The Immune System

Scientists have made a breakthrough towards an off-the-shelf treatment for immunotherapy against cancer. A synthetic protein tweak can allow immune cells from any donor to be given to any patient without the risk of a dangerous immune reaction.

Researchers have discovered new information about how the body’s antibody-mediated immune system works, calling into question long-held scientific understanding and opening the door for potential advancements in immunological treatment.

Autoimmune diseases such as MS and rheumatoid arthritis affect almost four percent of the global population. A new study has now identified a naturally occurring compound that may provide a new way of treating these debilitating diseases.

Scientists have developed a new type of cancer vaccine that shows promise in clearing out leukemia in mice. The technique involves reprogramming cancer cells into immune cells so that they can teach the immune system how to fight off the disease.

While catching sight of Steve Irwin’s best friend and one of nature’s most intimidating ambush predators in the wild would spark fear in anyone, the saltwater crocodile might actually be able to help us in our fight against serious infections.

The negative health effects of chemicals called PFAS continue to be uncovered. Scientists from North Carolina State University (NCSU) have now shown that some types of PFAS can disrupt vital functions of immune cells.

Researchers at UCLA have developed a small sponge that can be implanted next to a tumor to help the body fight it. In tests in mice, the devices induced remission, prevented growth and spread of cancers, and increased survival times.

A rare genetic disease that renders children without a functioning immune system from birth has been effectively cured by an experimental gene therapy. A study has reported on the first 10 children treated with the therapy, all of whom are now healthy.

A combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy has shown promise against stage IV melanoma in a new clinical trial. The chemo drug targets a type of cell that suppresses the immune response, and together the two showed an increased response rate.

New research suggests an immune protein may be a major causal factor in cardiovascular disease, and the discovery points to a range of new kinds of treatments targeting this condition that affects almost every human as they get older.

An experimental anti-obesity drug developed several years ago has been found to prevent intestinal inflammation in mice. The drug has yet to be tested in humans but the findings point to a novel way to prevent flare-ups in patients suffering from IBD.

New research from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology has brought a novel, long-term treatment for severe asthma a step closer, presenting a potential way to block the thickening of airway muscle tissue seen in chronic asthma patients.