Immune System News and Research

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Study finds ‘superbug’ in hands or nostrils of patients staying in the hospital

For decades, hospitals have worked to get doctors, nurses and others to wash their hands and prevent the spread of germs.

15 Apr 2019

Removing damaged mitochondria may relieve chronic inflammatory conditions

Researchers have discovered a potential new way to treat chronic inflammatory diseases, by eliminating damaged mitochondria before they trigger excessive inflammation.

12 Apr 2019

New clinical trial for patients with IBS-D offers real hope and drug free relief

A large clinical trial “RELIEVE-IBS-D” for patients with diarrhea predominant IBS included in the National Institute for Health Research portfolio has started recruitment in England.

12 Apr 2019

NASA Twins Study: Extended spaceflight has small, transient effect on the gut microbiome

A year in space seems to have a small but significant, transient effect on the gut microbiome, according to a new paper on the NASA Twins Study published in the journal Science.

12 Apr 2019

Study describes vulnerability shared by large subset of cancer cell lines

Cancer cells adapt to potentially fatal mutations and other molecular malfunctions by adjusting one or more other genes' activity, in the process becoming dependent on those genes for their survival and growth.

12 Apr 2019

Scientists identify promising small molecules that curb errant proteins of AL amyloidosis

Scientists at Scripps Research have identified a group of small molecules that prevent structural changes to proteins that are at the root of AL amyloidosis, a progressive and often fatal disease.

12 Apr 2019

Improved gut diversity causes 50% reduction in autism symptoms

Changing the microbial environment in the gut in autistic children could substantially reduce the severity of the symptoms they experience, according to new research.

11 Apr 2019

Caregiving may not be as bad for the health as previously believed

For decades, articles in research journals and the popular press alike have reported that being a family caregiver takes a toll on a person’s health, boosting levels of inflammation and weakening the function of the immune system.

11 Apr 2019

German Research Foundation recently approves new research unit

"Cytomegalovirus, beware of this new research group!" This could be the motto of a new research unit recently approved by the German Research Foundation. It is titled: "Advanced concepts in cellular control of cytomegalovirus ".

11 Apr 2019

Maryland researchers find four bat lineages that exhibit extreme longevity

University of Maryland researchers analyzed an evolutionary tree reconstructed from the DNA of a majority of known bat species and found four bat lineages that exhibit extreme longevity.

11 Apr 2019

Researchers find presence of Aire gene in lymph nodes

The thymus is the organ in which T cells differentiate. T cells express various T cell receptors for reacting with various pathogenic microbes and viruses.

11 Apr 2019

Sexual behavior could affect gut microbiome and immune system

A person's sexual behavior could affect their microbiome and immune system, potentially elevating their risk of HIV infection, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

10 Apr 2019

Researchers identify alternative treatment for bacterial meningitis

With the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance, there is a growing need for new treatment strategies against life threatening bacterial infections.

10 Apr 2019

HPV vaccination rates are low, especially in HIV prone populations

HPV vaccination rates in populations at high-risk of contracting HIV are particularly low, increasing the risk of HPV and HIV co-infection.

10 Apr 2019

Single-cell sequencing sheds light on landscape of myeloid cells in lung tumors

The recent emergence of immunotherapy has marked a sea change in research and care for many forms of cancer, bringing new hope to patients and families around the world. For those who respond to treatment, the results can be dramatic.

10 Apr 2019

Eight-year study identifies potential new way to treat extreme childhood food allergy

An eight-year hunt for the cells that drive the extreme childhood food allergy eosinophilic esophagitis has identified a potential new way to treat the disease while also raising questions about a dietary supplement often taken to reduce bowel inflammation.

9 Apr 2019

Common food preservative could make flu vaccine less effective

A preservative commonly used to increase the shelf life of food products may weaken the body’s immune defense against influenza, thus reducing the response to the flu vaccine.

9 Apr 2019

Researchers discover mechanism to form influenza A virus

The influenza A virus is known to form new strains every year. These strains are the result of small variations occurring at the level of the genome, which cause the virus to become different and no longer recognized by the immune system.

9 Apr 2019

Study finds no major epigenetic differences between space astronaut and his earthbound twin brother

In a landmark study, a group of U.S. scientists from Johns Hopkins, Stanford University and other institutions has found no long-lasting, major differences between the epigenomes of astronaut Scott Kelly, who spent a year in space aboard the International Space Station, and his twin brother, Mark, who remained on Earth.

9 Apr 2019

Early molecular signs of high-risk pregnancy revealed

Women who have healthy pregnancies tend to show distinct changes in the activities of immune genes starting early in pregnancy, while women who have complicated pregnancies tend to show clear departures from that pattern, according to a new study from a team led by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and Hospital for Special Surgery.

9 Apr 2019