Long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNAs) are potential regulators of anti-viral response during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Researchers constructed a gene co-expression network that measures the relationship of gene expression patterns across a group o…
SARS-CoV-2 curtails immune response in the gut
Scientists have provided further evidence of the gut’s role in COVID-19. They have transformed human intestinal cells into ‘mini guts’ to follow infection process.
Common inflammatory bowel disease treatment blunts COVID-19 vaccine response, study finds
People who take a commonly-prescribed drug for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) should not assume they are protected after a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine, after a large-scale study found many had poor antibody responses.
Newly discovered immune cell function vital to healing
Cardiovascular disease, the most common cause of death, is the result of oxygen deprivation as blood perfusion to affected tissue is prevented. To halt the development of the disease and to promote healing, re-establishment of blood flow is crucial. Re…
Bacteria and viruses infect our cells through sugars: Now researchers want to know how they do it
Most infectious bacteria and viruses bind to sugars on the surface of our cells. Now researchers have created a library of tens of thousands of natural cells containing all the sugars found on the surface of our cells. The library may help us understan…
Immune system, not COVID virus, may pose greatest risk to pregnant women
Scientists investigated whether the COVID-19 virus could be affecting placental tissue of infected expectant mothers. Their analysis found that while evidence of the virus in the placenta is rare, the placenta in infected mothers tended to exhibit a mu…
A new method for fighting ‘cold’ tumors
Researchers address cold tumors in new research. Working with mouse models of head and neck cancers, researchers studied the role of T cells in tumor treatment.
Fighting harmful bacteria with nanoparticles
Multi-resistant pathogens are a serious and increasing problem in today’s medicine. Where antibiotics are ineffective, these bacteria can cause life-threatening infections. Researchers are currently developing nanoparticles that can be used to detect a…
Artificial intelligence model predicts which key of the immune system opens the locks of coronavirus
A new artificial intelligence (AI) method is helping researchers link immune cells to their targets and, for example, uncouple which white blood cells recognize SARS-CoV-2. The tool has broad applications in understanding the function of the immune sys…
SARS-CoV-2: Infection induces antibodies capable of killing infected cells regardless of disease severity
Researchers demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 infection induces polyfunctional antibodies. Beyond neutralization, these antibodies can activate NK cells or the complement system, leading to the destruction of infected cells. Polyfunctional antibodies were f…