Infections with the novel coronavirus and vaccination lead to strong antibody responses against SARS-CoV-2. Immune responses to other human coronaviruses, which mostly only cause harmless colds, also provide some protection against SARS-CoV-2. This cro…
A stealthy way to combat tumors
Researchers uncovered a new way to indirectly activate T cells that can target tumors, by recruiting a population of helper immune cells called dendritic cells.
Delta-like SARS-CoV-2 variants are most likely to increase pandemic severity
Mathematical model indicates SARS-CoV-2 variants that combine enhanced transmissibility with the ability to escape immunity cause more infections than variants with either trait alone. Understanding which type of variants are most likely to increase in…
Age, sex and waning COVID-19 antibodies
Antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination peaked higher for women and younger people than men and individuals over the age of 65, respectively, but levels dropped by half within six months for everyone in a study group.
COVID-19 vaccine elicits weak antibody response in people taking immunosuppressant
People taking TNF inhibitors, a kind of immunosuppressive drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions, produced a weaker and shorter-lived antibody response after two doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new st…
Cystic fibrosis faithfully modeled in a human Lung Airway Chip
Despite advances in patient screenings and breakthrough therapies that allow CF patients now to live into their mid- to late 30s or 40s, sometimes even longer, all patients are plagued by bacteria settling in their mucus, which causes inflammation in t…
COVID-19 case severity: How genetic differences leave immune cells at a disadvantage
New research shows how genetic variations linked to severe cases of COVID-19 affect our immune cells. The study is one of the first in-depth look at the connections between COVID-19 severity and gene expression in many types of immune cells. This work …
Cancer cells use ‘tiny tentacles’ to suppress the immune system
Investigators used the power of nanotechnology to discover a new way that cancer can disarm its would-be cellular attackers by extending out nanoscale tentacles that can reach into an immune cell and pull out its powerpack.
Strategy to overcome tumors’ resistance to immunotherapy generates promising clinical trial results
Immune checkpoint inhibitors strengthen the immune response against cancer cells, but the medications are ineffective against certain tumors. Results from a new clinical trial indicate that adding radiation may overcome this resistance to immune checkp…
Researchers study the link between vitamin D and inflammation
An active metabolite of vitamin D (not the over-the-counter version) is involved in shutting down inflammation, new research shows.