Immune System News and Research

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Errant DNA triggers immune system response against cancer

DNA that ends up where it doesn't belong in cancer cells can unleash an immune response that makes tumors more susceptible to immunotherapy, the results of two UT Southwestern studies indicate.

17 Dec 2020

SARS-CoV-2 surface proteins alter the expression of key chemokines and cytokines in cell lines

Researchers from the Washington University School of Medicine, United States of America, recently demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 surface proteins alone triggered innate cell activity and the interferon signaling pathway.

17 Dec 2020

Natural changes in UV influence the spread of COVID-19, shows study

Natural variations in ultraviolet radiation influence the spread of COVID-19, but the influence is modest compared to preventive measures such as physical distancing, mask wearing, and quarantine, according to new research from Harvard University.

17 Dec 2020

Researchers identify key gene necessary for cells to consume and destroy viruses

A team led by UT Southwestern researchers has identified a key gene necessary for cells to consume and destroy viruses. The findings, reported online today in Nature, could lead to ways to manipulate this process to improve the immune system's ability to combat viral infections, such as those fueling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

17 Dec 2020

Study shows how melanomas assist T cells from identifying and killing tumor cells

Cancers like melanoma are hard to treat, not least because they have a varied bag of tricks for defeating or evading treatments.

17 Dec 2020

Researchers examine proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Like all viruses, the novel coronavirus is dependent on help from the human host cell. Proteins are the functional units of the cell and enable the virus to enter the host cell or help the virus to replicate.

17 Dec 2020

Scientists demonstrate a promising strategy for treating lymphomas

Scientists at Scripps Research have demonstrated a promising new strategy for treating lymphomas, a group of cancers that begin in infection-fighting cells of the immune system called lymphocytes.

16 Dec 2020

Potency of neutralizing antibodies predicts COVID-19 severity and survival

Understanding the body's immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is key to developing effective treatments and long-lasting vaccines.

16 Dec 2020

New screening platform can be used to discover more effective drugs for type 1 diabetes

With nearly 2 million Americans battling type 1 diabetes, it is no surprise that clinical therapies for the disease are constantly evolving and improving.

16 Dec 2020

Lipid mediators can enhance regeneration of inflamed periodontal tissue

Maresin and resolvin, produced by the body from omega-3 fatty acids, can help repair tissue damaged by periodontal disease.

16 Dec 2020

Scientists discover how a 'sociable' protein can hold clues about Alzheimer's origin

An international team of scientists led by the ESRF, the European Synchrotron, have found how the ECSIT protein dictates the behavior of proteins linked to the energy activity in mitochondria, which is largely affected in Alzheimer's disease.

16 Dec 2020

LRA survey: Two-thirds of people with lupus are willing to take COVID-19 vaccine

Two out of three people with lupus (64%) are willing to take a COVID-19 vaccine if it is free and determined safe by scientists according to results of a survey conducted by the Lupus Research Alliance.

16 Dec 2020

Researchers identify new immune cell that acts as major driver of breast cancer growth

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, but many immunotherapies have had limited success in treating aggressive forms of the disease.

16 Dec 2020

AI-based study of social media maps SARS-CoV-2 vaccine hesitancy across the US

Researchers from the University of Rochester, USA, has produced an AI-based study that analyzes the social media platform Twitter to gauge public opinions in the US surrounding SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to shed greater light on this issue.

15 Dec 2020

Tumor's stiff-arm tactic limits the effectiveness of immunotherapeutics

In a paper just published in the Journal for the Immunotherapy of Cancer (doi:10.1136/jitc-2020-001712), Dr Herbert, Head of Discovery at InsideOutBio, asks whether cancer cells stiff-arm immune cells just like rugby players push off defenders from the other team.

15 Dec 2020