immunity News and Research

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Researchers identify defensins as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents

A recent study conducted at the Ohio State University, USA, and the Fudan University, China, has revealed that alpha-defensin human neutrophil peptide 1 (HNP1), a cationic antimicrobial peptide, can prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from infecting cells by destabilizing the viral spike protein and disrupting spike-mediated viral envelop – host cell membrane fusion.

31 May 2021

B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is partially resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization

A team of scientists from France has recently conducted a study to evaluate the sensitivity of the B.1.617 variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to antibody-mediated neutralization.

31 May 2021

Reusing old vaccines to boost innate immunity against COVID-19

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently the best form of protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants. But a new perspective article published in the journal PNAS suggests it’s not the panacea to stopping SARS-CoV-2.

31 May 2021

New drug effectively prevents severe COVID-19 in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2

The drug diABZI which activates the body's innate immune response -- was highly effective in preventing severe COVID-19 in mice that were infected with SARS-CoV-2, according to scientists in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

29 May 2021

Composition and function of gut microbiota are key in affecting immune responses to vaccinations

Varying immune response to vaccinations could be countered with microbiota-targeted interventions helping infants, older people and others to take full advantage of the benefits of effective vaccines, Australian and US experts say.

29 May 2021

DFG establishes new collaborative research centers to promote world-class research at universities

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) is establishing eleven new Collaborative Research Centers (CRC) to promote world-class research at universities. This was announced by the relevant Grants Committee, which met by video conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

29 May 2021

Simple at-home taste test could predict duration and severity of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms

A JAMA Network Open research paper published today (26 May 2021) by Doctorpedia contributor Henry P. Barham, M.D correlating an association between the bitter taste receptor phenotype and clinical outcomes among patients with COVID-19 has confirmed that a simple at-home taste test could be a gamechanger in predicting duration and symptom severity of the virus.

29 May 2021

New, portable saliva screening test detects SARS-CoV-2 in five-minutes

International research led by Monash University and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity has achieved a proof of concept for a new, fast, portable saliva screening test that uses an infrared light technology to confirm infection with SARS-CoV-2.

29 May 2021

New SARS-CoV-2 lineages continue to threaten pandemic control in England, suggests genomic study

A new study shows the pattern of the rise of various strains in the UK, as shown by the data collected by the COVID-19 Genomics UK Consortium. This allows the rise and fall of 62 different viral lineages to be traced through over 300 local authorities from September 2020 to April 2021.

28 May 2021

Will emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants affect T cell immunity? A meta-analysis

New research by a team of scientists at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology sheds light on the epitopic targets of SARS-CoV-2 by T cells in COVID-19 convalescents. The team’s findings suggest that the epitopes targeted by T cells during infection may not be affected by the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

28 May 2021

COLCORONA study shows that colchicine can reduce complications in certain COVID-19 patients

The Montreal Heart Institute announces that the COLCORONA study results are published today in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

28 May 2021

Researchers discover cross-reactive coronavirus antibody triggered during COVID-19 infection

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, most people in the United States already had been sick with a coronavirus, albeit a far less dangerous one.

28 May 2021

Researchers develop chemical probe to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

In the perpetual arms races between bacteria and human-made antibiotics, there is a new tool to give human medicine the edge, in part by revealing bacterial weaknesses and potentially by leading to more targeted or new treatments for bacterial infections.

28 May 2021

Study shows pertussis is still common among middle-aged adults in European countries

Although vaccination programmes against pertussis are very effective in Europe, new Finnish study shows that the disease is still very common among middle-aged adults in various European countries.

27 May 2021

Is a single Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose sufficient for individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infections?

A team of scientists from Spain has recently evaluated the immune responses induced by mRNA-based Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine in healthcare workers with or without a history of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection.

27 May 2021

Higher CD8 T cells may influence COVID-19 recovery in blood cancer patients

Antibodies aren't the only immune cells needed to fight off COVID-19 - T cells are equally important and can step up to do the job when antibodies are depleted, suggests a new Penn Medicine study of blood cancer patients with COVID-19 published in Nature Medicine.

27 May 2021

Researchers develop “cell encapsulation” technology to stimulate immunity to fight cancer

Immunotherapy techniques developed in oncology to combat cancerous cells have great potential for fighting viruses.

27 May 2021

Caffeine can boost energy and mood but does not fight sleep deprivation

Rough night of sleep? Relying on caffeine to get you through the day isn't always the answer, says a new study from Michigan State University.

27 May 2021

Strict social distancing, non-pharmaceutical methods are still needed to end second wave of COVID-19

Current vaccination programmes alone will have a limited effect in stopping the second wave of COVID infections in the US, according to a study conducted by scientists from Reykjavik University, University of Lyon, University of Southern Denmark and University of Naples Federico II, and published in the Nature Group journal Scientific Reports today.

27 May 2021

Study sheds new light on complex dynamics involved in microbial infections

Included in the vast fallout stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists are paying closer attention to microbial infections and how life forms defend against attacks from pathogens.

27 May 2021

immunity News and Research

Researchers identify defensins as potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents

B.1.617.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 is partially resistant to antibody-mediated neutralization

Reusing old vaccines to boost innate immunity against COVID-19

New drug effectively prevents severe COVID-19 in mice infected with SARS-CoV-2

Composition and function of gut microbiota are key in affecting immune responses to vaccinations

DFG establishes new collaborative research centers to promote world-class research at universities

Simple at-home taste test could predict duration and severity of SARS-CoV-2 symptoms

New, portable saliva screening test detects SARS-CoV-2 in five-minutes

New SARS-CoV-2 lineages continue to threaten pandemic control in England, suggests genomic study

Will emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants affect T cell immunity? A meta-analysis

COLCORONA study shows that colchicine can reduce complications in certain COVID-19 patients

Researchers discover cross-reactive coronavirus antibody triggered during COVID-19 infection

Researchers develop chemical probe to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Study shows pertussis is still common among middle-aged adults in European countries

Is a single Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine dose sufficient for individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infections?

Higher CD8 T cells may influence COVID-19 recovery in blood cancer patients

Researchers develop “cell encapsulation” technology to stimulate immunity to fight cancer

Caffeine can boost energy and mood but does not fight sleep deprivation

Strict social distancing, non-pharmaceutical methods are still needed to end second wave of COVID-19

Study sheds new light on complex dynamics involved in microbial infections

Exploring Strategies for Targeting Kinases in Innate Immunity eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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