Working toward more effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccines, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine have developed two strains of mycobacteria with “kill switches” that can be triggered to stop the bacteria after they activate an immune response. Two preclinical studies, published, Jan. 10 in Nature Microbiology, tackle the challenge of engineering bacteria that are safe for use … Read more
A study led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) recently showed that certain gut bacteria found in one-month-old infants are associated with food sensitivities and the development of food allergies, particularly to eggs, while other types of bacteria are not. The study also found factors that predicted which type … Read more
Unexpected Immune Regulator Discovered: Virtual Memory T Cells Hold Key to Controlling Inflammation Table of Contents Unexpected Immune Regulator Discovered: Virtual Memory T Cells Hold Key to Controlling Inflammation TVM Cells: A Double-Edged Sword Implications for Human Health Virtual Memory T Cells: A New Frontier in Immune Regulation What are Virtual Memory T Cells? Why … Read more
Brain inflammation, while a crucial part of the body’s immune response, takes on a detrimental role in Alzheimer’s disease. Unlike the acute, short-lived inflammation that combats infection, the inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s becomes chronic and persistent. Scientists have been trying to understand why this happens. New research reveals key differences in how the brain’s immune … Read more
When a tumor develops, it creates a structure around itself called the tumor stroma, within which blood and lymphatic vessels ensure nutritional and respiratory biological exchanges. Lymphangiogenesis, i.e. the development of lymphatic vessels, is generally associated with a poor prognosis, as it favours the spread of metastases to other organs. By studying the cells that … Read more
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute is proud to announce the launch of the Center for Sepsis Epidemiology and Prevention Studies (SEPSIS). This pioneering center of excellence is dedicated to advancing understanding, prevention, and management of sepsis, a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated immune response to infection. The SEPSIS Center will be led by … Read more
Researchers at the University of Liège (Belgium) have uncovered a previously unknown mechanism that regulates the immune response against parasites. During a parasitic infection, specific immune cells, known as virtual memory T cells (TVM), become activated and express a surface molecule called CD22, which prevents an excessive immune reaction. This discovery could help in better-controlling … Read more
A groundbreaking clinical trial shows how a personalized cancer vaccine primes the immune system to target kidney cancer, preventing recurrence and offering new hope for patients with high-risk disease. Study: A neoantigen vaccine generates antitumour immunity in renal cell carcinoma. Image Credit: crystal light / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature, researchers demonstrated … Read more
Researchers at the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation have developed an innovative delivery system that could significantly improve the effectiveness of peptide-based cancer vaccines, according to a new study published in Advanced Functional Materials. The breakthrough centers on a new class of materials called lipopeptide hydrogels (LPHs), which show promise in boosting immune responses and … Read more
The human immune system is like an army of specialized soldiers (immune cells) each with a unique role to play in fighting disease. In a new study published in Nature, led by scientists at the Allen Institute, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, and UC San Diego, researchers reveal how cells known as tissue-resident memory CD8 … Read more