Chemokine News and Research

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Chemokines are a family of small cytokines, or proteins secreted by cells. Proteins are classified as chemokines according to shared structural characteristics such as small size (they are all approximately 8-10 kilodaltons in size), and the presence of four cysteine residues in conserved locations that are key to forming their 3-dimensional shape.

Evidence that mild and even asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to sustained immune activation

A paper published in the open-access journal Viruses, reports on a study investigating long-term changes to soluble inflammatory factors and cellular immune phenotype and function in 22 survivors of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. The observations were then compared to 11 individuals who had recovered from other mild respiratory infections.

10 Nov 2021

The role of T follicular helper cells in the humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2

The current analysis indicates that cTfh cells react to the spike antigen following vaccination are associated with anti-S protein neutralizing antibodies.

9 Nov 2021

Rapid antibody response induced by mRNA COVID vaccines in mice

A new study posted in the bioRxiv* preprint server used mouse models to investigate how mRNA vaccines elicit a rapid antibody response. Their findings show two different mRNA vaccines successfully boost antibody levels — IL-5, IL-6, and MCP-1 —5 days after administration.

7 Nov 2021

Investigation of Budesonide's mechanism of action against SARS-CoV-2

Researchers look to gain an understanding of the mechanism of action of budesonide in improving the prognosis of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

1 Nov 2021

Alteration in gut microbiome may lead to hyperinflammation in severe COVID-19

A team of international scientists has recently identified a distinct set of proinflammatory mediators and metabolites associated with the fatal consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Moreover, they have established a link between gut microbiome alteration and hyper-inflammatory response in patients with severe COVID-19. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

1 Nov 2021

Study reveals a detrimental role of the immune system in Lewy body dementias

T-cells respond to buildups of alpha-synuclein, the aggregated protein clumps that are a feature of neurodegenerative diseases including dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease (PD), according to a Northwestern Medicine study published in Science.

14 Oct 2021

Study reveals the zoonotic potential of the rat Sialodacryoadenitis virus

A new review aimed to describe the current state of knowledge on Sialodacryoadenitis virus, along with its characteristics and potential zoonotic threat.

13 Oct 2021

Critical function of IL-7 in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of COVID-19 patients

In this review, researchers summarized the therapeutic and pathogenic role of IL-7 in patients with COVID-19 and examined the promising role of IL-7 as a vaccine adjuvant.

7 Oct 2021

Novel proteomics approach predicts severe COVID-19 outcomes

Researchers in the United States, Canada, and the UK have developed a potential new approach to predicting severe and critical outcomes among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

6 Oct 2021

The role of ZBP1 in promoting SARS-CoV-2-induced cytokine expression

A new study reported that the ZBP1-induced inflammatory signaling pathway is dependent on ubiquitination and RIPK3’s scaffolding ability, independent of cell death.

5 Oct 2021

Persistent leukocyte changes three months after mild SARS-CoV-2 infection

A recent study discusses the rate of changes in peripheral blood white cells in individuals who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

3 Oct 2021

Early-stage interaction of monocytes with SARS-CoV-2-infected epithelial cell decides COVID-19 severity

A team of scientists from the USA and France has recently unveiled the mechanism of immune dysregulation in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by analyzing the early-stage interaction between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected epithelial cells and immune cells. The study is currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

30 Sep 2021

Review of COVID-19 clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, and genetics

A new review article investigates the clinical and viral characteristics, pathogenesis, as well as human genetic basis associated with COVID-19.

27 Sep 2021

Neurokinin-1 receptor: a potential drug target for the treatment of COVID-19

An opinion article aims to provide evidence that SP could be the possible factor for initiating the cytokine storm during severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

21 Sep 2021

Dynamics of innate immune responses decide COVID-19 severity in genetically diverse mice

In a recently published article on the bioRxiv* preprint server, scientists from the USA and UK have described the significance of early inflammatory signaling pathways in determining the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

21 Sep 2021

Pfizer vaccine induces strong immunity in elderly with prior COVID-19

A new study discusses the vaccination response in elderly who were vaccinated with one dose of the Pfizer vaccine 15 months after contracting COVID-19.

16 Sep 2021

CXCR6/CXCL16 axis has significant role in the immuno-pathogenesis of severe COVID-19

In a study published on the preprint server medRxiv*, scientists studying the SARS-CoV-2 genome have identified a region linked with the disease severity.

16 Sep 2021

Deep profiling of SARS-CoV-2 immune response amongst the mildly symptomatic

In a research paper recently uploaded to the medRxiv* preprint server by Capelle et al. (September 2nd, 2021), the immune response of mild and hospitalized COVID-19 patients is compared, finding that early T-cell response is a vital indicator of SARS-CoV-2 disease severity.

15 Sep 2021

Study shows bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine can protect mice against lethal SARS-CoV-2 challenge

A recent US study, currently available on bioRxiv* preprint server, implies that vaccination with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can limit the infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by targeting innate immune pathways and could thus be used as a platform for pinpointing early immunologic events affecting the outcome of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

1 Sep 2021

How early interferon curbs SARS-CoV-2 infection

A new study available in the Journal of Experimental Medicine focuses on the importance of interferon in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

30 Aug 2021