventing the virus from entering cells. The antibodies protect hamsters from infection when exposed to the coronavirus, also setting off the infection-fighting actions of other immune cells.
A study of UK key workers found that around half who reported COVID-19 symptoms did not test positive for antibodies, suggesting other conditions. The research suggests self-reported symptoms overestimate COVID-19 disease relative to serology.
A study found significant variation in commercial antibody kit performance, with some tests accurate as sophisticated laboratory technologies. Lateral flow immunoassays demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, offering potential usefulness in healthcare settings.
Researchers have discovered two antibodies that shield mice from lethal influenza B virus infections, offering a promising basis for a new treatment. These broadly protective antibodies target the critical viral enzyme neuraminidase, which could help combat a more effective and widespread flu medication.
A head-to-head comparison of five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays reveals that the Siemens and Oxford assays performed with the highest sensitivity and specificity, meeting regulatory targets. The study emphasizes the importance of accurately evaluating test performance to understand limitations and improve usage.
Nationwide COVID-19 antibody seroprevalence studies in Brazil show that cities along the Amazon River were severely affected at the beginning of the pandemic, as well as poorer and Indigenous communities. The research highlights a cluster of high prevalence in 11 cities along the Amazon River, with levels among the highest ever reported.
Pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 exhibit altered immune responses, limited antibody production, and improved outcomes. Children generally experience milder symptoms and lower mortality rates than adults, potentially linked to differences in innate immunity.
Researchers develop a novel approach to detect and defend against hardware Trojans by adapting human immune system principles. The proposed mechanism uses an irregular network topology and machine learning-based anomaly detection to identify malicious attacks.
Researchers develop a combination therapy using near-infrared light-induced heat and anti-CD47 antibody to enhance cancer treatment. The treatment promotes local and systemic anticancer immune responses, showing great potential for solid tumors.
Researchers at UTHealth are enrolling patients in a nationwide trial testing laboratory-made antibodies and experimental treatments to prevent severe COVID-19 illness. The Phase II trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these treatments in non-hospitalized adults with mild COVID-19.
Researchers have developed an immune-oncology approach that uses nanobodies to target cancer cells and boost the body's natural immune response. The new therapy has shown promise in treating multiple myeloma and acute myeloid leukemia, and could lead to new treatments for a range of cancers.
Researchers at Université catholique de Louvain have discovered a molecule that blocks immune responses in cancer patients, and are now developing an immunotherapy to neutralize it. The treatment combines anti-GARP antibodies with another proven approach to increase effectiveness in fighting cancer.
Researchers analyzed COVID-19 patients' antibody responses to guide vaccine development, finding that neutralizing activity typically drops within one month post-hospital discharge and severe cases have non-neutralizing antibodies contributing to reinfection risk.
A UK hospital study found that intensive care staff have the lowest risk of COVID-19 infection, while cleaners and BAME workers were found to be at higher risk. The study suggests that type of personal protective equipment worn may play a key role in these differences.
Research suggests that robust T-cell responses are key to durable protection against coronaviruses, rather than short-lived antibody responses. Long-lasting T-cells can provide years of immunity and may prevent adverse reactions such as antibody-dependent enhancement.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University developed a rapid, reliable, and low-cost antibody test using lab-on-a-chip technology. The device can detect the presence and quantity of COVID-19 antibodies in diluted blood plasma within 30 minutes, making it feasible for nationwide testing.
Two Russian vaccine trials found no serious adverse effects and induced an immune response in participants. The trials used a two-part vaccine with adenovirus vectors and demonstrated a good safety profile.
Two Russian phase 1/2 trials found that vaccine candidates induced an antibody response and elicited a T cell response in all participants within 28 days. The trials, involving 76 healthy adults, showed no serious adverse events over 42 days, paving the way for large-scale use of the vaccines.
Researchers created a system that uses CRISPR to briefly suppress genes related to AAV antibody production, allowing the virus to deliver its cargo unimpeded. The study shows promise for improving gene therapy's effectiveness and preventing or treating sepsis in mice.
Two MDC scientists, Dr. Kathrin de la Rosa and Dr. Ilaria Piazza, have been awarded European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants to fund their innovative projects in proteomics and immunology.
A new approach to diagnosing COVID-19 combines rapid point-of-care nucleic acid testing with antibody tests, resulting in a significant increase in detection rates. The combined method was shown to be 100% accurate in identifying patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 disease.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center discovered a distinct antibody profile in patients with non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which differs from those with celiac disease. This finding could lead to better detection methods and potential new therapies for celiac disease treatment.
A study published in Science found that prior Zika virus infection significantly increases the risk of both symptomatic and more severe forms of dengue disease. This interaction, known as antibody-dependent enhancement, could make it harder to design a safe and effective vaccine.
Researchers discovered that when the foreign antigen is more flexible, the germinal centre can employ a greater number of evolution strategies to make antibodies that bind foreign but not self-molecules. The study provides new insights for vaccine design and may help address the major roadblock in generating effective HIV vaccines.
The UCI system uses lab-on-a-chip technology to detect COVID-19 antibodies in a low-cost, portable imaging platform. The device can process hundreds of antibody responses simultaneously, enabling accurate testing and potentially informing public health strategies.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison discovered that patients taking opioid painkillers produce anti-opioid antibodies, which may limit the benefit of an anti-opioid vaccine. The study found a correlation between recent opioid dose exposure and antibody production.
A pilot study found that long-term opioid users develop chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity, which could be influenced by their immune system producing antibodies against the drugs. The researchers are now working on isolating key opioid antigenic intermediates in the body that prompt antibody production.
Researchers found that seasonal flu vaccination boosts antibody-producing cells, but most are lost within a year. The study suggests longer-lasting 'universal' flu vaccines and improved vaccine design could address this issue.
Researchers found that flu vaccines induce short-lived bone marrow plasma cells, which decline to pre-vaccination levels within a year. The study suggests that the longevity of flu vaccines can be improved by enhancing the persistence of these cells.
A preliminary analysis of 300+ COVID-19 patients treated with convalescent plasma suggests the treatment is safe and effective. The results show that patients who received plasma early in their illness had a lower mortality rate compared to those who did not.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine discovered a new tool to enhance tumor immunotherapy by blocking the TREM2 protein, resulting in complete elimination of tumors. A clinical trial could follow with existing anti-TREM2 antibodies already in trials for another disease.
A study of 200 maternity workers found that 14.5% tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, with 35.5% being asymptomatic. More than half (58.6%) of those who tested positive did not self-isolate and continued to work in hospitals.
Sweden's policy of controlled spread of COVID-19 has failed to deliver herd immunity, with actual antibody prevalence lower than predicted. Clinical findings suggest that mildly ill or asymptomatic patients are less likely to acquire antibodies.
Researchers found that intestinal microbes direct antibody development before infection, with diverse B cell receptors shaped by beneficial bacteria. This process is not random and can be influenced by the type of microbe and its location in the body.
A researcher at Catholic University of America uses computer models to understand the structure of viruses, aiming to create effective antibodies against COVID-19. His findings suggest that mutated versions of existing antibodies could be produced to neutralize the virus.
Researchers developed a novel two-step targeting strategy to selectively deliver therapies to the brain by exploiting the high impermeability of the BBB. This approach allows for specific brain targeting with minimal accumulation in peripheral organs, paving the way for increased clinical translation of nanoparticle-based therapies.
The sVNT can detect functional neutralising antibodies (NAbs) in an hour, differentiating them from binding antibodies (BAbs), without live virus or biocontainment facilities. It has high specificity and sensitivity, making it accessible for research and clinical applications.
A study published in PLOS Pathogens found that immunity to influenza accumulates during childhood and declines after 40-50 years of age. The researchers developed novel metrics to define key features of antibody profiles, which provide valuable tools for analyzing complex immune responses.
Researchers studied convenience samples from 10 US geographic sites to estimate SARS-CoV-2 antibody prevalence. The study found varying levels of antibodies across different regions.
A UCLA study reveals that COVID-19 antibodies decrease by roughly half every 36 days after infection in people with mild cases of the disease. This rapid decay raises concerns about the reliability of antibody tests and the potential impact on herd immunity and vaccine effectiveness.
A Chinese phase 2 trial found that a recombinant adenovirus type-5-vectored COVID-19 vaccine is safe and induces an immune response in over 500 participants. The trial, which evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine candidate, provides data on the efficacy of the vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A replicating RNA vaccine has shown robust immune response in both young and old animal models, producing antibodies comparable to those in people recovering from COVID-19. The vaccine's design avoids immune responses that could exacerbate the virus, instead inducing protective antiviral measures and T cells.
Emerging evidence highlights T cells' role in protecting against viral infections, with antibody responses appearing short-lived and T cell memory potentially more durable. Standardized testing methods for T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are needed to fully understand population-level immunity.
The PETA International Science Consortium Ltd. has co-launched a six-part webinar series focusing on the applications and benefits of animal-free recombinant antibodies for COVID-19 treatment and research. Experts from industry, government, and academia will share their work on human-relevant, non-animal testing strategies.
Researchers investigate how antibodies affect varying outcomes in coronavirus patients, with potential implications for vaccine efficacy and treatment approaches. The team aims to identify conditions under which antibody-dependent enhancement occurs and develop new assays for therapeutic antibody screening.
A new study from NYU Grossman School of Medicine researchers shows that the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine significantly reduces the incidence of congenital heart block (CHB) in newborn babies, a rare and sometimes fatal condition. CHB affects as many as one in 15,000 live births and is strongly linked to immune proteins in mothers.
Researchers at The Rosalind Franklin Institute have engineered llama antibodies that can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, blocking its entry into human cells. These nanobodies show promise as a potential treatment for patients with severe COVID-19.
A fast-spreading mutation in the H3N2 flu subtype has effectively blocked antibodies from binding to a key viral protein, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The study suggests that flu vaccines focusing on one protein may not be enough to protect against evolving viruses.
A study in ferrets and children aged 2-6 found that early influenza infections can alter the immune system's response to later strains. This priming effect may impact an individual's susceptibility to other strains.
A small variation in the novel coronavirus has made it fitter, resulting in a higher viral load, but does not make it more deadly. The G version of the virus dominates cases worldwide, suggesting it may be more transmissible.
A recent study by Monash University suggests that components within vaccines can play a major role in aiding the lifespan of individual plasma cells. This understanding could lead to the development of more effective vaccines.
Researchers discovered a protein called Pdap1 that supports B cells in producing effective antibodies while protecting them from cell death. The protein helps B cells cope with stress and promotes antibody gene diversification, ensuring a strong humoral immune response.
A Brazilian biotech startup is developing a low-cost, high-performance COVID-19 diagnostic test using only locally sourced inputs. The test uses a cell-free protein synthesis technology to accelerate and optimize protein production processes.
The study found that C. difficile massively activates a human enzyme called plasminogen to destroy gut tissue and spread infection. Researchers developed an antibody that prevents plasminogen activation, stalling infection progress and tissue damage.
A group of senior clinical academics and physicians express concern about the rapid roll-out of COVID-19 antibody testing in England, questioning its accuracy and relevance. They argue that large-scale testing is not clinically justified and risks wasteful use of resources.
Researchers estimate that the initial COVID-19 infection rate was undercounted due to testing issues and asymptomatic individuals. They found that excess ILI data showed a nearly perfect correlation with the spread of COVID-19, suggesting a much greater undiagnosed population than originally thought.
Two studies provide new insights into antibody testing and RNA testing for SARS-CoV-2. Researchers found that antibody tests are highly accurate, but repeat testing is necessary to confirm infection status. The gold standard rt-PCR test can detect current infection, but false positives can occur.
Testing is vital to identify cases, track superspreading events, and spot previously infected individuals. Innovative approaches are helping to overcome bottlenecks in testing efforts, with the US still struggling to match countries like New Zealand and South Korea.
A new system for detecting antibodies uses a microfluidic thread-based analytical device that relies on light-emitting sensor proteins held on a thread. The device can detect antibody levels within five minutes and does not require extensive handling and incubation steps.
The All of Us Research Program is leveraging its participant base to gather insights into COVID-19 through antibody testing, surveys, and electronic health record information. The program aims to shed light on the pandemic's spread and impact in the United States.