To dissect the effect of HIV and HPV on cervical immunity, Mbuya et al. analysed the expression of activation and memory markers on systemic and cervical T cells in relation to HIV or HPV infection.
March 2021
Predicting tissue graft outcomes using immune markers
An Italian research team has recently shown that immune markers, CXLC10 and IL-6, are able to predict the viability of grafts taken from donor patients who have suffered brain death. Researchers hope that routine measurement of these markers in patients...
JoAnne Flynn: BCG IV vaccination induces sterilising M.tb immunity.
Darrah et al., showed that BCG-IV resulted in superior T cell and antigen-presenting cell recruitment to the lung compared to other vaccination strategies. In addition to T cell and innate immunity, BCG-IV also induced superior...
Flynn Webinar: What immune cells play a role in protection against M.tb re-infection?
Research led by Dr Flynn aimed to determine if CD4 T cells are necessary for protection against reinfection. To test this hypothesis, CD4 T cells were depleted in infected and treated NHPs before a second Mtb challenge.
Flynn Webinar: Immune features associated natural infection
Can we determine host immune responses associated with resolving (sterile) and permissive (M.tb growth and eventual dissemination) granulomas? This summary highlights recent findings that suggest immune signatures associated with M.b control.
BCG vaccination reduces infection in the elderly
Interim analysis of a BCG vaccination trial that aimed to determine if BCG induces non-specific protection against any infection demonstrated that elderly BCG vaccination is safe and reduces the incidence of respiratory infections.
Exploratory study investigates the relationship between recent vaccinations and SARS-CoV-2 infection rates.
Pawlowski et al. analysed immunisation records of to determine if historical vaccination (within 5 years) afforded any protection against SARS-CoV-2 in individuals who received SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests.
Statins: improved survival rates and reduced mortality rate in COVID-19 patients.
Researchers carried out a literature search from January 2019 to December 2020 to identify studies that reported the association between statin usage and adverse outcomes, including mortality, ICU admissions, and mechanical ventilation.
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells: drivers of severe COVID-19 disease?
Scientists from Karolinska University investigated Monocytic Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSCs) in COVID-19 patients across the spectrum of COVID-19 disease and compared this to influenza patients and healthy controls.
Webinar on harnessing innate immunity from cancer therapy to COVID-19
In this webinar, Eric Vivier describes novel immunotherapies that aim to improve cancer and COVID-19 pathogenesis by targetting promoting NK cell-mediated and blocking C5a mediated immunity, respectively.