New research demonstrates benefits of foods, from eggs to coffee, for lowering risk of diabetes, cancer and other diseases Boston (June 10, 2018) – The foods we eat play a significant role in our health. Scientists are discovering how eggs, nuts, dairy products, vegetables and even coffee can help protect against health problems. Nutrition 2018...
Tag: <span>Immunity</span>
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Scientists work to dissolve the NETs that worsen TBI damage
Immune cells that are first responders to a traumatic brain injury appear to also contribute to the secondary damage that can occur even days later, scientists say. A photo of Dr. Krishnan Dhandapani and Ph.D. student Molly Braun in the Medical College of Georgia lab. Credit: Phil Jones, Senior Photographer, Augusta University The NETs—or neutrophil...
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Restricting unwanted immune reactions
The immune system often initiates its response to pathogens by activating immune cells, so-called phagocytes, which migrate to sites of inflammation. There, the phagocytes release certain proteins, including the S100A8/S100A9 heterodimeric protein complex, which triggers or amplifies the inflammatory reaction at the site of the disease. However, if too many of these complexes are released,...
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Drinking baking soda could be an inexpensive, safe way to combat autoimmune disease
A daily dose of baking soda may help reduce the destructive inflammation of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scientists say. They have some of the first evidence of how the cheap, over-the-counter antacid can encourage our spleen to promote instead an anti-inflammatory environment that could be therapeutic in the face of inflammatory disease, Medical College...
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Engineering innate immunity for therapy
The immune system defends our body against pathogens and cancerous cells, but excessive immunity can, in turn, lead to tissue damages and diseases. For example, scratching the surface of the eye ignites an immune response that aims at preventing infection but can also lead to edema, angiogenesis and eventually loss of sight. By regulating the...
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The Influence of the Gut Microbiome on Cancer, Immunity, and Cancer Immunotherapy
The microbiome is receiving significant attention given its influence on a host of human diseases including cancer. Its role in response to cancer treatment is becoming increasingly apparent, with evidence suggesting that modulating the gut microbiome may affect responses to numerous forms of cancer therapy. A working knowledge of the microbiome is vital as we...
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New immunotherapy for lung cancer shows promise of success
In a groundbreaking development, results from a recent clinical trial to treat lung cancer show that a novel immunotherapy combination is surprisingly effective at controlling the disease’s progression. The study, published April 4 in the journal The Lancet Oncology, focused on non-small cell lung cancer, which is the most common form of lung cancer. IMAGE: In...
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How live vaccines enhance the body’s immune response
Researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin’s university hospital, have discovered a new mechanism by which live vaccines induce immunity. Molecules produced exclusively by live microorganisms are recognized by specialized receptors of the immune system, subsequently triggering a protective immune response. The new findings may help improve the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Results from...
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Researchers target immune cells to slow progression of ALS
IMAGE: This is Dr. Fiona McKay from the Westmead Institute for Medical Research. view more Credit: Westmead Institute for Medical Research New research into Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) – also known as motor neuron disease – shows that specific immune cells may help slow progression of the disease, an important step towards developing new therapies to...
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Researchers develop exciting new vaccine adjuvant
Associate Professors Bridget Stocker and Mattie Timmer from the School of Chemical and Physical Sciences worked with scientists from Japan to develop an adjuvant which can kick-start a powerful immune response and trigger a specific type of T-cell response. Adjuvants are substances that improve the body’s immune response to an antigen. Current vaccines tend to...