Immune System News and Research

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Boosting mitochondrial function in dendritic cells can improve cancer immunotherapy

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered how tumors disable immune "gatekeeper" cells that alert the rest of the immune system to the presence of cancer - and how restoring their energy production can improve immunotherapy. Dendritic cells activate the cytotoxic immune cells that destroy cancer.

2 Apr 2026

Regulatory T cells may influence inflammation and behavior in autism

Two new studies from the UC Davis MIND Institute examined regulatory T cells (Tregs) and their potential role in neuroinflammation and behavioral changes associated with autism.

2 Apr 2026

International researchers set new standards for studying tumor microbiota

Recent research shows that tumors in different organs host microbial communities capable of influencing cancer biology, immune responses, and the effectiveness of therapies, highlighting the need to standardize methods for studying intratumoral microbes.

2 Apr 2026

Researchers discover new virulence regulator of diarrheal pathogen

Pathogenic bacteria often delay the activation of their virulence program until they are inside the host. Researchers have identified a new mechanism that controls this process.

2 Apr 2026

High-dose flu vaccine linked to lower Alzheimer’s disease risk

A UTHealth Houston physician's visit to a local public health building sparked community awareness and inspired a new research idea.

1 Apr 2026

ASH releases updated recommendations for severe acquired aplastic anemia care

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) released guidelines on the diagnosis and management of severe acquired aplastic anemia, a rare and life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder.

1 Apr 2026

Gut microbiome changes improve memory in early cognitive decline

Research shows that modifying the gut microbiome can enhance cognitive performance and mitigate dementia risk, highlighting the gut-brain connection.

1 Apr 2026

Aging reshapes breast tissue creating environment favorable for cancer

Scientists have created the most detailed map to date, comprised of over 3 million cells, showing how breast tissue changes as women age – including dramatic changes during menopause.

31 Mar 2026

Innate immunity genes may influence earlier breast cancer onset in BRCA1 carriers

Damaging variants in genes involved in a rapid immune response (innate immunity) are significantly linked to earlier breast cancer onset in carriers of the harmful BRCA1 genetic mutation, reveal preliminary findings published online in the Journal of Medical Genetics.

31 Mar 2026

How the nutrient cysteine controls cancer-fighting power of T cells

A research team from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered how the immune system's CD8+ T cells use the nutrient cysteine to control two essential functions that compete for this resource - the immune cell's ability to multiply and its ability to kill cancer cells.

31 Mar 2026

New T cell mechanism could lead to longer-lasting vaccines

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine have identified a possible way to make longer lasting vaccines for respiratory viruses like influenza and the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

31 Mar 2026

Why one vaccine cannot protect against all E. coli infections

The bacterium E. coli is the most common cause of urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections. But in the search for vaccines, researchers have discovered that the bacteria are more resilient than they had thought.

31 Mar 2026

Natural peptide in sweat may help block flu infection before symptoms start

Researchers led by the Fisabio Foundation found that dermcidin, a natural antimicrobial peptide present in sweat and respiratory tissues, can block influenza infection by binding to a highly conserved region of the viral hemagglutinin protein and preventing cell entry. The study also found that people who did not develop flu-like symptoms had markedly higher baseline dermcidin levels, suggesting the molecule may help reduce susceptibility to infection and could support the development of broader-spectrum antivirals.

30 Mar 2026

Study opens the door for future treatments for Sleeping Sickness

To survive in the human bloodstream, the African trypanosome parasite wears a "cloak" made of proteins known as a variant surface glycoprotein (VSG).

30 Mar 2026

Probiotic therapy may offer a simple strategy to help prevent premature births

Preterm birth is a major cause of neonatal illness and death, especially among women with a history of premature delivery.

30 Mar 2026

Study reveals immune changes in HIV and HCV coinfected patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection leads to severe systemic inflammation, increasing non-AIDS morbidity and mortality risk. CD39 ectoenzyme on T-cells, which catalyzes the conversion of pro-inflammatory purines to immunosuppressive adenosine, plays an important role in inflammation control.

28 Mar 2026

Gut immune responses found to trigger brain inflammation in MS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating neurological disorder caused by malfunctioning immune responses that target the brain and spinal cord of the central nervous system (CNS).

27 Mar 2026

HOBIT device improves oxygen supply for drug-producing cells

Implanting living cells as long-term drug producers could transform treatment for numerous diseases, but it is difficult to house the tiny workers in quantities high enough to ensure dosage needs are met while also keeping the cells alive and thriving.

27 Mar 2026

Study reveals how a promising bacterial therapy reduces recurrent bacterial vaginosis

A new study from the Kwon Lab at the Ragon Institute, published in Cell Host & Microbe, provides the most detailed picture yet of how a promising bacterial therapy works to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis (BV) and why it works better for some women than others.

27 Mar 2026

Tiny device with engineered cells acts as internal drug factory

A multi-institutional team of scientists, co-led by Northwestern University, has taken a crucial step toward implantable "living pharmacies" - tiny devices containing engineered cells that continuously produce medicines inside the body.

27 Mar 2026