Immune System News and Research

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Cryo-EM imaging of STING protein reveals a new binding source for immune attacks

In new research, UT Southwestern scientists report that imaging a key immunity protein known as STING at near-atomic resolution reveals a previously undiscovered binding location that appears to be crucial for launching immunological attacks.

11 Apr 2022

Intracellular microbiota promote cell survival during tumor progression

Bacteria promote cancer metastasis by bolstering the strength of host cells against mechanical stress in the bloodstream, promoting cell survival during tumor progression, researchers report April 7th in the journal Cell.

8 Apr 2022

Combining organoids and microfluidics to study how the immune system responds to hepatitis C

A vaccine for hepatitis C has eluded scientists for more than 30 years, for several reasons. For one, the virus that causes the disease comes in many genetic forms, complicating the creation of a widely effective vaccine.

7 Apr 2022

Study reveals how plants activate their immune system to prevent infections caused by rain

While rain is essential for the survival of plants, it also contains bacteria and other pathogens which can cause them harm. So how do plants protect themselves from this threat?

7 Apr 2022

A critical subset of supporting cells may lie at the origins of scleroderma

Supporting actors sometimes steal the show. In a new study published today in Cell, researchers headed by Prof. Ido Amit at the Weizmann Institute of Science have shown that supporting cells called fibroblasts, long viewed as uniform background players, are in fact extremely varied and vital.

5 Apr 2022

Checkpoint immunotherapy acts as an interface between killer T cells and dendritic cells

Chronic viral infections and cancers can damage the immune system permanently, diminishing the ability of immune killer T cells to destroy tumor cells or virus-infected cells—a condition known as “immune exhaustion.”

5 Apr 2022

Plant compound may be a good therapeutic candidate for treating food allergies

Researchers combined advanced computational methods with experimental studies to gain new insight, at the cell level, into how the plant compound formononetin might be used to treat food allergies.

4 Apr 2022

Noncoding DNA mutations prevent the brain from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

When a condition is connected to a genetic mutation, it is generally negative news.

4 Apr 2022

Researchers discover a unique technique to fight hospital-borne disease

A study team developed an early-stage therapy that sabotages the pump and restores antibiotic efficiency by disclosing the structure of a protein needed by bacteria to pump out antibiotics.

From New York University (NYU) 4 Apr 2022

Light-induced cellular apoptosis method can kill diseased cells without causing adverse reactions

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Japan over the past 40 years. Despite the rise in patients due to the aging population, progresses in diagnosis and treatment are leading to higher survival rates.

1 Apr 2022

Researchers focus to create a new class of molecules for curing biofilm infections

Chronic skin wounds are a rising global issue among the elderly, individuals with severe burns, and people with underlying medical diseases such as diabetes.

1 Apr 2022

Killifish study finds age-dependent loss of antibody diversity

As we age, our immune system works less well. We become more susceptible to infections and vaccinations no longer work as effectively.

29 Mar 2022

Study reveals why infected individuals cannot get rid of HIV altogether

Thanks to antiretroviral therapy, HIV infection is no longer the life sentence it once was. But despite the effectiveness of drugs to manage and treat the virus, it can never be fully eliminated from the human body, lingering in some cells deep in different human tissues where it goes unnoticed by the immune system.

28 Mar 2022

CAR-T cell treatment via implantable biotechnology more effective in combating cancer

Researchers from North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed an implantable biotechnology that produces and releases CAR-T cells for attacking cancerous tumors.

25 Mar 2022

Hybrid immunity generates improved cell response to fight SARS-CoV-2 infections

People who were infected with SARS-CoV-2 before being vaccinated generate an immune response more specific to fighting viral infections, and produce a broader antibody response, than do people whose only protection is the vaccine, according to researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine.

25 Mar 2022

Novel protein Atossa regulates cell invasion

Researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology Austria have found a novel protein that stimulates energy generation inside immune cells, allowing them to penetrate more effectively.

24 Mar 2022

Study shows how CRISPR RNAs help the immune system to identify and combat viruses

What tasks must be completed today, and which are the most vital? In their daily lives, people must continuously make priorities. Bacteria are no exception: while using CRISPR to battle viruses, they must prioritize as well. However, the method by which this priority is accomplished is unknown.

23 Mar 2022