Immunology News and Research

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

Animal model yields important insights into T cell exhaustion

T lymphocytes, or T cells, are an important component of our immune system. They can recognize foreign proteins, so-called antigens, as peptide fragments - for instance, those derived from viruses or cancer cells.

15 Feb 2021

Seasonal human coronavirus antibodies not associated with protection against SARS-CoV-2

Past exposure to seasonal coronaviruses (CoVs), which cause the common cold, does not result in the production of antibodies that protect against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, according to a study led by Scott Hensley, PhD, an associate professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

11 Feb 2021

Mast Cells: High-speed messengers of the immune defense

In order to fight pathogens, mast cells regulate inflammatory reactions of the immune system.

10 Feb 2021

Brain protein that causes Alzheimer's also protects against the disease

Findings from a new study on Alzheimer's disease could eventually help clinicians identify people at the highest risk for developing the progressive brain disorder.

10 Feb 2021

Certain coronaviruses steal hosts’ genes to evade their immune system

Certain coronaviruses can add some genes, that belong to the host they infected, to their genetic pool. In this manner, they can merge and be less noticeable in the immune system.

9 Feb 2021

Fecal microbiota transplant helps cancer patients respond to immunotherapy

For patients with cancers that do not respond to immunotherapy drugs, adjusting the composition of microorganisms in the intestines--known as the gut microbiome--through the use of a stool, or fecal, transplants may help some of these individuals respond to the immunotherapy drugs, a new study suggests.

From National Cancer Institute (NCI) 5 Feb 2021

Study shows how microbiomes may recover from biodiversity loss

For many years, researchers have fought with opposing theories to describe how inter-species interactions, including competition, affect biodiversity.

5 Feb 2021

Genome architectural changes linked to B cell-related blood cancers

Flaws in the way chromosomes are packed into antibody-producing B-cells seem to play a key role in the development of B-cell-related blood cancers.

2 Feb 2021

Researchers identify key molecule involved in immune regulation

The majority of the molecules in human bodies support the immune system to keep individuals healthy but they do so without reacting excessively, as this may otherwise drive the immune cells to cause problems, like autoimmune disorders.

29 Jan 2021

Targeting glycoprotein could improve response to immune checkpoint therapy

It was an unexpected discovery that started with an analysis of more than 1,000 genes. The question: why game-changing cancer immunotherapy treatments work for only a fraction of patients.

29 Jan 2021

Research shows how breast cancer cells evade immune attacks

Scientists from Indiana University have discovered how breast cancer cells evade immune cells to survive.

28 Jan 2021

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs reduce antibody and inflammatory responses to COVID-19

According to a new study, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) decreased both inflammatory and antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice.

26 Jan 2021

Study shows major differences in mild versus severe COVID-19 infection

These days, a crucial question on people’s minds is how long does SARS-CoV-2 immunity last after infection?

22 Jan 2021

Immature dendritic cells in young children can induce robust immune responses

A new study performed by scientists from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet Muenchen (LMU) has demonstrated that putatively immature dendritic cells in young children can trigger powerful immune responses. The findings may result in better vaccination protocols.

21 Jan 2021

Functions of gamma delta T cells are regulated by sugars and fat Gene, shows study

The team led by Bruno Silva Santos, Principal Investigator and Deputy Director of the Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes (iMM) and Professor at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, discovered that the functions of a subtype of white blood cells - gamma delta T cells - are regulated by metabolic resources, namely sugars and fat.

20 Jan 2021