Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are substantially more likely to harbor autoantibodies –antibodies directed at their own tissues or at substances their immune cells secrete into the blood — than people without COVID-19, according to a new study.
Improving biomaterials design for bone regeneration
In a new study, researchers are investigating the types of material used in bone reconstruction to see which one works best.
Memory killer T cells are primed in the spleen during influenza infection
CD8+ T cells — known as “killer” T cells — are the assassins of the immune system. Once they are primed, they seek out and destroy other cells that are infected with virus or cells that are cancerous. Priming involves dendritic cells — sentinels of …
Caught in a web: Study reveals that immune cells cooperate to trap and kill bacteria
Like a spider trapping its prey, our immune system cells cooperate to capture and ‘eat’ bacteria. The newly identified antibacterial mechanism could inspire novel strategies for combating Staphylococcus aureus (staph) and other extracellular bacterial …
Researchers show a little radiation goes a long way in heating up cold tumors
A new conducted in both mice and a small group of patients with advanced cancers has shown that so-called ‘cold’ tumors that are nearly devoid of immune cells — and therefore unresponsive to immunotherapy — can be turned ‘hot’ with extremely low dose…
Impaired T cell function precedes loss of natural HIV control
A small subset of people, known as controllers, are able to suppress HIV naturally, without the need for medication. A small percentage of controllers ultimately lose the ability to suppress the virus. Researchers have found that aborted control is lik…
Brain molecule helps ‘wake up’ cells that could help tackle MS and similar diseases
An immunological molecule called fractalkine can boost the production of brain cells that produce myelin, a key factor in diseases such as multiple sclerosis, according to recent research.
Off-target immune response could predict COVID-19 severity
The presence of special immune system defense molecules, called autoimmune antibodies, has been strongly tied to how poorly people fare when hospitalized with COVID-19, a new study shows.
Natural killer cells coordinate wound healing
Natural killer cells do not just kill cancer cells or cells infected with viruses, they also mediate a trade-off between wound healing and bacterial defense in skin wounds. If the healing process is accelerated, the immune defense is weakened, research…
Immunologic resilience: A new metric to accurately gauge COVID-19’s path
A person’s level of immunologic resilience — regardless of age — can predict his or her COVID-19 outcome, a new study has found.