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UrduMount Sinai researchers have found an important clue to a rare but serious aftereffect of COVID-19 in children, known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children or MIS-C.
Tag: Immune System
Newly Approved Lupus Drug Based on Discoveries Made in HSS Lab
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the drug anifrolumab (Saphnelo) on August 2, 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy. Much of the groundwork for the development of this drug was done in laboratories at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in the early 2000s.
Hopkins Med News Update
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Celebrates Its Contributions to Keto Therapy as Diet Turns 100
– COVID-19 News: Can Dietary Supplements Help the Immune System Fight Coronavirus Infection?
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Helps Develop Physician Training to Prevent Gun Injuries, Deaths
– COVID-19 News: Study Says Pandemic Impaired Reporting of Infectious Diseases
– Johns Hopkins Medicine Helps Create Treatment Guide for Neurodegenerative Disorders
– Johns Hopkins Pediatrics Says, ‘Get Kids Required Vaccines Before Going Back to School’
Discovery shows how tuning the immune system may enhance vaccines and ease disease
A metabolic control pathway that regulates T follicular helper cells offers targets for drugs to stimulate the adaptive immune response.
Studying how microbiome affects immunity could improve vaccine effectiveness
A new grant will help Iowa State University researchers figure out how the microbiome, or all the microorganisms that live inside and on human systems, affects immunity and the effectiveness of vaccines. Not everyone responds to vaccines in identical ways, and the researchers will search for ways humans can adjust their microbiomes to optimize vaccine response.
Response to COVID-19 Vaccines Varies Widely in Blood Cancer Patients
Patients with a type of blood cancer called multiple myeloma had a widely variable response to COVID-19 vaccines—in some cases, no detectable response—pointing to the need for antibody testing and precautions for these patients after vaccination, according to a study published in Cancer Cell in June.
Trojan horses and tunneling nanotubes: Ebola virus research at Texas Biomed gets NIH funding boost
Scientists have a general idea of how viruses invade and spread in the body, but the precise mechanisms are actually not well understood, especially when it comes to Ebola virus. Olena Shtanko, Ph.D., a Staff Scientist at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed), has received more than $1 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore different aspects of Ebola virus infection.
Understanding gut inflammation may hold clues to mitigating Parkinson’s onset
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (JUNE 8, 2021) — Chronic inflammation in the gut may propel processes in the body that give rise to Parkinson’s disease, according to a study by scientists at Van Andel Institute and Roche.
First in the World! Chulalongkorn Hospital Successfully Treats a Breast Cancer Patient with Immunotherapy
Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society (Chulalongkorn Hospital) has become the world’s first institution to have successfully used immunotherapy to treat a breast cancer patient who is now in complete remission with minimal side effects and uplifted quality of life.
Nearly 3% of Americans take immune-weakening drugs that may limit COVID vaccine response
A study of more than 3 million insured U.S. adult patients under 65 found that nearly 3% take immunosuppressive drugs that may elevate risk for severe COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalization if they became infected. There is growing evidence that immunosuppressive drugs may also reduce the COVID vaccine’s efficacy.
How the Body Builds a Healthy Relationship with “Good” Gut Bacteria
Research published in Nature reveals insights into how the body maintains balance with “good” gut bacteria that allows these microbes to flourish in the intestine but keeps them out of tissues and organs where they’re not supposed to be.
Weizmann Institute Scientists Reveal the Triple Threat of Coronavirus
Scientists at the Weizmann Institute and the Israel Institute for Biological, Chemical and Environmental Sciences took a novel tack to investigating SARS-CoV-2’s powerful ability to infect, finding that the virus deploys an apparently unique three-pronged strategy to take over the cell’s protein-synthesis abilities. The work could help develop effective Covid-19 treatments.
University of Chicago scientists design “Nanotraps” to catch and clear coronavirus from tissue
Researchers at the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) at the University of Chicago have designed a completely novel potential treatment for COVID-19: nanoparticles that capture SARS-CoV-2 viruses within the body and then use the body’s own immune system to destroy it.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
Coping with childhood anxiety amid returning to the classroom; new global tracker measures pandemic’s impact on education worldwide; Covid-19 drives innovation and evolution in patient care…
Putting up a good fight: Regenerating the body’s natural defenses by restoring lymphatic networks
A research team led by Donny Hanjaya-Putra is building new lymphatic cord-like structures, which help restore normal behavior to dysfunctional lymphatic systems and allow the body to fight the disease.
MAJORITY OF CANCER PATIENTS WITH COVID-19 HAVE SIMILAR IMMUNE RESPONSE TO PEOPLE WITHOUT CANCER
Most people with cancer who are infected by the novel coronavirus produce antibodies at a rate comparable to the rest of the population—but their ability to do so depends on their type of cancer and the treatments they’ve received, according to a new study by researchers at Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The findings, published online today in Nature Cancer, may lead to better care for cancer patients, who face a heightened risk of dying from COVID-19, and suggests that cancer patients should respond well to COVID-19 vaccines.
New Study Shows How Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 Allow the Virus to Evade Immune System Defenses
Research reveals how mutated SARS-CoV-2 evades immune system defenses
In lab-dish experiments, the mutant virus escaped antibodies from the plasma of
COVID-19 survivors as well as pharmaceutical-grade antibodies
Mutations arose in an immunocompromised patient with chronic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Patient-derived virus harbored structural changes now seen cropping up independently in samples across the globe
Findings underscore the need for better genomic surveillance to keep track of emerging variants
Results highlight importance of therapies aimed at multiple targets on SARS-CoV-2 to minimize risk of resistance
How pregnancy turns the stress response on its head
Researchers found two simultaneous conditions in pregnancy’s response to stress that made them realize just how complex the cross-talk between mom and baby is during gestation: Immune cells in the placenta and uterus were not activated, but significant inflammation was detected in the fetal brain.
University of Northern Colorado Immunology Expert Discusses COVID-19 Vaccines, Debunks Misinformation
Nick Pullen, Ph.D., an associate professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado, shares his expertise on the COVID-19 vaccines and debunks some of the myths surrounding them.
Researchers map metabolic signaling machinery for producing memory T cells
Discovery of a metabolic pathways that inhibit memory T cell production has potential for enhancing the immune system’s ability to fight infections and cancers.
University of Northern Colorado Associate Professor Nick Pullen Provides Expertise on COVID-19 Vaccinations
Nick Pullen, Ph.D., an associate professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), provides expertise regarding the topic of COVID-19 vaccinations and immunity. Pullen’s research centers around the body’s immune response, specifically chronic inflammation, asthma and allergies.…
National Nutrition Month® 2021: Eat Nutrient-Rich Foods for Vitamins, Minerals
Good nutrition is essential for a healthy immune system, which may offer protection from seasonal illness and other health problems. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends focusing on food to get the vitamins and minerals your body needs to stay healthy.
Research finds people diagnosed with HIV in New York State were more than twice as likely to die from COVID-19
New research out of the University at Albany and the AIDS Institute at the New York State Department of Health found that through the middle of 2020, people diagnosed with HIV infection were significantly more likely to contract, be hospitalized with and die from COVID-19.
New study to probe how diet and metabolism influence the immune system
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (Feb. 3, 2021) — A pair of scientists from Van Andel Institute and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have been granted a three-year, $1.5 million Allen Distinguished Investigator award from The Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group, a division of the Allen Institute, to better understand how diet and metabolism influence the immune system’s ability to fight off threats such as infections.
Missing Protein Helps Small Cell Lung Cancer Evade Immune Defenses
DALLAS – Jan. 25, 2021 – Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cells are missing a surface protein that triggers an immune response, allowing them to hide from one of the body’s key cancer defenses, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers suggests. The findings, reported online today in Cancer Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, could lead to new treatments for SCLC, which has no effective therapies.
Immune System Killer Cells Controlled by Circadian Rhythms
Macrophages, the killer cells of the immune system, are controlled by circadian rhythms, a finding which may indicate that our ability to fight disease relies more heavily on daily circadian cycles than previously assumed.
Scientists identify “immune cop” that detects SARS-CoV-2
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified the sensor in human lungs that detects SARS-CoV-2 and signals that it’s time to mount an antiviral response.
Antibiotics for C-sections Effective After Umbilical Cord Clamped
Antibiotics for cesarean section births are just as effective when they’re given after the umbilical cord is clamped as before clamping – the current practice – and could benefit newborns’ developing microbiomes, according to Rutgers co-authored research. The study, by far the largest of its kind and published in the journal Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, challenges current recommendations for antibiotic use. Administering antibiotics after clamping does not increase the risk of infection at the site of C-section incisions, the study concludes.
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas From Johns Hopkins Medicine
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every other Tuesday.
UNLV Immunologist on the Differences Between Two Leading COVID-19 Vaccine Candidates
Millions around the world have waited for news about a COVID-19 vaccine, regarding it as the beginning of the end for the global pandemic and a herald for the eventual return to “normal life.” Recent announcements from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna that their respective late-stage vaccine trials have shown a 90% or better effectiveness rate have received international applause, excitement furthered with estimates that doses could be ready as early as December.
Study shows protective role sex steroids play in COVID-19
A new paper from a UIC researcher shows evidence that suggests sex steroids may play a role in protecting against COVID-19 symptoms.“Sex and Covid-19: A protective role for reproductive steroids,” by Graziano Pinna, research associate professor in psychiatry, analyzes existing research to look at reasons why COVID-19 symptom severity and mortality are more frequent in men than in women and in older people.
Case Western Reserve University researchers study how the immune system responds to COVID-19
School of Medicine awarded $2.6M; receives two of 13 grants nationally
Where COVID-19 tests fail: Researcher ready to comment.
MOSCOW (MIPT) — As countries like Great Britain consider introducing testing regimes for international arrivals to ease travel restrictions, even as the media continue to cite coronavirus infection statistics by the hour, more people start wondering about the limitations of COVID-19 test…
Study Provides First Evidence of a Relationship between a Bird’s Gut and its Brain
A study of the relationships between cognition and the gut microbiome of captive zebra finches showed that their gut microbiome characteristics were related to performance on a cognitive assay where they learned a novel foraging technique. Researchers also identified potentially critical bacteria that were relatively more abundant in birds that performed better on this assay. This correlation provides some of the first evidence of a relationship between a bird’s gut microbiome and its brain.
Scientists Engineer New Cancer Immunotherapy to Train Immune System in Cancer Fight
A groundbreaking new type of cancer immunotherapy developed at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai trains the innate immune system to help it eliminate tumor cells through the use of nanobiologics, tiny materials bioengineered from natural molecules that are paired with a therapeutic component, according to a study published in Cell in October.
Researchers Explore COVID-19’s Effect on Pregnancy
Article title: Pregnancy and COVID-19 Authors: Elizabeth A.N. Wastnedge, Rebecca M. Reynolds, Sara R. van Boeckel, Sarah J. Stock, Fiona Denison, Jacqueline A. Maybin, Hilary O.D. Critchley From the authors: “From the current evidence base, it is difficult to draw…
Blocking Immune System Pathway May Stop COVID-19 Infection, Prevent Severe Organ Damage
While the world waits eagerly for a safe and effective vaccine to prevent infections from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers also are focusing on better understanding how SARS-CoV-2 attacks the body in the search for other means of stopping its devastating impact. The key to one possibility — blocking a protein that enables the virus to turn the immune system against healthy cells — has been identified in a recent study by a team of Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers.
Supercomputer Calculations Boost Our Understanding of Our Immune System
While researchers around the world race to develop an effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine, a team from the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego contributed to a study led by Vanderbilt Vaccine Center of Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) on T cell receptors, which play a vital role in alerting the adaptive immune system to mount an attack on invading foreign pathogens including the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Reproductive Hormone May Curb COVID-19 Inflammation
Article title: Oxytocin’s anti-inflammatory and proimmune functions in COVID-19: a transcriptomic signature-based approach Authors: Ali S. Imami, Sinead M. O’Donovan, Justin F. Creeden, Xiaojun Wu, Hunter Eby, Cheryl B. McCullumsmith, Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg, Robert E. McCullumsmith, Elissar Andari From the authors: “Understanding the…
Some Severe COVID-19 Cases Linked to Genetic Mutations or Antibodies that Attack the Body
Two new studies offer an explanation for why COVID-19 cases can be so variable. A subset of patients has mutations in key immunity genes; other patients have auto-antibodies that target the same components of the immune system. Both circumstances could contribute to severe forms of the disease.
Cancer Research Institute Goes Virtual for Its Immunotherapy Patient Summit Series, Connecting Patients and Caregivers with Leading Experts in Cancer Immunotherapy
Free virtual event October 2-3 connecting cancer patients and caregivers with leading immunotherapy experts and patient advocates treated with immunotherapy
Obesity may alter immune system response to COVID-19
Obesity may cause a hyperactive immune system response to COVID-19 infection that makes it difficult to fight off the virus, according to a new manuscript published in the Endocrine Society’s journal, Endocrinology.
Strokes in babies are surprisingly common. Here’s how the body rushes to the rescue.
New research is shedding light on the development of the brain’s immune defenses – and how those defenses respond to strokes that strike one in 4,000 babies in the first month of life.
Bacteria Can Defuse Dangerous Chemical In Passaic River
Bacteria that can help defuse highly toxic dioxin in sediments in the Passaic River – a Superfund hazardous waste site – could eventually aid cleanup efforts at other dioxin-contaminated sites around the world, according to Rutgers scientists. Their research, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, needs further work to realize the full potential of the beneficial bottom-dwelling microbes.
The big gulp: the inside-out protection of parasitic worms against host defenses
A team of developmental biologists at the Morgridge Institute for Research has discovered a means by which schistosomes, parasitic worms that infect more than 200 million people in tropical climates, are able to outfox the host’s immune system.
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every Tuesday throughout the duration of the outbreak.
Less ACE2, Better Immune Function May Protect Children from Severe COVID-19
A new perspective piece suggests differences in lung physiology and immune function as possible reasons why children are often spared from severe illness associated with SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
Exploring a Potential Link between Tissue Match Genes and COVID-19
A new study led by Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Gift of Life Marrow Registry seeks to determine how different versions of immune-vital genes screened for transplant matching may shape who develops or resists COVID-19.
Researchers Receive NIH Funds for Adjuvant Research to Boost Coronavirus Vaccines
Researchers have received funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health, to screen and evaluate certain molecules known as adjuvants that may improve the ability of coronavirus vaccines to stimulate the immune system and generate appropriate responses necessary to protect the general population against the virus.
Cancer researchers identify checkpoint target for colorectal cancer immunotherapy
Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a target for colorectal cancer immunotherapy.