immunity News and Research

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Prior symptomatic COVID-19 enhances mRNA vaccine response

A new paper describes the antibody responses in people who have already been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and are vaccinated as compared to the naïve.

14 Sep 2021

Low dose of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine generates durable immune response

A new study from La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) scientists helps answer the question: how long does immunity against COVID-19 last in vaccinated people?

14 Sep 2021

Severe COVID-19 linked to increase in autoantibodies

Hospitalized COVID-19 patients are substantially more likely to harbor autoantibodies - antibodies directed at their own tissues or at substances their immune cells secrete into the blood - than people without COVID-19, according to a new study.

14 Sep 2021

UK Prime Minister sets out plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter

The Prime Minister has today set out the government's plan to manage Covid throughout autumn and winter.

14 Sep 2021

Top COVID-19 concerns among unvaccinated individuals

In a new study, an international team of researchers looked into concerns fueling vaccine hesitancy.

14 Sep 2021

mRNA BNT162b2 vaccine safe in immunocompromised patients

The clinical trial showed that about 72.2% of immunocompromised patients had detectable antibodies against SARS-CoV-2.

14 Sep 2021

Convalescent plasma shows no benefit in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A new paper describes the results of a randomized controlled trial of CP in adult COVID-19 patients on oxygen when used within 12 days of the onset of respiratory symptoms.

14 Sep 2021

Impact of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine on antibody levels: Texas survey

A collaborative team, led by principal investigator Dr. Eric Boerwinkle, at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health is conducting a survey designed to assess the frequency of antibody-positive individuals across Texas. The TEXAS Coronavirus Antibody REsponse Survey (CARES) aims to look for antibodies in the blood made in response to natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination.

14 Sep 2021

Synthetic molecular code shows promise towards improving immunotherapy response of cancer patients

A synthetic molecular code shows promise towards improving the response of some cancer patients to immunotherapy treatments.

14 Sep 2021

A review of mesenchymal stem cell therapy for severe COVID-19

Researchers find that MSC treatment is highly tolerated and effective in reducing lung damage in COVID-19 patients and improving their chances of recovery.

13 Sep 2021

Study identifies broadly neutralizing antibody panel against SARS-like viruses

A recent study describes 40 broadly neutralizing antibodies from two individuals with a history of COVID-19 who were recently immunized against the virus.

13 Sep 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 mechanism of host gene suppression

A new study finds that the viral non-coding RNA dubbed vmiR-5p, derived from the viral gene ORF7a, appears to reduce host transcription.

13 Sep 2021

Analysis finds untapped potential for immunotherapy in older cancer patients

A retrospective analysis of large datasets of biomarkers from tumors and healthy tissue by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center Convergence Institute suggests that older cancer patients could benefit as much as younger patients from cancer immunotherapies.

13 Sep 2021

An oral COVID-19 vaccine induces mucosal and protective immunity

Researchers have collaborated to resolve the aforementioned problems associated with injection vaccines to create a thermostable vaccine that can be taken orally.

13 Sep 2021

Discovery of diverse sarbecovirus broadly neutralizing antibodies from SARS-CoV-2 “infected-vaccinated” humans

Scientists were inspired by the robust serum nAb responses in people who recovered from natural SARS-CoV-2 infection and were later vaccinated using mRNA vaccine. They isolated and characterized bnAbs from two COVID-19 convalescent donors who were recently vaccinated. These isolated bnAbs were found to be highly potent against sarbecoviruses. This research is available on the bioRxiv* preprint server.

13 Sep 2021

Functional impairment of HIV-specific T cells precedes aborted virus control

HIV is a master of evading the immune system, using a variety of methods to prevent the body from being able to find and kill it.

13 Sep 2021

Researchers find a way to turn SARS-CoV-2’s virulence mechanism against itself

A recent study, currently available on the bioRxiv* preprint server, reveals that a specific region of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be targeted by antisense oligonucleotides to potently inhibit viral replication, and consequently the development of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

12 Sep 2021

Scientists develop a novel and potent SARS-CoV-2 RBD-homodimer vaccine

A recent report published in the journal Cell Discovery has described the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) subunit vaccine candidate. The vaccine induces robust immune responses in rodents and non-human primates and protects the animals against severe disease.

12 Sep 2021

Researchers identify the spleen as primary site for priming of 'killer' T cells during influenza infection

CD8+ T cells - known as "killer" T cells - are the assassins of the immune system. Once they are primed, they seek out and destroy other cells that are infected with virus or cells that are cancerous.

12 Sep 2021

Introduction of COVID-19 vaccine passports in the UK may lower vaccination inclination

Introducing COVID-19 vaccine passports in the UK could see people who are willing to get vaccinated do so more quickly, but have the converse effect upon those who have concerns, especially when passports cover domestic activities, suggests a new study published in EClinicalMedicine.

11 Sep 2021