Immune System News and Research

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Research article focuses on how IECs respond to probiotic strain B. lactis HN019

Probiotics are a group of live microorganisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host. This bacterial community plays a pivotal role in human nutrition and health by promoting the supply of nutrients, preventing pathogen colonization and shaping and maintaining normal mucosal immunity.

13 May 2010

Researchers develop new approach to immunotherapy of cancer

Harnessing the immune system is emerging as one of the most promising new ways to fight cancer. Most cancer cells are eliminated by the immune system; however, over a lifetime, a few may escape this immune surveillance and lead to tumors and metastases. Hence a formidable opportunity has been to find ways to make the immune system recognize the tumor as a foreign body and trigger a response.

13 May 2010

Research sheds light on prenatal heart formation, chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome

Researchers studying the common genetic disorder chromosome 22q.11 deletion syndrome have identified key proteins that act together to regulate early embryonic development. One protein is essential to life; in animal studies, embryos without the protein do not survive past the first few days of gestation.

13 May 2010

Sex can affect frequency and severity of adverse effects of vaccination

Biological differences between the sexes could be a significant predictor of responses to vaccines, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. They examined published data from numerous adult and child vaccine trials and found that sex is a fundamental, but often overlooked predictor of vaccine response that could help predict the efficacy of combating infectious disease.

13 May 2010

Survey shows alarming increase of peanut allergies in children

Results of a nationwide telephone survey have shown that the rate of peanut allergies in children more than tripled from 1997 to 2008. The data are reported in the May 12 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

13 May 2010

Melanoma is becoming increasingly common: Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource

Melanoma -- the most serious form of skin cancer -- is becoming increasingly common, according to the May issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource.

13 May 2010

Tracking genes in infant's intestine helps compare early development of breast-fed and formula-fed babies

Is breast milk so different from infant formula? The ability to track which genes are operating in an infant's intestine has allowed University of Illinois scientists to compare the early development of breast-fed and formula-fed babies. They say the difference is very real.

13 May 2010

Microbiologists identify potential target in cattle to prevent E. coli strain

Microbiologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center, working with the Department of Agriculture, have identified a potential target in cattle that could be exploited to help prevent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses caused by a nasty strain of Escherichia coli.

13 May 2010

Updated data from Vical's Phase 2 trial of high-dose Allovectin-7 in metastatic melanoma patients

Vical Incorporated announced the publication in the June issue of Melanoma Research of updated data from the company's Phase 2 trial of high-dose (2 mg) Allovectin-7® in patients with metastatic melanoma. A separate article in the May issue of Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy reviewed results from the Phase 2 trial and previous clinical studies of Allovectin-7®.

12 May 2010

MicroStockProfit.com releases investment report featuring Hemispherx Biopharma

MicroStockProfit.com announces an investment report featuring biopharmaceutical company Hemispherx Biopharma Inc. The report includes financial, comparative and investment analysis, and industry information you need to know to make an educated investment decision.

12 May 2010

Giardia's surface proteins may work as vaccines to help prevent infections: Research scholar

The intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia changes outfits nearly as often as a fashion model on a Parisian runway. With more than 200 protein coats in its molecular wardrobe, this troublesome creature-the cause of innumerable cases of diarrheal infections each year-can change its appearance from one instant to the next, throwing the body's immune cells off track.

12 May 2010

Mutation causing light chain amyloidosis identified

Light chain amyloidosis, a deadly protein misfolding disease, is caused by multiple mutations in cells that are intended to protect the body. Instead, the mutations send misfolded bundles of proteins through the bloodstream, potentially destroying the heart, kidneys, liver or other organs. Mayo Clinic researchers have identified one of these mutations and have shown that the molecule's shifting position is as important as its unique shape. The findings appear in the current issue of the journal Structure.

12 May 2010

Researchers develop anti-angiogenic molecule SR16388 for treatment of MM

SRI International, an independent nonprofit research and development organization, announced today that researchers have developed an anti-angiogenic molecule SR16388 that has demonstrated preclinical antitumor activity against multiple myeloma.

12 May 2010

Allergic conditions that result from hyper reactive immune system may lower cancer risk: Study

If you have asthma or eczema, your hyper reactive immune system may lower your risk of some of the most common types of cancer, according to a study published this month in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

12 May 2010

Amorfix, Epitomics collaborate to develop high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against cancer targets

Amorfix Life Sciences and Epitomics, Inc. announced today that they have entered into an agreement to develop high-affinity monoclonal antibodies against a number of targets for cancer. Amorfix has identified several disease specific epitopes (DSEs) on misfolded proteins with their proprietary ProMIS(TM) computational platform discovery technology, which will be used by Epitomics to generate highly specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).

11 May 2010

Potential new drug therapies for treatment of tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) has been present in humans since ancient times. The origins of the disease date back to the first domestication of cattle, and skeletal remains show prehistoric humans (4,000 B.C.) had TB. Although relatively rare in the United States, it is the single leading bacterial cause of death worldwide. Approximately 8 million people are infected each year and 2 million people die from TB.

11 May 2010

Pregnant women at risk for pregnancy problems caused by oral bacteria

Even healthy pregnant women can be at risk for pregnancy problems caused by oral bacteria. Researchers from Case Western Reserve University began to understand which bacteria from the 700 species living in the mouth are responsible for the growing health problem of preterm and stillbirths.

11 May 2010

Study: Omega-3 fatty acids can help mitigate bone loss

NASA-sponsored studies have found that omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil may play a role in mitigating bone breakdown that occurs during spaceflight and in osteoporosis. Ongoing research for decades has looked for ways to stop bone density loss in astronauts.

11 May 2010

New findings could help develop vaccines against respiratory infections

Inducing cellular immunity as a means to protect against influenza virus is the focus of several laboratories at the Trudeau Institute. Researchers here have recently identified two important signaling components required by the immune system that might allow us to pre-position our own virus-fighting T cells to the lungs, the site of initial infection.

11 May 2010

Immunomedics third-quarter revenues increase to $10.7 million

Immunomedics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer and other serious diseases, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended March 31, 2010. The Company also highlighted recent key developments and planned activities for its clinical pipeline.

10 May 2010