The process of identifying promising small molecule drug candidates that target cancer checkpoints may become faster and smarter through virtual screening, according to Weill Cornell Medicine researchers.
University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers identified a protein that could be key to developing new treatments for triple-negative breast cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Researchers have investigated a new strategy for the development of treatment options that not only slow tumor growth, but also stimulate the immune system to combat tumor cells.
Researchers have discovered that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks three important host proteins that dampen the activity of the complement system, a key component of early antiviral immunity. This significantly impairs viral clearance which may affect the course of …
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna and the Medical University of Innsbruck discovered that SARS-CoV-2 hijacks three important host proteins that dampen the activity of the complement system, a key component of early antiviral immunity.
Researchers from the National Defense Medical Center in Taiwan have identified an increased risk of psoriasis in patients with cancer undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments, with implications for other immune-related adverse events.
As cancer cells grow, they pump out metabolic byproducts such as lactic acid into the tumor microenvironment. Exhausted T cells—which have lost their cancer-fighting oomph—consume this lactic acid, which further saps their energy, according to new rese…
Researchers have identified a possible way to make glioblastoma cells vulnerable to different types of immunotherapy. The strategy, which they demonstrated in cells in the lab, forces brain cancer cells to display targets for the immune system to attack.
A new study from the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center has found evidence that targeting CD47, a protein that is part of the innate immune system, could be a key step in fighting colorectal cancer.
UC San Francisco treated its first brain cancer patient with an experimental new CAR-T therapy discovered and manufactured at the university earlier this year. The treatment, known as E-SYNC, is a form of “switchable” CAR-T therapy that can be turned o…
The immune system is a major target for cancer treatments. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cell therapy can dramatically improve outcomes for many cancers. But for about 70% of patients, these therapies don’t work.
Leicester researchers have developed England’s first comprehensive fungal spore calendar—a valuable new tool designed to help allergy and asthma patients better manage symptoms through seasonal awareness.
When thinking about the immune system, most people think about B and T cells and how they can be trained to recognize pathogens, preventing re-infections. Besides this adaptive immune system, we also have an innate immune system which acts as first lin…
Results of a study recently published in the journal JCO Precision Oncology show that in the clinical trial context, combined analysis of the inflammatory status of the tumor microenvironment classified by the VIGex gene expression signature and circul…
A large interdisciplinary team of researchers has found that as mice age, levels of a certain type of immunoglobulin escalate, exacerbating tissue aging. In their paper published in the journal Cell, the group describes how they analyzed tissue from mu…
An international team led by Goethe University Frankfurt has identified an intracellular sensor that monitors the quality of so-called MHC-I molecules, which help the immune system recognize and kill harmful cells, including tumor cells. The sensor ens…
The CRISPR tool is capable of repairing the genetic defect responsible for the immune disease chronic granulomatous disease. However, researchers have now shown that there is a risk of inadvertently introducing other defects.
A team of bioengineers has developed a mathematical model that clarifies why interleukin-12 (IL-12) — a potent immune-boosting protein that holds promise for cancer treatment — loses effectiveness over time when used as an immunotherapeutic. The rese…
Some patients being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy, develop a dangerous form of heart inflammation called myocarditis. Researchers have now uncovered the immune basis of this inflammation. The team identified …
A team of Rice University bioengineers has developed a mathematical model that clarifies why interleukin-12 (IL-12)—a potent immune-boosting protein that holds promise for cancer treatment—loses effectiveness over time when used as an immunotherapeutic…
Some patients being treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer immunotherapy, develop a dangerous form of heart inflammation called myocarditis.
Along with defending against pathogens, the body’s innate immune system helps to protect the stability of our genomes in unexpected ways — ways that have important implications for the development of cancer, researchers are discovering.
Along with defending against pathogens, the body’s innate immune system helps to protect the stability of our genomes in unexpected ways—ways that have important implications for the development of cancer, researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer…
Researchers employed analysis tools and machine learning algorithms to identify two genes linked to rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis that could serve as diagnostic tools and potential targets for treatments. Drawing from a large database of geneti…
In the quest to enhance the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a study in Frontiers of Medicine has identified a pivotal role for CD39 expression in modulating the function of CAR-T cells.
Glioblastoma is the most common and deadliest form of brain cancer. Patients face a bleak prognosis—the average survival after diagnosis is between 12 and 15 months. And just 6.9% of patients survive beyond five years, making it one of the most poorly …
In healthy brains, immune cells called microglia patrol for damage, clearing away debris and harmful proteins. But in the presence of the APOE4 protein—the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease—the same cells cause harmful inflamma…
In a study published in Cell Reports, researchers from Prof. Idit Shachar’s laboratory at the Weizmann Institute of Science have discovered that a certain type of aggressive breast cancer prompts nearby immune cells to build “molecular bridges” between…
Berry-flavored vapes can weaken the lungs’ natural defenses, making it harder for the body to fight off infections, research suggests. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, compared effects of flavored e-cigarettes to…
From sending cancer into remission to alleviating COVID-19 symptoms, immunotherapy can provide revolutionary disease treatments. Immunotherapies use antibodies—proteins that bind to cell markers called antigens—to target and eliminate the antigen. But …
Scientists have long suspected the keto diet might be able to calm an overactive immune system and help some people with diseases like multiple sclerosis. Now, they have reason to believe it could be true. Scientists have discovered that the diet makes…
Pre-surgery treatment with the novel drug vidutolimod and the PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab led to tumor control in 55% of patients with stage 3 cutaneous melanoma, according to the results of a single-arm phase 2 clinical trial led by the Univer…
A new study has found a surprising link between high levels of methylmalonic acid and the weakening of CD8+ T cells, shedding light on potential pathways through which aging may promote lung cancer progression.
The first 3D images of a whole human thymus have been created using a specialized X-ray technique by researchers from University College London (UCL) and the Francis Crick Institute. The highly-intricate images showed that structures called Hassall’s b…
A new study has found a surprising link between high levels of methylmalonic acid and the weakening of CD8+ T cells, shedding light on potential pathways through which aging may promote lung cancer progression.
As critical responders, macrophages can perceive helpful biotechnology as threats. If not created with the right materials or mechanical forces, these devices can trigger an immune response that can cause inflammation, scar tissue or device failure.
Scientists investigating animal viruses with potential to infect humans have identified a critical protein that could enable spillover of a family of organisms called arteriviruses.
A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health sheds light on how the blood-borne parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and related diseases in cattle and other animals establishes long-term inf…
Continuing their journey to develop a vaccine for HIV, Oregon Health & Science University researchers have identified a gene that could have prevented their vaccine from working in humans.
A growing cancer is shaped by more than just the tumor cells it contains; the tissue around a tumor also alters its biology. Now, researchers at The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) have combined advanced imaging techniques with a new computational method to p…
Researchers combined advanced imaging techniques with a computational method to probe how immune cells interact with each other, revealing that the interactions between immune cells in the vicinity of breast cancer or melanoma can be used to predict im…
Researchers have discovered a way that ovarian cancer tumors manipulate their environment to resist immunotherapy and identified a drug target that could overcome that resistance. The study used a cutting-edge spatial genomics technology and preclinica…
A new analysis has revealed detailed 3D maps of the internal structures of multiple tumor types. These cancer atlases reveal how different tumor cells — and the cells of a tumor’s surrounding environment — are organized, in 3D, and how that organizat…
Researchers have found a process by which the brain guards against attack by the immune system. In mice with multiple sclerosis, such ‘guardian’ proteins that train the immune system were drastically depleted, and replenishing them improved symptoms, a…
A new study sheds light on how the blood-borne parasite that causes African sleeping sickness in humans and related diseases in cattle and other animals establishes long-term infections in hosts. Using a mouse model, the researchers showed that Trypano…
A technological breakthrough by medical researchers at Tel Aviv University enabled the discovery of a cancer mechanism that prevents the immune system from attacking tumors. The researchers were surprised to find that reversing this mechanism stimulate…
Macrophage cells are the immune system’s frontline soldiers, early on the scene to protect the body from foreign invaders. These cells answer the immune system’s critical question for the rest of its troops: friend or foe?
A new analysis led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed detailed 3D maps of the internal structures of multiple tumor types. These cancer atlases reveal how different tumor cells—and the cells of a tumor’…
The brain constantly engages in dialogue with the body’s immune system. Such communication appears aimed at ensuring a delicate balance between defending against injury and infection and guarding healthy tissue.
Few autoimmune disorders are more challenging for patients than multiple sclerosis, a progressive condition that can affect vision, impair the ability to walk, cause extreme bouts of neuropathic pain, and tends to strike women at three times the rate o…
Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have discovered a way that ovarian cancer tumors manipulate their environment to resist immunotherapy and identified a drug target that could overcome that resistance.
Researchers have discovered that a protein complex that helps fight cancer cells also slows the growth of tuberculosis—a finding that could mean better treatments for both diseases. The protein complex, which slows down the growth of tuberculosis (Mtb)…
Recurrent pregnancy loss can be devastating and exert a major impact on women, their partners, and society more broadly, but currently there are few options for effective therapies. Over several years, there has been mounting evidence that a deficiency…
Using computational tools, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have developed a method to assess which patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer could benefit from imm…
The development of CAR-T technology in recent years has been a major milestone in the fight against cancer. These sort of “living drugs”—T-cells modified to expand, recognize and attack cancer cells within the body—offer hope to many patients after rel…
An ancient gene mutation among First Nations inhabitants of Oceania may make them more susceptible to infectious diseases like influenza, according to a new study by scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
Medical scientists involved in a large international study have identified new signs of kidney transplant rejection that could lead to more precise diagnosis and treatment for transplant recipients. The research examined more than 16,000 kidney transpl…
Investigators led by Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster, Ph.D., associate professor of Microbiology-Immunology, have discovered that administering an antibody treatment four days after mRNA vaccination enhances immune responses and vaccine efficacy in mice, acco…
For kidney transplant recipients experiencing antibody-mediated rejection, the current standard of care involves removing donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) through plasmapheresis (PLEX)—a procedure that removes antibodies from the plasma portion of the …
A new study from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researchers shows, for the first time, that a receptor called PPAR δ, or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta, is an important player in a pathway that disables the immune system so that T-cells …
Researchers at the University of Alberta have pinpointed two proteins that could serve as markers for identifying patients with long COVID—a discovery that may lead to treatments that will bring better quality of life for the millions of people sufferi…
Researchers have identified the skin cells responsible for orchestrating cases of two of the most life-threatening drug reactions. Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) cause the skin and mucous membranes to blister and de…
With the popularity of CleanTok on social media, we’re constantly being reminded about how dirty everything around us is. But while you might feel you should disinfect every surface in your home or send your child off to school with antibacterial gels …
Chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (caAMR) is a common cause of allograft loss after transplantation, with no approved therapies. Clazakizumab, a monoclonal antibody that targets the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6), stabilized kidney…
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is an autoimmune kidney disease driven by immune cells that express a protein called CD38 on their surface. A recent Phase II trial revealed that felzartamab, an investigational anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, helps to reduce prot…
Researchers at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University have identified a novel type of immune cell, called the stem-like CD4 T cell, that plays a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. The pre-clinical findings, published in Nature, highlight the po…
Researchers have identified a novel type of immune cell, called the stem-like CD4 T cell, that plays a pivotal role in anti-tumor immunity. The pre-clinical findings highlight the potential to activate these cells to fight tumors more effectively, offe…
A newly described stage of a lymph node-like structure seen in liver tumors after presurgical immunotherapy may be vital to successfully treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, according to a study by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel …
The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defence against pathogens like bacteria or viruses. TRIM25 is a protein that is important in the innate immune response against RNA viruses, such as influenza viruses, coronaviruses, or Zika virus. N…
Unlocking the secrets behind immune exhaustion in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and long COVID patients is at the center of new Griffith University research.
About 10% of Americans believe they are allergic to penicillin, and approximately 90% of those patients are not actually allergic. As a result, those with the penicillin allergy label are often prescribed more toxic, dangerous and expensive antibiotics…
Anaphylaxis can come on suddenly and without warning, and because its symptoms can be fatal, it is scary for those who encounter it. Two studies presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeti…
In 1893, the American Journal of the Medical Sciences reported on 10 patients whose large and hitherto incurable cancers had been injected with bacteria taken from skin infections. In every case, striking improvement was seen, marking the birth of “can…
A multiomic analysis led by the IrsiCaixa AIDS Research Institute has uncovered genetic and immune mechanisms in some HIV-positive individuals, known as viremic non-progressors (VNPs), to avoid disease progression without antiretroviral therapy.
A study from the University of Virginia’s Department of Biomedical Engineering has identified a critical mechanism driving fibrosis, or scarring, in response to medical implants made with biomaterial hydrogels.
A study from the University of Virginia’s Department of Biomedical Engineering has identified a critical mechanism driving fibrosis, or scarring, in response to medical implants made with biomaterial hydrogels.
With the rise in incidence of food allergies in children in the past decade, there has been a corresponding increase in the need for professional psychology services due to increased anxiety. A study presented at this year’s American College of Allergy…
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a disorder of the esophagus, is increasingly recognized as a major cause of swallowing difficulties in children and adults. It affects about one in 2,000 people and is part of a spectrum of allergic conditions.
People have heard for years that climate change is having a significant impact on plant vegetation patterns and influencing how pollen and mold produce. A study presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual …
What keeps some immune systems youthful and effective in warding off age-related diseases? In new research done on mice, scientists point the finger at a small subset of blood stem cells, which make an outsized contribution to maintaining either a yout…
What keeps some immune systems youthful and effective in warding off age-related diseases? In a new paper published in Cellular & Molecular Immunology, USC Stem Cell scientist Rong Lu and her collaborators point the finger at a small subset of blood st…
If you cut your arm or undergo surgery, scarring can be a good thing; the scar tissue produced by cells called fibroblasts helps you heal. In most organs of the body, however, the accumulation of scarring (called fibrosis) is a sign of chronic disease …
Researchers have discovered a mechanism that ovarian tumors use to cripple immune cells and impede their attack — blocking the energy supply T cells depend on. The work points toward a promising new immunotherapy approach for ovarian cancer, which is …
Weill Cornell Medicine researchers have discovered a mechanism that ovarian tumors use to cripple immune cells and impede their attack—blocking the energy supply T cells depend on. The work, published Oct. 23 in Nature, points toward a promising new im…
Scientists at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in collaboration with colleagues in the field, have developed an innovative antibody platform aimed at tackling one of the greatest challenges in treating rapidly evolving viruses like SARS-CoV…
A new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that a type of immunotherapy—similar to that approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis—also may be an effective …
Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) have emerged as a promising approach in cancer therapy, offering a ‘magic bullet’ strategy that combines the precision of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of cytotoxic drugs.
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…