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Food timing may shape how T cells respond to infection and therapy

Short-term nutritional state can reshape T cell metabolism, with post-meal lipid metabolism enhancing T cell metabolic capacity, cytokine production, and persistence after activation. The study identifies triglyceride-rich chylomicrons as key drivers of this effect, suggesting nutritional timing may matter for immune monitoring, vaccination research, and cell-therapy manufacturing.

30 Apr 2026

Five-target drug beats GLP-1/GIP therapy in obese diabetic mice

A Nature study reports a single-molecule GLP-1–GIP–lanifibranor quintuple agonist that targets incretin receptor-expressing cells while activating PPARα/γ/δ pathways. In obese and insulin-resistant mice, the compound reduced body weight, food intake, and hyperglycaemia more effectively than semaglutide or GLP-1R–GIPR co-agonism, while remaining a preclinical finding.

30 Apr 2026

Scientists map 239 human-infective RNA viruses to track future outbreak risks

Researchers updated the global catalogue of human-infective RNA viruses to 239 ICTV-recognised species, incorporating taxonomy, discovery dates, locations, genome links, host range, transmissibility, and transmission routes. The dataset shows that most known human-infective RNA viruses remain strictly zoonotic, while only a minority are endemic in humans or capable of epidemic spread.

26 Apr 2026

SARS-CoV-2 rarely reaches first-trimester placentas but still disrupts early pregnancy immunity

Researchers analyzing 761 first-trimester pregnancies found that SARS-CoV-2 was rarely detected in placental tissues, suggesting in utero transmission early in pregnancy is uncommon. However, maternal infection was linked to immune dysregulation at the maternal-fetal interface, altered trophoblast signaling, and inflammatory changes that could affect placental development.

14 Apr 2026

Parents’ intake of sugar substitutes may influence offspring gut biology, study finds

A mouse study in Frontiers in Nutrition found that parental sucralose and stevia intake altered gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and gene expression across generations, with sucralose showing the stronger and more persistent effects. The changes were transmitted to offspring not directly exposed to the sweeteners, although several effects were attenuated by the F2 generation.

13 Apr 2026

Rat hepatitis E virus may be a hidden cause of hepatitis in humans

This Nature Communications review argues that rat hepatitis E virus is an emerging zoonotic cause of hepatitis that is likely underdiagnosed because current tests are limited and awareness remains low. It shows that ratHEV is widespread in urban rodent populations, can infect humans and some other animals, and may spread mainly through indirect environmental exposure rather than direct rodent contact.

12 Apr 2026

How could bisphenol A raise depression risk? Study identifies six key molecular targets

An integrative Translational Psychiatry study linked BPA exposure to major depressive disorder by identifying 571 shared targets and six core genes, with genetic, transcriptomic, docking, and mouse-model data supporting plausible mechanistic pathways. The strongest signals pointed to AKT1, SRC, PLCG2, and JAK3 as potential contributors, while EGFR appeared protective.

31 Mar 2026

New computational method links individual cells to patient outcomes

A computational method called scSurv, developed by researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo, links individual cells to patient outcomes using widely available bulk RNA sequencing data.

23 Mar 2026

Study explores if wastewater can track colorectal cancer at population level

A proof-of-concept study shows that cancer-linked RNA can be detected in wastewater, raising the possibility of tracking colorectal cancer patterns across communities without relying on individual screening.

19 Mar 2026

Scientists identify common symptom patterns in post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome

A registry study across 14 Japanese clinics analyzed 179 cases of post-COVID-19 vaccination syndrome (PCVS) and identified 493 adverse events affecting multiple organ systems. Most symptoms appeared within 90 days, but some occurred much later, highlighting the need for continued vaccine safety monitoring and better clinical frameworks for persistent post-vaccination symptoms.

16 Mar 2026

Why measles remains one of the most contagious viral diseases worldwide

This review synthesizes current evidence on measles virus biology, immune responses, complications, treatments, and prevention strategies. It highlights how measles can suppress immune memory, increasing susceptibility to other infections, and underscores vaccination as the most effective control measure.

4 Mar 2026

Protein partnership enhances innate immune sensing of viral RNA

Study reveals how two proteins cooperate in a key early step of antiviral detection, as reported by researchers at Science Tokyo.

27 Feb 2026

Long-term cola intake weakens immune cell counts in controlled rat study

Replacing drinking water entirely with sugar-sweetened or sugar-free cola for eight weeks altered gut microbiota composition and immune-related indices in rats, despite no changes in body weight or blood glucose. Both beverages were associated with leukocyte reductions and organ-related biochemical shifts, with sugar-sweetened cola more strongly linked to renal markers and diet cola to elevated liver enzymes.

25 Feb 2026

Precision mRNA vaccine strategy shows early promise for improving TNBC relapse risk

An individualized neoantigen mRNA vaccine was tested in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer and showed feasibility, safety, and strong T cell immune responses. Long-term follow-up suggested durable immune memory with encouraging relapse-free outcomes, though controlled trials are needed to confirm clinical benefit.

19 Feb 2026

Gut bacteria patterns help predict insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, study finds

Researchers used 16S rRNA sequencing and machine learning to identify gut microbiome patterns associated with insulin resistance severity in people with type 2 diabetes. XGBoost models showed that specific bacterial genera, including Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium, help distinguish individuals with higher insulin resistance from healthy controls.

19 Feb 2026

COVID vaccination during pregnancy not associated with neurodevelopmental problems in children

The mRNA COVID-19 vaccine is not associated with autism or other neurodevelopmental problems in children whose mothers received the vaccine immediately before or during pregnancy, according to new research presented today at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) 2026 Pregnancy Meeting.

11 Feb 2026

Alzheimer’s plaques decline after CAR-T immune cell treatment in preclinical study

Researchers engineered CD4+ chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting fibrillar amyloid beta and tested them in a mouse Alzheimer model. The preclinical study showed reduced amyloid pathology and altered neuroimmune responses, supporting CAR-T immunotherapy as a potential future Alzheimer strategy.

11 Feb 2026

Large Swedish study finds COVID-19 vaccination unrelated to fertility or childbirth rates

A Swedish registry-based cohort study evaluated whether COVID-19 vaccination affected childbirth rates among women aged 18 to 45 years during the pandemic period. No statistically significant association was found between vaccination, childbirth, or recorded miscarriage rates, suggesting demographic and socioeconomic factors likely explain observed fertility trends.

8 Feb 2026

Artificial lung keeps patient alive after lung removal

Researchers evaluate the effectiveness of a novel extracorporeal total artificial lung system to enable bilateral pneumonectomy in patients with severe ARDS.

5 Feb 2026

Novel RNA molecule may influence patient survival in certain blood cancers

In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), researchers at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center (Texas A&M Health) identify a novel RNA molecule that plays a crucial role in preserving the integrity of a key cellular structure, nucleolus (a dense region of the cell containing a subset of crucial genetic material).

2 Feb 2026