Exposure to higher levels of air pollution as a baby is linked to having a peanut allergy throughout childhood, according to a new study. And policies aimed at tackling poor air quality could potentially reduce the prevalence and persistence of peanut …
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare skin sarcoma known for its high recurrence rates, making treatment particularly challenging. While surgery remains the standard option, it often leads to scarring and other complications.
Researchers have discovered that GPR31, found in certain immune cells in the human gut, plays a key role in responding to bacterial metabolites and activating immune responses. Specifically, in the presence of metabolite pyruvate, these cells extend de…
SARS-CoV-2 has an enzyme that can counteract a cell’s innate defense mechanism against viruses, explaining why it is more infectious than the previous SARS and MERS-causing viruses. The discovery may point the way to the development of more effective d…
The human gut is home to helpful microbes, called the microbiota, who produce molecules known as metabolites. These metabolites are being increasingly recognized for their role in supporting our health.
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has an enzyme that can counteract a cell’s innate defense mechanism against viruses, explaining why it is more infectious than the previous SARS and MERS-causing viruses. A Kobe University discovery may point the way to…
Ludwig Cancer Research scientists have devised new types of chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) T cells—a type of cancer immunotherapy—that can be switched on to varying degrees of intensity and then switched off on demand with existing drugs. The design a…
A team has re-engineered immune cells with a light-activated switch that modulates protein function and cellular behavior. When exposed to blue light, the cells change shape, infiltrating solid tumors grown in the lab and killing them.
As Canadians brace for “vitamin D winter”—months when the sun’s angle is too low to produce the vitamin in the skin—a McGill University study explains why vitamin D deficiency early in life is associated with a higher risk of autoimmune diseases.
Immunotherapies that mobilize a patient’s own immune system to fight cancer have become a treatment pillar. These therapies, including CAR T-cell therapy, have performed well in cancers like leukemias and lymphomas, but the results have been less promi…
