Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Spirulina Pacifica supplement may improve immune function, anemia in senior citizens

Cyanotech Corporation, world leader in microalgae-based health and nutrition supplements, announced today that researchers at the University of California at Davis have determined that microalgae-based Hawaiian Spirulina Pacifica may improve immune function and ameliorate anemia in persons over 50.

17 Feb 2011

Clinical trial finds atorvastatin may inhibit HIV progression, help in infection's management

A recent multicenter clinical trial of atorvastatin, a type of cholesterol-lowering drug, found that although the drug did not inhibit plasma HIV RNA levels, it did inhibit expression of cellular markers of immune activation and inflammation in patients with HIV infection.

17 Feb 2011

Astellas, AVEO enter development, commercialization agreement for tivozanib

Astellas Pharma Inc., a global pharmaceutical company, and AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that they have entered into a worldwide agreement outside of Asia to develop and commercialize tivozanib, AVEO's lead product candidate designed to optimally block the VEGF pathway by inhibiting all three VEGF receptors, for the treatment of a broad range of cancers.

17 Feb 2011

New fully human monoclonal antibodies to battle Chikungunya

The Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), an institute of the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), and VIVALIS, a French biopharmaceutical company, announced today the discovery of two new fully human monoclonal antibodies which could battle Chikungunya, a disease that currently has no available vaccine or specific treatment.

16 Feb 2011

Flu vaccine update

This new vaccine which could become available in the United States in the next few years, is made by growing the influenza virus in cultures of animal cells rather than in the chicken eggs that have been used for more than five decades. This shortens the process by six months. Using animal cells, which are grown in enclosed steel tanks, also reduces the risk of bacterial contamination, which has led to shortages of seasonal vaccines in some years. The study was reported in The Lancet this Tuesday.

16 Feb 2011

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia establishes Jeffrey Modell Endowed Chair in Pediatric Immunology Research

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia today announced the establishment of the Jeffrey Modell Endowed Chair in Pediatric Immunology Research.

16 Feb 2011

NGDI-UBC, CDRD partner for drug development platform to treat neglected global diseases

The Centre for Drug Research and Development and the Neglected Global Diseases Initiative at the University of British Columbia today announced that they will collaborate on developing interventions for neglected global diseases and ensuring their delivery to those in need.

16 Feb 2011

New review of anthrax case discussed by review committee vice chair, Stanford bioterrorism expert

In 2001, a mystery perpetrator mailed a series of anthrax-laced letters to several locations, killing five people. In 2008, shortly after emerging as the prime suspect in an exhaustive investigation by the FBI, an Army microbiologist, Bruce Ivins, PhD, committed suicide. This morning, a National Academy of Sciences committee, charged in September 2008 with reviewing the scientific approaches used by the FBI in that investigation, released its report.

15 Feb 2011

Zinc supplements reduce burden of common cold

Zinc supplements reduce the severity and duration of illness caused by the common cold, according to a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library. The findings could help reduce the amount of time lost from work and school due to colds.

15 Feb 2011

Corgenix second quarter revenues decrease 8.9%

Corgenix Medical Corporation, a worldwide developer and marketer of diagnostic test kits, today filed its second quarter Form 10-Q and reported its financial results. The report disclosed that the company's revenues slightly declined during the quarter but were more than offset by decreases in operating expenses and interest expense, resulting in a smaller net loss for the period.

14 Feb 2011

Cord Blood America purchases minority interest in Stem Cells VIDAPLUS

Cord Blood America, Inc., the umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company focused on bringing the life saving potential of stem cells to families nationwide and internationally, announced today that it has purchased a minority interest in Stem Cells VIDAPLUS, a Spanish-owned company which preserves umbilical cord stem cells at the Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology of the Red Cross in Frankfurt, Germany.

14 Feb 2011

New study establishes link between coronary artery disease and genetic susceptibility

A new study involving researchers at the Scripps Translational Science Institute and Scripps Health patients reveals major scientific progress in understanding the mechanism of heart disease at the molecular and genomic levels. STSI is an initiative of Scripps Health in collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute.

14 Feb 2011

First evidence of human DNA fragment in bacterial genome

If a human cell and a bacterial cell met at a speed-dating event, they would never be expected to exchange phone numbers, much less genetic material. In more scientific terms, a direct transfer of DNA has never been recorded from humans to bacteria.

14 Feb 2011

Scientists produce SR-3306 compound to protect brain cells from Parkinson's disease

Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have produced the first known compound to show significant effectiveness in protecting brain cells directly affected by Parkinson's disease, a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder.

13 Feb 2011

HIV infection in mothers reduces disease resistance in babies: Study

New research suggests that babies whose mothers have HIV, but are not HIV-infected themselves, are born with lower levels of specific proteins in their blood called antibodies, which fight infection, compared with babies not exposed to HIV.

13 Feb 2011

GE Capital supports eBioscience with $55 million in senior secured credit facilities

GE Capital, Healthcare Financial Services announced today that it is agent and a lender for $55 million in senior secured credit facilities for eBioscience, Inc. The credit facilities will be used to finance the company's repurchase of certain shares from early investors, refinance existing debt, and provide growth capital.

11 Feb 2011

Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation awards $3M to Cleveland physicians for AIDS research

A three-year, $3 million gift from the Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation will fund research by a pair of Cleveland physicians into HIV and the body's response in autoimmune diseases.

11 Feb 2011

Global Hygiene Council: Three simple steps to keep your family protected against infections

The Global Hygiene Council, a group of leading health and hygiene experts from around the world, convened in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss how proper hygiene plays a critical role in preventing the spread of illness and improving health around the world.

10 Feb 2011

First patient treated in cytomegalovirus~ACE/ASPECT Phase II randomised clinical trial

Cell Medica, a leading UK cellular therapeutics company that develops, manufactures and markets cellular immunotherapy products for the treatment of infectious disease and cancer, announces today that the first patient has been treated in the CMV~ACE/ASPECT trial at University College Hospital London.

10 Feb 2011

Pediatricians can play a key role in promoting tobacco-free lifestyle among children, adolescents

Nicotine addiction usually begins during the critical teenage years, and pediatric healthcare professionals can play a prominent role in promoting a tobacco-free lifestyle among children and adolescents, as described in an article published online ahead of print in Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, & Pulmonology, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.

10 Feb 2011

Immunology News and Research

Latest Immunology News and Research

Spirulina Pacifica supplement may improve immune function, anemia in senior citizens

Clinical trial finds atorvastatin may inhibit HIV progression, help in infection's management

Astellas, AVEO enter development, commercialization agreement for tivozanib

New fully human monoclonal antibodies to battle Chikungunya

Flu vaccine update

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia establishes Jeffrey Modell Endowed Chair in Pediatric Immunology Research

NGDI-UBC, CDRD partner for drug development platform to treat neglected global diseases

New review of anthrax case discussed by review committee vice chair, Stanford bioterrorism expert

Zinc supplements reduce burden of common cold

Corgenix second quarter revenues decrease 8.9%

Cord Blood America purchases minority interest in Stem Cells VIDAPLUS

New study establishes link between coronary artery disease and genetic susceptibility

First evidence of human DNA fragment in bacterial genome

Scientists produce SR-3306 compound to protect brain cells from Parkinson's disease

HIV infection in mothers reduces disease resistance in babies: Study

GE Capital supports eBioscience with $55 million in senior secured credit facilities

Richard J. Fasenmyer Foundation awards $3M to Cleveland physicians for AIDS research

Global Hygiene Council: Three simple steps to keep your family protected against infections

First patient treated in cytomegalovirus~ACE/ASPECT Phase II randomised clinical trial

Pediatricians can play a key role in promoting tobacco-free lifestyle among children, adolescents

Immunology eBook

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut