Article title: Immunological comparison of pregnant Dahl salt-sensitive and Sprague-Dawley rats commonly used to model characteristics of preeclampsia Authors: Erin B. Taylor, Eric M. George, Michael J. Ryan, Michael R. Garrett, Jennifer M. Sasser From the authors: “The current study…
Tag: Immunology
T cell response not critical for immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 or recovery from COVID-19
New research conducted in monkeys reveals that T cells are not critical for the recovery of primates from acute COVID-19 infections.
Penn Medicine Discovery Clarifies the Problem of T-Cell “Exhaustion”
Researchers have discovered a limitation of the immune system in battles against cancers or viruses: T cells remain programmed to stay exhausted even weeks after exposure to a virus ended. Scientists need to take this “T cell exhaustion” into account when devising immune-based therapies.
New Insights Into Immune Responses to Malaria
Advanced technologies have been used to solve a long-standing mystery about why some people develop serious illness when they are infected with the malaria parasite, while others carry the infection asymptomatically.
New ‘Atlas’ Charts How Antibodies Attack Spike Protein Variants
As the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 continues to evolve, immunologists and infectious diseases experts are eager to know whether new variants are resistant to the human antibodies that recognized initial versions of the virus.
Cancer Research Institute Awards $28.5 Million in Grants and Fellowships to Support Basic and Clinical Research in Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer Research Institute announced grants and fellowships of $28.5 million to scientists advancing immunology and cancer immunotherapy research
Vaccines grown in eggs induce antibody response against an egg-associated glycan
Researchers have found that viral vaccines grown in eggs, such as the H1N1 flu vaccine, produce an antibody response against a sugar molecule found in eggs, which could have implications for the effectiveness of these vaccines.
Early Lung Cancer Coopts Immune Cell Into Helping Tumors Invade the Lungs, Mount Sinai Researchers Discover
Immune cells that normally repair tissues in the body can be fooled by tumors when cancer starts forming in the lungs and instead help the tumor become invasive, according to a surprising discovery reported by Mount Sinai scientists in Nature in June.
AI Predicts How Patients with Viral Infections, Including COVID-19, Will Fare
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers discovered gene expression patterns associated with pandemic viral infections, providing a map to help define patients’ immune responses, measure disease severity, predict outcomes and test therapies — for current and future pandemics.
LUDWIG CANCER RESEARCH STUDY SHOWS HOW CERTAIN MACROPHAGES DAMPEN ANTI-TUMOR IMMUNITY
A Ludwig Cancer Research study adds to growing evidence that immune cells known as macrophages inhabiting the body cavities that house our vital organs can aid tumor growth by distracting the immune system’s cancer-killing CD8+ T cells.
Reported in the current issue of Cancer Cell and led by Ludwig investigators Taha Merghoub and Jedd Wolchok at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) and Charles Rudin of MSK, the study shows that cavity-resident macrophages express high levels of Tim-4, a receptor for phosphatidylserine (PS), a molecule that they surprisingly found on the surface of highly activated, cytotoxic and proliferative CD8+ T-cells.
Collaboration controls killers
St. Jude immunologists are researching how effector and killer T cells can be controlled to destroy cancer cells that resist treatment.
Understanding the skin’s defense system
It can be easy to forget that the human skin is an organ. It’s also the largest one and it’s exposed, charged with keeping our inner biology safe from the perils of the outside world.
But Michigan State University’s Sangbum Park is someone who never takes skin or its biological functions for granted. He’s studying skin at the cellular level to better understand it and help us support it when it’s fighting injury, infection or disease.
Thomas Jefferson University Sends Research into Space
Three projects from Philadelphia will become part of the first-ever private mission to the International Space Station
UAB’s new Immunology Institute provides new avenues for discovery
UAB has established an interdisciplinary hub for research and patient care in the study of immunity.
Superficial Relationship: Enzymes Protect the Skin by Ignoring Microbes and Viruses
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers identify how the body regulates and prevents constant skin inflammation.
Will COVID-19 Eventually Become Just a Seasonal Nuisance?
Within the next decade, the novel coronavirus responsible for COVID-19 could become little more than a nuisance, causing no more than common cold-like coughs and sniffles. That possible future is predicted by mathematical models that incorporate lessons learned from the current pandemic on how our body’s immunity changes over time. Scientists at the University of Utah carried out the research, now published in the journal Viruses.
Renowned Roswell Park Immunologist Promoted to Endowed Chair Role
Following a national search, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has promoted Pawel Kalinski, MD, PhD, to Jacobs Family Endowed Chair of Immunology, Chief of the Division of Translational Immuno-Oncology and Senior Vice President for Basic Science.
First Peek at RNA Binding and Translation in Single Cells May Inform Drug and Vaccine Design
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers have developed a new approach — called Surveying Targets by APOBEC-Mediated Profiling (STAMP) — to measure what has until now been largely invisible: how RNA-binding proteins and ribosomes interact with RNA molecules within…
How SARS-CoV-2 Hijacks Human Cells to Evade Immune System
UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers discovered one way in which SARS-CoV-2 hijacks human cell machinery to blunt the immune response, allowing it to establish infection, replicate and cause disease.
Scientists Discover How the Body Fights Viruses That Try to Evade the Immune System Response
Scientists have discovered a molecular pathway that counteracts the ability of some viruses to evade the immune response. The findings raise hope in generating better immune responses to viral infections, such as COVID-19, as well as to cancer.
Laurie Garrett, Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Named 2021 Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Award Recipient by the Rutgers School of Public Health
Laurie Garrett, a Pulitzer-Prize-winning journalist, has been named the 2021 Senator Frank R. Lautenberg Awardee by the Rutgers School of Public Health. She will serve as the School’s speaker at their 38th graduation ceremony, which will virtually launch on May 14, 2021.
How Well do COVID-19 Vaccines Work Over the Longer Term?
UC San Diego students will participate in nationwide clinical trial to assess if COVID-19 vaccination prevents infection and reduces risk of transmission.
Apes show dramatically different early immune responses compared to monkeys
A new study out of the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in humans, chimpanzees, rhesus macaques and baboons has found key differences in early gene expression in response to pathogen exposure, highlighting the importance of choosing the right animal model for the right questions.
Repurposed Heart and Flu Drugs May Help Body Fight Sepsis
UC San Diego researchers discovered that patient survival from sepsis is associated with higher platelet counts, and identified two currently available drugs that protect these blood cells and improve survival in mice with sepsis.
Though Risk is Minuscule, Infection after COVID-19 Vaccination is Possible
Investigators from UC San Diego and UCLA report COVID-19 infection rates for a cohort of health care workers previously vaccinated for the novel coronavirus. Risk of infection is minuscule, but exists.
Study suggests high vitamin D levels may protect against COVID-19, especially for Black people
A new research study at the University of Chicago Medicine has found that when it comes to COVID-19, having vitamin D levels above those traditionally considered sufficient may lower the risk of infection, especially for Black people.
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.
Yale Researchers Identify Tumor Reactive Immune-Cells to help fight against Advanced Melanoma
According to a new study led by Yale Cancer Center and Department of Neurology researchers, a simple blood draw may be the first step in helping to discover tumor reactive immune or T cells to treat advanced melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. The findings were published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine.
Genetics May Play Role in Determining Immunity to COVID-19
UC San Diego researchers report that individual immune response to SARS-CoV-2 may be limited by a set of variable genes that code for cell surface proteins essential for the adaptive immune system. The finding may help explain why COVID-19 immunity varies by individual.
Through a $500 Million Partnership with the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and Ohio Development Services Agency, Cleveland Clinic Forms Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health
CLEVELAND: As part of the new Cleveland Innovation District announced today by State of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted, JobsOhio and Ohio Development Services Agency, Cleveland Clinic will significantly expand its global commitment to infectious disease research and translational programs to form the Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health.
The new Center will position Ohio as an international leader for research into emerging pathogens and virus-related diseases and will serve as a significant economic catalyst in Northeast Ohio. Funding comes through a $500 million investment from the State of Ohio, JobsOhio and Cleveland Clinic.
New clues on why pregnancy may increase risk of organ transplant rejection
A research study at the University of Chicago has found that in pregnancy, while the T cell response to a fetus becomes tolerant to allow for successful pregnancy, the part of the immune system that produces antibodies (known as the humoral response) becomes sensitized, creating memory B cells that can later contribute to the rejection of a transplanted organ.
Immunology study finds protein critical to T cell metabolism and anti-tumor immune response
Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered that a protein called NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK) is essential for the shift in metabolic activity that occurs with T cell activation, making it a critical factor in regulating the anti-tumor immune response.
Pre-existing influenza immunity impacts antibody quality following seasonal infection and vaccination
New research by scientists at the University of Chicago suggests a person’s antibody response to influenza viruses is dramatically shaped by their pre-existing immunity, and that the quality of this response differs in individuals who are vaccinated or naturally infected. Their results highlight the importance of receiving the annual flu vaccine to induce the most protective immune response.
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.
Mount Sinai Researchers Discover How to Boost Efficacy of Vaccine Designed to Prevent Melanoma Recurrence
A vaccine created to prevent the recurrence of the deadly skin cancer melanoma is about twice as effective when patients also receive two components that boost the number and effectiveness of immune system cells called dendritic cells, according to phase 2 clinical trial results published in Nature Cancer in November.
What We Know: Mount Sinai to Host COVID-19 Research Symposium
The COVID-19 Research Symposium, hosted by the Mount Sinai Clinical Intelligence Center (MSCIC), is a one-day comprehensive review of advances in research by the Mount Sinai Health System to better understand and treat the coronavirus known as COVID-19.
HOLIDAY COOKING
The upcoming holiday season is sure to look a lot different. According to a recent Filtrete™ Brand survey, more than half of Americans (52%) plan to spend more time at home this holiday season compared to years past. And, with more people…
Early UAMS Study Results Show 3.5% of Arkansans Infected by Coronavirus
Early results from a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS)-led COVID-19 antibody study show that 3.5% of Arkansans have been infected with the novel coronavirus.
Allergy and Asthma Tips on Holiday Decorating
This year, many traditional holiday events and venues are cancelled, long-distance travel is unlikely, and large holiday parties are on hold. For many, this means holiday decorating is likely to take center stage in an effort to celebrate the season.…
Vaccines and rare diseases: using one to help the other
An immunology researcher in Canada has found a simple solution to prevent infections in children with lactic acidosis: get them vaccinated.
Mount Sinai Selected to Serve as Capacity Building Center and Center of Excellence as Part of the National Cancer Institute’s New Serological Sciences Network
Researchers from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai will receive more than $7.3 million from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as part of the NCI’s new Serological Sciences Network (SeroNet), one of the largest coordinated national efforts to study immunology and SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Mount Sinai was selected as one of only four Capacity Building Centers and one of eight Centers of Excellence as part of this new network.
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.
UC San Diego Health Joins International Clinical Trial to Test Coronavirus Vaccine
UC San Diego Health will be a test site for a third, major Phase III clinical trial to assess a vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Sponsored by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the trial will recruit up to 60,000 participants at sites in the United States and worldwide.
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
Crippling Life Support for SARS-CoV-2 Through Synthetic Lethality
Significance of paperThis paper authored by a group of scientists from the Center for Global Infectious Disease Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute presents a promising concept for disrupting the life cycle of a virus using synthetic lethality. When viruses infect…
UC San Diego Joins Second Major National Clinical Trial for Novel Coronavirus
UC San Diego Health will be part of the Phase III national AstraZeneca clinical trial that will recruit up to 30,000 participants at multiple sites across the country to assess the safety and efficacy of a vaccine to prevent COVID-19.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Linked to an Immune Cell Run Amok
Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine report that the lasting nature of inflammatory bowel disease may be due to a type of long-lived immune cell that can provoke persistent, damaging inflammation in the intestinal tract.
Researchers Discover Immune Predictors of COVID-19 Cases that Fare the Worst
Mount Sinai scientists have identified two markers of inflammation that reliably predict the severity of COVID-19 cases and likelihood of survival, providing a foundation for a diagnostic platform and therapeutic targets, according to a study published in Nature Medicine in August.
Keck Medicine of USC enrolling volunteers for phase 3 clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine
Keck Medicine of USC launches phase 3 trial for COVID-19 vaccine. To ensure access for underrepresented and vulnerable populations, researchers are setting up a satellite location in the meat-packing community of Vernon, CA.
CANCER RESEARCH INSTITUTE AWARDS $30.2 MILLION IN GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS TO SUPPORT BASIC AND CLINICAL RESEARCH IN IMMUNOLOGY AND CANCER IMMUNOTHERAPY
The Cancer Research Institute (CRI), a U.S. nonprofit organization dedicated to the discovery and development of powerful immunotherapies for all cancers, awarded more than $30.2 million in research grants and fellowships in the 2020 fiscal year ending June 30, 2020.