Scientists have discovered a new biomarker to identify which patients with brain tumors called glioblastomas — the most common and malignant of primary brain tumors — might benefit from immunotherapy. The treatment could extend survival for an estima…
Potential new therapeutic pathway to clear chronic viral infections
A recent study in mice has uncovered that during chronic viral infection, a protein called BMI-1 gets turned on too early in B cells and messes up the delicate balance of gene expression, resulting in antibodies that are unsuccessful in their endeavor …
Antibodies mimicking the virus may explain long haul COVID-19, rare vaccine side effects, study suggests
A new article suggests that secondary antibodies known as ‘anti-idiotype antibodies’ could be responsible for some of the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and the symptoms of long-haul COVID.
Researchers find new link between a disrupted body clock and inflammatory diseases
New research has demonstrated the significant role that an irregular body clock plays in driving inflammation in the body’s immune cells, with implications for the most serious and prevalent diseases in humans.
Antihistamines can influence immunotherapy response by enhancing T cell activation
Researchers discovered that antihistamines are associated with improved responses to immunotherapy. Their work revealed a role for the histamine receptor in suppressing T cell activation to block anti-tumor immune responses.
Experimental compound counters diabetic complications
An experimental compound reduced complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in mice — not by lowering blood sugar — but by countering its consequences, a new study finds.
Exposure to harmless coronaviruses boosts SARS-CoV-2 immunity, study shows
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.