Eliminating a single gene can turn exhausted cancer-fighting immune cells known as CD8+ T cells back into refreshed soldiers that can continue to battle malignant tumors, a new study suggests. The findings could offer a new way to harness the body’s im…
Immune system mounts a lasting defense after recovery from COVID-19, researchers find
Study participants continued to improve their antibodies months after initial infection, potentially due to exposure to remnants of the virus hidden in the gut.
Vaccine produces long-lasting anti-tumor response in patients with melanoma
Patients treated with a vaccine tailored to mutated proteins on patients’ own tumor cells, continue to have a strong immune response to the cancer four years after being vaccinated. Results demonstrate the ability of personalized cancer vaccines to pro…
Immunology: Functionality of immune cells in early life
A study shows that putatively immature dendritic cells found in young children are able to induce robust immune responses. The results could lead to improved vaccination protocols.
Estrogen receptors in mom’s placenta critical during viral infection
A team of researchers has found a mechanism that protects a fetus from harm when the mother’s innate immune system responds to a viral infection. Inflammation that would harm the fetus is dampened by a cell-surface estrogen receptor called GPER1 that i…
Immune driver of brain aging identified
Stanford scientists have identified a key factor in mental aging and shown that it might be prevented or reversed by fixing a glitch in the immune system’s frontline soldiers.
Fatty acid may help combat multiple sclerosis, study finds
The abnormal immune system response that causes multiple sclerosis (MS) by attacking and damaging the central nervous system can be triggered by the lack of a specific fatty acid in fat tissue, according to a new study. The finding suggests that dietar…
New research finds connection: Inflammation, metabolism and scleroderma scarring
A new study finds that NAD+ break down leads to multi organ scarring, providing now a previously undiscovered pathogenic role of the enzyme CD38 in disease scarring.
Study finds COVID-19 attack on brain, not lungs, triggers severe disease in mice
Researchers have found that infecting the nasal passages of mice with the virus that causes COVID-19 led to a rapid, escalating attack on the brain that triggered severe illness, even after the lungs were successfully clearing themselves of the virus.
New method to assist fast-tracking of vaccines for pre-clinical tests
A new method to synthesize vaccines safely and quickly should see much faster pre-clinical testing to pursue strategies to combat novel pathogens, something the COVID pandemic has shown is necessary.