RxPG News : Immunology

Suspected cause of type 1 diabetes caught 'red-handed' for the first time

Fri, 09 May 2008 04:00:00 PST

May 8, 2008 -- Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis working with diabetic mice have examined in unprecedented detail the immune cells long thought to be responsible for type 1 diabetes.

Method for fast human antibodies against flu could find broad use

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have developed a new, faster way to create human monoclonal antibodies against infectious disease by tapping the immune system at the peak of its powers.

Specialized white blood cells coordinate first responders to viral infection

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

Just as fire engines arrive quickly at the scene to save people and property, the cells that fight viruses have to reach the site of an infection promptly to mount a protective response.

A simplified method of giving rabies vaccine

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

A simplified economical method of giving rabies vaccine is just as effective as the expensive standard vaccine regimen at stimulating anti-rabies antibodies.

New vaccine may give long-term defense against deadly bird flu and its variant forms

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A new vaccine under development may provide protection against highly pathogenic bird flu and its evolving forms, according to researchers at Purdue University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who discovered the new preventative drug and have tested it in mice.

Blood pressure enzyme can have tumor-sensing role

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

By increasing production of a blood pressure-regulating enzyme in mice, researchers have found they can enhance the mouse immune system's ability to sense tumor growth.

Researchers uncover new genetic links to psoriasis

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

In the first comprehensive study of the genetic basis of psoriasis, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered seven new sites of common DNA variation that increase the risk of the troublesome skin condition. They also found that variations in one genetic region link psoriasis and a related joint disorder, psoriatic arthritis, to four autoimmune diseases: type 1 diabetes, Grave's disease, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

Findings reveal how dengue virus matures, becomes infectious

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Biologists at Purdue University have determined why dengue virus particles undergo structural changes as they mature in host cells and how the changes are critical for enabling the virus to infect new host cells.

UT-ORNL and UCSD researchers find promise in HIV 'switch'

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

KNOXVILLE -- If the battle against HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is a chess match, then new research published today gives new insight into one of the virus' most important moves.

How do infections and toxins launch a cell's self-destruct and alarm system?

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 04:00:00 PST

Cells are coded with several programs for self-destruction. Many cells die peacefully. Others cause a ruckus on their way out.

Allergic response tied to lipid molecules in cell membrane

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

A team of Penn State University researchers is the first to demonstrate that lipid molecules in cell membranes participate in mammals' reactions to allergens in a living cell. The finding will help scientists better understand how allergy symptoms are triggered, and could contribute to the creation of improved drugs to treat them. The work will be reported in the 14 March issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Scientists successfully treat new mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:00:00 PST

March 6, 2008 -- Researchers trying to improve cancer immune therapy have made an unexpected find: They've produced the most accurate mouse model to date of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a cluster of conditions that afflict approximately 1.4 million Americans with abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea.

Immune deficiency and balance disorder result from single gene defect

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

A genetic defect that causes a severe immune deficiency in humans may also produce balance disorders, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Iowa, The Jackson Laboratory and East Carolina University.

Gene newly linked to inherited ALS may also play role in common dementia

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have linked a mutation in a gene known as TDP-43 to an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the neurodegenerative condition often called Lou Gehrig's disease.

Vaccine/antibody therapy effective, milder side effects in melanoma and ovarian cancer

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

BOSTON--One of the shortcomings of a therapy that uses millions of identical antibodies to boost the immune system's attack on cancer cells is that many patients whose tumors recede in response to the treatment also experience serious inflammatory problems, such as severe diarrhea and rashes. In a new study, a team led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute researchers shows that giving periodic infusions of such monoclonal antibodies to patients who have received a widely used cancer vaccine unleashes a strong immune response to tumors, with less-harsh side effects.

Moving an active gene from the interior of the nucleus can silence genes , preventing their transcription . scientists report .

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:00:00 PST

Moving an active gene from the interior of the nucleus to its periphery can inactivate that gene report scientists from the University of Chicago Medical Center .

Transparent fish to make human biology clearer

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Zebrafish are genetically similar to humans and are good models for human biology and disease. Now, researchers at Children's Hospital Boston have created a zebrafish that is transparent throughout its life. The new fish allows scientists to directly view its internal organs, and observe processes like tumor metastasis and blood production after bone-marrow transplant in a living organism.

T cell immunity enhanced by timing of interleukin-7 therapy

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:25:00 PST

MADISON -- That the cell nurturing growth factor interleukin-7 can help ramp up the ability of the immune system to remember the pathogenic villains it encounters is well known.

Breakdown of kidney's ability to clean its own filters likely causes disease

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

Jan. 29, 2008 -- The kidney actively cleans its most selective filter to keep it from clogging with blood proteins, scientists from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis reveal in a new study.

Eczema still on the increase in developing countries

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

Experts are warning policy makers that allergic disease might replace infectious disease as a major cause of ill health in cities undergoing rapid demographic changes in developing countries.

More sun exposure may be good for some people

Mon, 07 Jan 2008 05:00:00 PST

UPTON, NY - A new study by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory and colleagues in Norway suggests that the benefits of moderately increased exposure to sunlight - namely the production of vitamin D, which protects against the lethal effects of many forms of cancer and other diseases - may outweigh the risk of developing skin cancer in populations deficient in vitamin D. The study will be published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences the week of January 7, 2008.

2 genes are important key to regulating immune response

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 28, 2007) -- A research team at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City has identified two genes that may be crucial to the production of an immune system cytokine called interleukin-10 (IL-10).

Drug aimed at 2 bioterror agents blocks live viral infection, Weill Cornell team reports

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 19, 2007) -- Two deadly and highly infectious viruses -- both potential bioterror threats -- may have met their match in a new drug developed by scientists at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.

Dr. Lewis Drusin receives American College of Physicians James D. Bruce Memorial Award

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

NEW YORK (Dec. 19, 2007) -- In recognition of his distinguished contributions in preventive medicine, epidemiologist Dr. Lewis Drusin of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center has been selected by the American College of Physicians to receive the prestigious James D. Bruce Memorial Award, one of 17 awards in internal medicine for 2008.

Immune system may target some brain synapses, Stanford researchers find

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

STANFORD, Calif. - A baby's brain has a lot of work to do, growing more neurons and connections. Later, a growing child's brain begins to pare down these connections until it develops into the streamlined brain of an adult.

Lymphatic vessel and lymph node function are restored with growth factor treatment

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 05:00:00 PST

The frequent spread of certain cancers to lymph nodes often necessitates surgery or radiation therapy that damages the lymphatic system and can cause lymphedema, a condition of localized fluid retention that often increases susceptibility to infections.

Poxvirus ability to hide from the immune system may aid vaccine design

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

The cowpox virus, a much milder cousin of the deadly smallpox virus, can keep infected host cells from warning the immune system that they have been compromised, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have found. The scientists also showed that more virulent poxviruses, such as the strains of monkeypox prevalent in Central Africa, likely have the same ability.

Abnormal immune cells may cause unprovoked anaphylaxis

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Two new clinical reports shed light on why some people suffer from recurrent episodes of idiopathic anaphylaxis--a potentially life-threatening condition of unknown cause characterized by a drop in blood pressure, fainting episodes, difficulty in breathing, and wheezing.

Mice help researchers understand chlamydia

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Genetically engineered mice may hold the key to helping scientists from Queensland University of Technology and Harvard hasten the development of a vaccine to protect adolescent girls against the most common sexually transmitted disease, Chlamydia.

Study proposes new theory of how viruses may contribute to cancer

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH, Oct. 23 � A new study suggests that viruses may contribute to cancer by causing excessive death to normal cells while promoting the growth of surviving cells with cancerous traits. Viruses may act as forces of natural selection by wiping out normal cells that support the replication of viruses and leaving behind those cells that have acquired defects in their circuitry. When this process is repeated over and over, cancer can develop say study authors, led by Preet M. Chaudhary, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Their findings are published by Public Library of Science in the Oct. 24 issue of PLoS ONE.

Hand hygiene initiative aims to decrease healthcare-associated infection in developing countries

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

An open-access commentary in the December 2007 issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology examines a recently launched a global initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) to combat healthcare-associated infection by improving hand hygiene in health care. The commentary is part of the Global Theme Issue on Poverty and Human Development. An international collaboration organized by the Council of Science Editors of simultaneously published research from more than 200 medical and scientific journals , the Global Theme Issue aims to raise awareness of the relationship between poverty and human development.

Zinc may reduce pneumonia risk in nursing home elderly

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON � When elderly nursing home residents contract pneumonia, it is a blow to their already fragile health. Simin Nikbin Meydani, DVM, PhD of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and colleagues report that maintaining normal serum zinc concentration in the blood may help reduce the risk of pneumonia development in that population.

Scientists discover how gold eases pain of arthritis

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

DURHAM, N.C. � Scientists at Duke University Medical Center may have solved the mystery surrounding the healing properties of gold � a discovery they say may renew interest in gold salts as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases.

Study reveals 2 genes linked to disabling arthritis

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

SEATTLE � An international team of researchers led by a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center geneticist has discovered two genes linked to a disabling form of arthritis called ankylosing spondylitis, a painful and progressive disease in which some or all of the spine�s vertebrae fuse together. The researchers also validated the association of two genes implicated in Graves� disease, an autoimmune condition that causes overactivity of the thyroid gland.

Major genetic breakthrough for ankylosing spondylitis brings treatment hope

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Research funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Arthritis Research Campaign has identified two genes implicated in the disease ankylosing spondylitis, a common disease primarily causing back pain and progressive stiffness. The research, published online today in Nature Genetics, suggests that a treatment currently being trialled for Crohn's disease may also be applied to this disease.

Immune cells fighting chronic infections become progressively 'exhausted,' ineffective

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(PHILADELPHIA) � A new study of immune cells battling a chronic viral infection shows that the cells, called T cells, become exhausted by the fight in specific ways, undergoing profound changes that make them progressively less effective over time.

Cross-species transplant in rhesus macaques is step toward diabetes cure for humans

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, Oct. 18, 2007 � With an eye on curing diabetes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have successfully transplanted embryonic pig pancreatic cells destined to produce insulin into diabetic macaque monkeys � all without the need for risky immune suppression drugs that prevent rejection.

West Nile virus' spread through nerve cells linked to serious complication

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Oct. 18, 2007 -- Scientists believe they have found an explanation for a puzzling and serious complication of West Nile virus infection.

Immune cells promote blood vessel formation in mouse endometriosis

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A discovery in mice of immune cells that promote the formation of new blood vessels could lead to new treatments for endometriosis, a painful condition associated with infertility that affects up to 15 percent of women of reproductive age.

Reunion with patient inspires follow-up study on treatment for DiGeorge syndrome

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

More than 20 years ago, doctors at Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA performed a successful bone marrow transplant on a baby girl who was born without a thymus gland and was suffering from severe immune deficiency. It marked the first time a bone marrow transplant, rather than a thymic transplant, had been used to treat the genetic condition known as DiGeorge Syndrome (DGS).

Feline virus, antiviral drug studied to understand drug resistance

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS , Ohio �Researchers at Ohio State will spend the next two years testing their theories about just how an AIDS-like virus in cats is able to resist the powerful medicines that are thrown against it.

Influenza: Insights into cell specificity of human vs. avian viruses

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Rotterdam, The Netherlands � Researchers have identified which sites and cell types within the respiratory tract are targeted by human versus avian influenza viruses, providing valuable insights into the pathogenesis of these divergent diseases. The report by van Riel et al, �Human and avian influenza viruses target different cells in the lower respiratory tract of humans and other mammals,� appears in the October issue of The American Journal of Pathology and is accompanied by a commentary and highlighted on the cover.

Accentia announces investigational new drug application for Revimmune for refractory MS

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

TAMPA, FL�(October 9, 2007)�Accentia Biopharmaceuticals announces that it met with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 26, 2007 for a scheduled pre-Investigational New Drug (pre-IND) meeting on Revimmune�. The FDA has indicated its support for Accentia to submit an IND for a pivotal Phase 3 randomized controlled, multi-center clinical trial of Revimmune, the company�s potential therapeutic for refractory, relapsing-remitting Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The FDA indicated that they support the proposed submission from Accentia and that they are in overall agreement with the proposed design of the Accentia clinical program.

Stress contributes to range of chronic diseases, Carnegie Mellon psychologist says

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

PITTSBURGH -- In a review of the scientific literature on the relationship between stress and disease, Carnegie Mellon University psychologist Sheldon Cohen has found that stress is a contributing factor in human disease, and in particular depression, cardiovascular disease and HIV/AIDS. Cohen�s findings will be published in the Oct. 10 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The article was co-authored by Denise Janicki-Deverts of Carnegie Mellon and Gregory E. Miller of the University of British Columbia.

Patients with pneumonia who received pneumococcal vaccine have lower rate of death, ICU admission

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Among patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia, those who had previously received the pneumococcal vaccine had a lower risk of death and admission to the intensive care unit than patients who were not vaccinated, according to a report in the Oct. 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

NIH grant supports UCSF research exploring early HIV infection

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

A team led by researchers at the UCSF Positive Health Program has been named to receive $15 million over five years to expand understanding of the complex interactions between HIV and the immune systems of newly infected patients following HIV transmission.

How Candida albicans transforms from its normally benign form into life-threatening form

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's (A*STAR) Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB) have discovered new molecular mechanisms that provide a more detailed understanding of how the normally benign Dr. Jekyll-like fungus known as Candida albicans transforms into a serious and often life-threatening Mr. Hyde-like form.

Scripps research scientists develop innovative dual action anthrax vaccine-antitoxin combination

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The immune response generated in rats by the new agent protects against lethal toxin exposure after only one injection, and is faster and stronger than any currently available vaccine.

Flu vaccine in painless skin patches under development at Emory, Georgia Tech with NIH grants

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Flu vaccine delivered through painless microneedles in patches applied to the skin could soon be an alternative to delivery through hypodermic needles, according to researchers at Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Using new grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling approximately $11.5 million over five years, researchers from the two institutions plan to develop a new vaccine product using the microscopic needles.

New test could help consumers avoid surprise headaches from chocolate, wine

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers in California are reporting development of a fast, inexpensive test suitable for home use that could help millions of people avoid those �out of the blue� headaches that may follow consumption of certain red wines, cheese, chocolate, and other aged or fermented foods.

Depression, aging, and proteins made by a virus may all play role in heart disease

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio � Researchers here have linked an increase in two immune system proteins essential for inflammation to a latent viral infection and proposed a chain of events that might accelerate cardiovascular disease.

Second pathway behind HIV-associated immune system dysfunction identified

Sun, 30 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital (PARC-MGH) may have discovered a second molecular �switch� responsible for turning off the immune system�s response against HIV. Last year members of the same team identified a molecule called PD-1 that suppresses the activity of HIV-specific CD8 T cells that should destroy virus-infected cells. Now the researchers describe how a regulatory protein called CTLA-4 inhibits the action of HIV-specific CD4 T cells that control the overall response against the virus. The report will appear in the journal Nature Immunology and is receiving early online release.

New national study links asthma to allergies

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have found that more than 50 percent of the current asthma cases in the country can be attributed to allergies, with approximately 30 percent of those cases attributed to cat allergy.

Got stress? It could impact breast cancer recurrence

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who have also endured previous traumatic or stressful events see their cancer recur nearly twice as fast as other women, according to a report by a University of Rochester Medical Center scientist.

Possible safer target for anti-clotting drugs found

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have identified a new molecular target in blood clot formation, which seems to reduce clotting without excessive bleeding, the common side-effect of anti-clotting agents.

Immune system modulation can halt liver failure in animals

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers have a developed a totally new approach to treating liver failure � manipulating the immune response. If the results of the animal study can be applied in human patients, the approach may be able to keep patients alive until donor organs become available or to support liver function until the organ can regenerate itself, eliminating the need for a transplant. The findings are being reported in the journal PLOS One.

Ragweed research is nothing to sneeze at

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

To a person with a pollen allergy, an 18-acre ragweed field sounds like a sneezy, red-eyed zone of misery. But to two environmental engineering researchers at The Johns Hopkins University, the parcel presented a rare and valuable opportunity to learn how the troublesome weeds grow, reproduce and scatter their pollen under varying weather conditions.

Black patients with asthma may fare worse regardless of disease severity

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Patients with asthma who are black appear more likely to visit the emergency department or be hospitalized for the condition than those who are white, even in a managed care setting that provides uniform access to care, according to a report in the Sept. 24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Bacteria join ranks of lazy cheaters

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Baseball had its steroids and Black Sox. Politics lived through Watergate. Wall Street has been riddled with insider trading scandals. And before we cast the first stone, who among us has never tried to get through an intersection on a yellow light?

Scientists identify cause of Job's syndrome

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The rare immunodeficiency disorder known as Job�s syndrome is caused by a specific genetic mutation that both overstimulates and understimulates the human immune system, leading to harmful bacterial and fungal infections and the physical features characteristic of the syndrome, according to two independent groups of scientists, one from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the other from the Tokyo Medical and Dental University.

Chronic infection persists by targeting stromal cell network in lymphoid organs

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

One of the biggest challenges to treating infectious diseases and developing preventive vaccines is the ability of many chronic infections to suppress the immune T-cell response over time. An Emory-led team of scientists has discovered one important way in which chronic viral infections are able to evade the immune response. The research is reported this week online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Chronic stress can steal years from caregivers' lifetimes

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS , Ohio � The chronic stress that spouses and children develop while caring for Alzheimer's disease patients may shorten the caregivers' lives by as much as four to eight years, a new study suggests.

New nanoparticle vaccine is more effective but less expensive

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Good news for public health: Bioengineering researchers from the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, have developed and patented a nanoparticle that can deliver vaccines more effectively, with fewer side effects, and at a fraction of the cost of current vaccine technologies.

Immune police recognize good and bad guys in the body

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Immune system police are as good at recognizing bad guys, such as bacteria and viruses, as they are our own tissue, researchers say.

'Fruity vegetables' and fish reduce asthma and allergies

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Giving children a diet rich in fish and �fruity vegetables� can reduce asthma and allergies, according to a seven-year study of 460 Spanish children, published in the September issue of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

Scientists learn role of oxidative stress in estrogen-related bone loss

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have discovered new information about an immune pathway in mice that explains how oxidative stress that results from acute estrogen deficiency leads to the loss of bone. The finding, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could help in identifying a new drug target for preventing postmenopausal bone loss.

Novel virus detection identifies new viruses in study of respiratory infections and asthma attacks

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A new study has found an unexpected number of viruses and viral subtypes in patients with respiratory tract infections (RTIs). The technique used in the study may help identify new viruses associated with human diseases. The study is published in the September 15 issue of The Journal of Infectious Diseases, now available online.

Fever causing headaches for Aussie parents

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Australian parents need to be educated about managing fever in young children because many give medication incorrectly and often unnecessarily, according to a Queensland University of Technology nursing researcher.

Parents' perceptions can hamper kids' asthma care, study finds

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

The next battle in the war on asthma symptom control could be a psychological one, a new study finds.

Study identifies key player in the body's immune response to chronic stress

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

HOUSTON �(Sept. 3, 2007)� Osteopontin (OPN), a protein molecule involved in many different cellular processes, plays a significant role in immune deficiency and organ atrophy following chronic physiological stress, resulting in increased susceptibility to illness. These findings appear in the September 4th issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Melanoma drug revs immune cells but cancer cells ignore it

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS , Ohio � A new study shows that an important drug used in the treatment of malignant melanoma has little effect on the melanoma cells themselves. Instead, it activates immune-system cells to fight the disease.

Novel HIV vaccine created at The Wistar Institute funded for clinical development

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(PHILADELPHIA) � A promising new HIV vaccine created at The Wistar Institute has received funding for clinical development aimed at moving the vaccine into human clinical trials as soon as possible.

Binghamton University researchers investigate evolving malaria resistance

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Funded by a $1.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, scientists at Binghamton University, State University of New York, hope to understand how the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum evolved resistance to the once-effective medication chloroquine.

Researchers discover new strategies for antibiotic resistance

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

TORRANCE (August 29, 2007) - With infections increasingly resistant to even the most modern antibiotics, researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (LA BioMed) report in the September issue of Nature Reviews Microbiology on new clues they have uncovered in immune system molecules that defend against infection.

Clearance of hepatitis C viral infection after liver transplantation

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Touching stories of living donor transplantation are continuously happening in hospitals. One of these stories is reported recently in the August 14 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology because of its shining significance in hepatology. This article is going to bring comfort to many families.

IAVI, CDC and USMHRP release new data redefining laboratory reference ranges in Africa

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

(SEATTLE, August 21, 2007) Leading researchers from the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Military HIV Research Program (USMHRP) presented final results today from a collection of independent studies reexamining the medical criteria for including African volunteers in AIDS vaccine trials. The findings, presented at the AIDS Vaccine 2007 Conference in Seattle, suggest that many healthy Southern and East Africans have, in the past, been excluded from participating in trials based on laboratory reference ranges that were developed for Western populations and may not be appropriate locally. Implementation of the results of the studies should improve participation of African volunteers in clinical trials for new drugs and vaccines against emerging infectious diseases currently ravaging Africa, including AIDS, TB and malaria, and enable clinicians to better monitor and define adverse events in trials.

Compound in broccoli could boost immune system, says new study

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Berkeley -- A compound found in broccoli and related vegetables may have more health-boosting tricks up its sleeves, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley.

Role seen for cannabis in helping to alleviate allergic skin disease

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Administering a substance found in the cannabis plant can help the body's natural protective system alleviate an allergic skin disease (allergic contact dermatitis), an international group of researchers from Germany, Israel, Italy, Switzerland and the U.S. has found.

Key to out-of-control immune response in lung injury found

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine have discovered how a protein modulates the inflammatory response in sudden, life-threatening lung failure. The protein's previously unknown role is reported in the August issue of Nature Medicine.

Penn researchers discover new mechanism for viral replication

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA - Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have identified a new strategy that Kaposis Sarcoma Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) uses to dupe infected cells into replicating its viral genome. This allows the virus to remain virtually undetected by the bodys immune system. Previous work suggested KSHV needed viral proteins to initiate replication, but this is the first study to directly show that a section of viral DNA can independently draw upon proteins within a host cell to promote its own replication. The study was published in the August issue of Cell Host and Microbe.

Tumors use enzyme to recruit regulatory T-cells and suppress immune response

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

One way tumors fly under the radar of the immune system is by using IDO, an enzyme used by fetuses to help avoid rejection, to recruit powerful regulatory T cells that turn down the immune response, researchers say.

Anthrax vaccine produces immunity with nanoparticles, not needles

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

ANN ARBOR, Mich. A vaccine against anthrax that is more effective and easier to administer than the present vaccine has proved highly effective in tests in mice and guinea pigs, report University of Michigan Medical School scientists in the August issue of Infection and Immunity.

HPV vaccine does not appear to be effective for treating pre-existing HPV infection

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

For women with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, use of the HPV-16/18 vaccine will not accelerate reduction of the virus and should not be used to treat the infection, according to a study in the August 15 issue of JAMA.

DNA vaccine against multiple sclerosis appears safe, potentially beneficial

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A newly developed DNA vaccine appears safe and may produce beneficial changes in the brains and immune systems of individuals with multiple sclerosis, according to an article posted online today that will appear in the October 2007 print issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Penn study finds pro-death proteins required to regulate healthy immune function

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have found that proteins known to promote cell death are also necessary for the maturation and proliferation of immune cells. Activation of T-cell receptors on the surface of lymphocytes by foreign antigens initiate a calcium-mediated signaling pathway that ends in cell differentiation and growth. The Penn scientists discovered that in the cells that lack the pro-death proteins Bax and Bak, calcium signaling is disrupted and energy production is reduced. Restoration of Bax corrects the signaling problems, increases energy production, and stimulates cell division.

New study shows promise in reducing surgical risks associated with surgical bleeding

Fri, 10 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

CHICAGO (August 10, 2007) Surgeons may have a new patient safety tool to stop moderate surgical bleeding without some of the concerns associated with the current standard blood-clotting treatment. New research published in the August issue of the Journal of the American College of Surgeons shows that recombinant human thrombin (rhThrombin) reduces the risk of surgical complications associated with the use of plasma-derived bovine thrombin (bThrombin), which is currently the only commercially available stand-alone thrombin used to improve clotting during surgical procedures and stop bleeding.

Study reveals gaps in vaccine financing for underinsured children

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

A national survey of state immunization program managers reveals gaps in coverage for the current vaccine financing system, suggesting that many underinsured children may not receive recommended vaccinations, such as for pneumonia and meningitis, according to a report in the August 8 issue of JAMA.

Study suggests nonpharmaceutical interventions may be helpful in severe influenza outbreaks

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

An analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions used in the U.S. during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, such as closing schools and banning public gatherings, found an association between these interventions and reduced death rates, suggesting that non-pharmaceutical interventions may play a role in planning for future influenza pandemics, according to a study in the August 8 issue of JAMA.

Penn researchers discover how key protein stops inflammation

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine recently identified how a regulatory protein called Bcl-3 helps to control the bodys inflammation response to infection by interfering a critical biochemical process called ubiquitination. While previous studies suggested Bcl-3 plays a role in immunity, this is the first report that Bcl-3 regulates inflammation by blocking ubiquitination.

Green tea holds promise as new treatment for inflammatory skin diseases

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Green tea could hold promise as a new treatment for skin disorders such as psoriasis and dandruff, Medical College of Georgia researchers say.

World's largest respiratory health study launches next phase

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS), the worlds largest and longest runningrespiratory health research study, is launching a new research phase focussing on the 21,000brothers and sisters of the original sample.

NYUCD's Dr. Daniel Malamud awarded $6.8 million NIH grant for HIV research

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

New York University College of Dentistrys (NYUCD) Dr. Daniel Malamud, a professor of basic science and craniofacial biology, has been awarded a five-year, $6,800,000 grant from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to head up a research collective consisting of four interrelated research projects, along with Administrative/Biostatistical and Clinical Core components. The collectives overall goal is to define the interactions between host defense molecules and bacteria in HIV infection and subsequent antiretroviral therapy.

Immune mechanism could help explain transient immune suppression often seen in acute infections

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Scientists have discovered that at the same time the immune system is vigorously attacking invading viruses or bacteria, it is unexpectedly reducing its production of a particular type of factor that directs the movement of immune cells. The new finding, which could help explain the transient immune suppression often seen during acute infections, shows that the immune system is even more complex than previously believed.

Phase II study of therapeutic vaccine shows efficacy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA A therapeutic cancer vaccine has shown effectiveness when given alongside chemotherapy to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer in a phase II trial, according to researchers at Oxford BioMedica (UK) Ltd. The study found that six of the 17 metastatic colorectal cancer patients in the study showed tumor shrinkage, classified as complete or partial responses following independent expert review.

Research teams uncover risk genes for multiple sclerosis

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Two new large-scale genomic studies have honed in on the main genetic pathway associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), while also uncovering new genetic variations in the disease and suggesting a possible link between MS and other autoimmune diseases.

Promising treatment target found in Hodgkin lymphoma

Mon, 30 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

BOSTON--Dana-Farber Cancer Institute scientists have identified a protein that prevents the body's immune system from recognizing and attacking Hodgkin lymphoma cells. Based on this finding, the researchers are now investigating targeted therapies to disable this molecular bodyguard and boost a patient's ability to fight the blood cancer.

After a decades-long search, scientists identify new genetic risk factors for multiple sclerosis

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

A pair of large-scale genetic studies supported by the National Institutes of Health has revealed two genes that influence the risk of getting multiple sclerosis (MS) data sought since the discovery of the only other known MS susceptibility gene decades ago. The findings could shed new light on what causes MS a puzzling mix of genes, environment and immunity and on potential treatments for at least 350,000 Americans who have the disease.

New research identifies anti-viral protein that may predict who might be at risk to develop lupus

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Certain families produce higher levels of a specific molecule, called interferon-alpha, that primes the bodys immune system to turn on, and in some cases initiate an autoimmune attack on itself, according to new research from Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

New target for HIV/AIDS drugs and vaccine discovered

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Researchers from Rome, Italy, describe a finding in the August 2007 print issue of The FASEB Journal that could lead to new drugs to fight the HIV/AIDS virus, as well as new vaccines to prevent infection. It has been known that HIV proteins disable the antibody-forming part of the immune system (the homeland defense or acquired immune system). In this report, researchers demonstrate for the first time how the HIV-1 Nef viral protein delivers a one-two punch to the bodys innate immune system (our early warning system composed of dendritic and natural killer cells). First, Nef hijacks dendritic cells (DCs) to upset the function of natural killer (NK) cells. Second, after blocking this first line of defense against the immune system, Nef uses DCs and NK cells to create a microenvironment that actually makes it easier for HIV/AIDS to replicate.

GPs antibiotic prescribing practices are still contributing to resistance

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

GPs are still prescribing antibiotics for up to 80% of cases of sore throat, otitis media, upper respiratory tract infections, and sinusitis, despite the fact that official guidance warns against this practice, according to an analysis1 of the worlds largest primary care database of consultations and prescriptions, published this week in a supplement2 to the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.