A University of Maryland study predicts that repealing Florida's measles vaccine mandate could spark the largest measles epidemic in the US in nearly 500 years. The study shows that even without mandate removal, Florida's vaccine-induced herd immunity threshold is below the level needed to protect against sustained transmission.
A recent study found that human lung tissue contains a vast reservoir of tissue-resident memory T cells (T RM cells) capable of targeting a range of viruses, bacteria, and fungi. These cells reside only in the lungs and can live for years, providing a vital line of defense against severe respiratory infections.
Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology and Scripps Research have developed an HIV vaccine that trains immune cells to see past HIV's defenses. The vaccine resulted in the best HIV-fighting antibody response ever seen in primates, with human trials now underway.
Scientists have identified a unique chimeric RNA called UBA1-CDK16 that plays important roles in women's blood cell development and disease severity. The findings suggest the chimeric RNA may serve as a natural brake to protect women from excessive autoimmune activity.
Scientists discovered profound and specific changes in T cells as people age, leading to weaker immune responses to vaccines. This insight opens the door to designing more effective vaccines by compensating for age-related cellular changes.
Researchers have found that a specific protein modification to the immune protein MDA5 can block viral replication and reduce heart inflammation. The study's findings could lead to the development of broad-spectrum antiviral treatments that target multiple viruses.
Researchers found that mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines cause persistent epigenetic changes in monocyte-derived macrophages, enabling a sustained immune response. These changes were preserved for six months after vaccination and required multiple doses to maintain long-term immunity.
A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine reveals that plasma cells are programmed from birth to migrate to protected sites in the body, where they produce large amounts of antibodies. High expression of integrin β7 is an excellent marker for these cells' ability to home to the bone marrow.
A new study led by La Jolla Institute for Immunology scientists found that children who experience multiple dengue virus infections develop protective T cells, which help fight the virus. These T cells appear to be key to dengue virus immunity and may inform the development of a vaccine that prompts a similar response.
A yeast called Kazachstania pintolopesii is found to be exceptionally well adapted to mice, boosting their immune protection against parasites while also enhancing their vulnerability to some allergies. This fungus is a true commensal, rapidly colonizing the gastrointestinal tracts of laboratory mice and evading antifungal immunity.
Researchers at Howard University have identified a new therapeutic strategy to combat prostate cancer by depleting amino acids. This depletion induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in cancer cells, making them more susceptible to treatment with DNA repair-targeted and immune checkpoint blockade therapies.
Researchers from Osaka University found that Csk inhibits germinal center B cell signaling, decreasing reactive oxygen species production and promoting affinity maturation. This study reveals the crucial role of Csk tyrosine kinase in regulating B cell development.
Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have identified CD70 as a novel therapeutic target for eliminating drug-resistant cancer cells in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. CD70 targeting strategies showed significant anti-tumor activity, eliminating resistant cells in laboratory models.
A recent study finds that exposure to proteins in common foods, vaccines, bacteria, and viruses can prime the immune system to attack SARS-CoV-2, potentially providing protection against COVID-19. The study's findings suggest that individuals with a history of exposure to these agents may be less susceptible to severe illness.
Researchers used Guardant NGS to analyze nearly 17,000 lung cancer samples and found MET amplification in 1.2% of cases, with 20.8% having overlapping oncogenic drivers. The study suggests that high gene copy numbers and smaller amplified regions can be used to enrich for the true MET-sensitive population.
A new rapid test developed by Duke University researchers can measure patient immunity against multiple COVID-19 variants like Omicron and Delta. The CoVariant-SCAN test uses a polymer brush coating to detect neutralizing antibodies, allowing for quick and accurate assessment of antibody effectiveness.
Previous antibody responses to harmless coronaviruses contribute to SARS-CoV-2 immunity, reducing infection severity and hospitalization rates. Researchers found that people with strong immune responses to other human coronaviruses have some protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that naturally acquired immunity to malaria works differently than immunity following vaccination. The immune system uses natural killer cells to fight the parasite, which is more tailored to the disease than other typical infections.
Research identifies way of using nanoparticles to target and disrupt bacterial cells, making them more susceptible to standard antibiotic treatments. Laboratory studies show a strong effect in killing a range of bacteria, including some linked to hospital-acquired infections.
Researchers found that combining an Aurora Kinase A inhibitor with a KRAS inhibitor or WEE1 inhibitor showed efficacy against lung cancer cells resistant to KRAS inhibition. The study suggests that Aurora Kinase A activation contributes to intrinsic and acquired resistance to sotorasib in KRAS-mutated lung cancer cells.
A study suggests that immunity from natural infection is short-lived and can wane over time, increasing the risk of reinfection. This could lead to a shift in the disease's progression from pandemic to endemic, making vaccination crucial for those who have been naturally infected.
Researchers at Yale Cancer Center discovered that acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors is linked to reduced MHC-II molecule expression and increased tumor hypoxia. Combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with anti-hypoxia agents can slow the development of resistance.
Researchers at Penn State and the University of Michigan have developed an inexpensive therapy to prevent antibiotic resistance. The 'anti-antibiotic', cholestyramine, reduces fecal shedding of daptomycin-resistant bacteria by up to 80-fold, providing a potential solution to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Researchers discovered that fluconazole treatment makes fungi sexually active, combining different resistance mechanisms and producing highly resistant offspring. This finding can help develop better drugs and overcome resistance.
Whole-genome sequencing reveals the emergence and spread of the virulent Salmonella strain DT104 over 40 years in 21 countries. The strain's resistance to five antibiotics and ability to infect multiple livestock species contributed to its success.
Researchers at the University of South Florida found that frogs can develop immunity against a deadly chytrid fungus by learning to avoid it after just one exposure. This acquired resistance could aid in conservation efforts and even offer protection for other animals threatened by fungal pathogens.
Researchers found high levels of antibiotic-resistant genes in river water during peak pilgrimage season, linked to overcrowding and poor waste management. The study emphasizes the importance of protecting sacred sites while preventing the spread of 'superbugs', highlighting the need for improved sanitation and waste treatment.
Researchers found local therapy combined with continued EGFR TKI therapy to be well-tolerated and effective in prolonging progression-free and overall survival. Local therapy was associated with a median overall survival of 41 months, a median time to progression of 10 months.
Researchers have identified two strains of Clostridium difficile responsible for the global epidemic, highlighting the ease and rapidity of transmission across continents. The study shows that fluoroquinolone resistance played a key role in the spread of these strains.
Researchers found that individual amphibians can develop resistance to chytridiomycosis, a deadly fungal disease. Innate and acquired immunity play a role in fighting off the disease.
Research by Zelalem Temesgen and colleagues found that nearly half of long-term HIV-positive patients develop resistant strains of the virus, hindering effective treatment. The authors suggest strategies such as adherence improvement and using new antiretroviral classes to improve patient outcomes.
A six-year study of MRSA in California jails found that two dominant S. aureus clonal groups, ST30:Z and ST8:S, drove the expansion in resistance, gaining multi-drug resistance over time. The study highlights the need to track the spread of individual strains using techniques like PFGE and MLST.
Researchers discovered that 29% of individuals were completely resistant to the Norwalk virus, with those lacking the FUT2 gene showing no signs of infection. The study suggests that vaccination may be effective in reducing disease burden and offers new hope for developing vaccines.