Immunology News and Research

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Immunology is the study of the body's immune system.

Novel inhibitor, hopeaphenol, blocks HIV expression

In the United States, around 1.2 million people are living with HIV as of 2022. Many of these people can now live productive, symptom-free lives thanks to antiretroviral therapies, but a solution that permanently removes HIV from an infected person’s body is still a long way off.

30 Mar 2023

Additional therapeutic maneuver may be needed to stop some metastasized tumors Cancer That...

Cancer that has spread to areas like the lungs can apply the brakes to a natural pathway that should recruit killer T cells directly to where it has metastasized, scientists report.

29 Mar 2023

Wearable microscopes produce real-time images of mouse spinal cord activity

The spinal cord acts as a messenger, carrying signals between the brain and body to regulate everything from breathing to movement.

23 Mar 2023

Blunted inflammatory response in obese individuals responsible for susceptibility to severe COVID-19

Individuals who are obese may be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 because of a poorer inflammatory immune response, say Cambridge scientists.

23 Mar 2023

Identifying the underlying causes of rare genetic immune disorders

The activated PI3K Delta syndrome 2 (APDS2) is a rare genetic disease that is caused by cellular anomalies, according to experts from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.

23 Mar 2023

Researchers discover a new intracellular "smoke detector"

Researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Singapore have discovered a new intracellular "smoke detector." The sensor warns of damage to the mitochondria - the microscopic power plants that supply the cell with energy.

22 Mar 2023

Stem cells must take out the trash to protect against age-related diseases

In humanity's ongoing quest for the elixir of life, the science keeps pointing to stem cells. Research increasingly shows that maintaining stem cell fitness promotes a long healthspan, and new findings show keeping stem cells clean and tidy is an integral step.

22 Mar 2023

Novel tool analyzes how immune cells respond to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination

A study discovered that the magnitude and quality of a key immune cell’s response to two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine were significantly lower in individuals with earlier SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to individuals without previous infection.

21 Mar 2023

T cell-driven changes in the gut may affect brain function associated with depression

In experiments with mice and humans, a team led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers says it has identified a particular intestinal immune cell that impacts the gut microbiome, which in turn may affect brain functions linked to stress-induced disorders such as depression.

21 Mar 2023

Keeping lymph nodes in the body can boost the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy

Cancer treatment routinely involves taking out lymph nodes near the tumor in case they contain metastatic cancer cells.

21 Mar 2023

Blunted inflammatory response could make obese patients more susceptible to severe COVID-19

Individuals who are obese may be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 because of a poorer inflammatory immune response, say Cambridge scientists.

21 Mar 2023

Macrophages likely to be a potential target for ER+ breast cancer

Most immunotherapies that aim to increase T cell activity are ineffective in treating estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer. A new study of invasive ER+ breast cancers led by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine implies that targeting a different type of immune cell called macrophages may be a more effective approach.

From University of Pittsburgh 20 Mar 2023

Study discovers the ability of certain blood immune cells to proliferate

The ability of a cell to divide, to proliferate, is essential for life and gives rise to the formation of complex organisms from a single cell.

20 Mar 2023

New antibody "cocktail" may help counter the Lassa virus

The finding, made with the use of the Advanced Photon Source, shows a new way to exploit monoclonal antibodies to subvert the "shield" of the virus, potentially paving the way for new therapies.

20 Mar 2023

Immune landscape in invasive ER+ breast cancers reveals a macrophage-driven microenvironment

Most immunotherapies, which aim to boost T cell activity, work poorly in treating estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.

20 Mar 2023

Decreased viral infection severity in females linked to extra copy of epigenetic regulator

It has long been known that viral infections can be more severe in males than females, but the question as to why has remained a mystery – until possibly now.

20 Mar 2023

High correlation between the product of a gene in the majority of cancers

The product of a gene expressed in most cancers, including the most prevalent type of head and neck cancer, has been linked to elevated levels of white blood cells that produce antibodies inside tumors, according to researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center.

14 Mar 2023

New perspective on how immune cells perceive viruses and other threats

A textbook chapter on the immune system may need to be revised as a result of a new study from Aarhus University.

14 Mar 2023

Effective backup mechanism ensures efficient antimicrobial responses in humans

In the human body, virus particles are identified by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) either within or on the cell surface. When a receptor is activated, a signaling cascade is initiated, which results in the production and release of signaling molecules like interferons and cytokines.

14 Mar 2023