Kawasaki disease is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children, however the cause remains unknown. Both infectious and environmental agents are considered as possibilities. In this study Rodó et al. compared daily Kawasaki disease case records occurring in Japan with models …
2014
HIV integration into the host DNA is not a random event.
HIV is a persistent viral infection and even in the presence of an effective antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimen, the virus hides in a latent state. In the 1st August edition of Science, investigators at the University of Washington, Seattle, have shown using very …
New model for treatment of RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can produce acute respiratory illness in patients of all ages, but strikes the age extremes, infants and the elderly, with highest frequency. Accounting for approximately 64 million cases of respiratory disease and 200 000 deaths worldwide each year. The current …
Activation of HIV transcription in latently infected cells
The long term persistence of latently infected resting memory T-cells in HIV-infected patients is an important barrier to cure. Therefore finding a way to overcome and eliminate latently infected cells is important in the strategies for HIV treatment. One such method is to activate …
A link between the gut microbiome and brain function?
Correlations between the gut microbiome and behavioural conditions, especially autism have made neuroscientists sit up and attempt to understand how gut bacteria may influence the brain. In the most recent edition of Nature, there is a short piece to highlight the upcoming 19 November …
Tumor-associated neutrophils stimulate T cell responses in early-stage human lung cancer
Studies suggest that tumor initiation and progression are commonly accompanied by a low grade underlying inflammation...
Can environmental non-TB mycobacteria interferes with immunity to TB?
A ubiquitous group of mycobacteria found in the environment are known as non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). These are opportunistic pathogens that can cause disease in people, especially in immunocompromised individuals. Being able to distinguish between NTM and tuberculosis (TB) represents a major challenge. Are the …
Dissecting tumor myeloid compartments to reveal APC critical for T Cell immunity
In the latest edition of Cancer Cell researchers from University of California SF, look closely at intratumoral dendritic cells (DC). It is well understood that antigen-presenting cells (APCs) within tumors typically do not maintain cytotoxic T cell (CTL) function, despite engaging them. However within …
Fruit Bats and Flu
In the past, influenza A virus has been found in fruit bats from Guatemala, Central America. A recent publication in PloS Pathogens, has found similar viruses in bat species from South America. When the authors examined rectal swabs from bats sampled in the …
Efficient 1-step radiolabeling of monoclonal antibodies for targeted radioimmunotherapy treatment of cancer
Radioimmunotherapy treatment options for cancer patients are not without their own difficulties such as damage to surrounding non- cancerous cells and treatment side effects. Now radionuclides attached to antibodies have the potential to target radiation specifically to cancer cells, thereby reducing unwanted damage to …