In a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape our understanding of the immune system and pave the way for revolutionary new vaccines and drugs, scientists have characterised a previously less-understood immune cell with powerful regulatory functions.
They have found that immune cells called TR1 cells play a dominant role in mounting an immune response to malaria. The implications of the study, published in the journal Science Immunologyon April 25, are far-reaching, potentially opening new pathways to conquer not only malaria but many other ‘difficult’ infections for which we currently lack effective vaccines.
Lines of defence
The human immune system has a complex multi-layered defence against infections. Its arsenal of weapons includes numerous components and…