August 2018

E cigarette. (Source: Jacek Halicki, WikimediaCommons)

E-cigarettes may not be a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.

31st August 2018 A study conducted by Scott et al., utilized a novel method to develop e-cigarette vapour condensate that is physiologically similar to the vapour e-cigarette users are exposed…

ChelekaAugust 31, 2018

breaking news

α4β7-MAdCAM interaction promotes HIV replication.

29th August 2018 Several studies with non-human primates (NHPs) have shown that in -vivo administration of an antibody against the integrin can induce persistent Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) control, delay…

ChelekaAugust 29, 2018

Schematic of the two-compartment model. Each equation represents a concentration of a particular cell type, as outlined in the legend. These concentrations are dependent on other cell concentrations and interactions (as shown by arrows) between cells or compartments. Arrow labels are defined in greater detail in Supplementary Materials 1. Briefly, VprimeN and VprimeCM represents the impact of APCs on naïve and central memory cell recruitment. VNdiffP and VCMdiffP shows the transformation of naïve and central memory T cells to the precursor T cell population. Vprolif, VPdiffE, VPdiffCM, and VEdiffEM represents precursor proliferation and differentiation to effector, central memory and effector memory cell types, respectively. Finally, influx and efflux rates between LN and blood are shown as VNinflux, VCMinflux, VCMefflux, VEefflux, and VEMefflux. (Source Joslyn et al., 2018: Figure 2)

breaking news

Comparing H56 responses in NHP and humans using mathematical modelling.

26th August 2018 Researchers whom tested H56 candidate vaccine in NHPs and humans used mathematical modeling to compare vaccine induced immunity between these two species. H56 is a TB candidate…

ChelekaAugust 26, 2018

Schematic presentation of the mechanisms in the defective humoral response to SFTSV infection. a In the pre-germinal center (pre-GC) phase, persistent viremia primes large quantity of naive B cells into PBs and causes massive monocytic apoptosis, resulting in impaired mDC differentiation, accompanied by the downregulation of TLR3, IL-4 and GM-CSF. Due to insufficient MHC-II antigen presentation by mDCs and B cells, the differentiation and function of Tfh are inhibited, characterized by the decreased numbers and downregulation of IL-21 secretion. Additionally, the expression of PD-1 on Tfh, which act as an important inhibitory molecule of T-cell function, was observed to be persistently upregulated in deceased patients. The expression of three key transcriptional factors, BLIMP-1, IRF-4 and XBP-1, was down-modulated due to the lack of Tfh stimulation. PBs failed to differentiate into non-GC plasma cells and were unable to secret IgM antibodies. b In the GC phase, Ag-experienced B cells interact with cognate Tfh and mDC. However, the B-cell maturation is impaired due to the dysfunction of cognate Tfh and mDC, which, together with the downregulation of TLRs and IL-4, inhibited the induction of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), resulting in the complete inhibition of immunoglobulin class-switch in the deceased patients. Red upward arrow and blue downward arrow denote up and downregulation, respectively. (Source Song et al., 2018. Nat Comm. )

breaking news

Fatal SFTSV is associated with defective B cell responses

22nd August 2018 Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging infectious disease with a 10-30% fatality rate. SFTS is caused by Phlebovirus (also referred to as SFTSV) and…

ChelekaAugust 22, 2018

Colorectal Cancer. Source: Blausen Medical Communications, Inc., Wikimedia Commons

breaking news

Potential treatment for metastatic colorectal cancers: T cell engaging bispecific antibodies

17th August 2018 While improvements in screening procedures and treatments have improved colorectal cancer (CRC) patient outcomes, CRCs still account for 9-10% of all cancers worldwide. While localized cases of…

ChelekaAugust 17, 2018

A mouse lymph node section showing B cell follicles (anti-B220, blue) containing germinal centers (peanut agglutinin (PNA), red), in which B cells are selected for high affinity antibody specificity. CD11b+ dendritic cells CX3CR1-GFP, green) are located in the T cell zone, as well as and subcapsular sinus macrophages (CX3CR1-GFP, green) are present above prominent B cell follicles (empty areas). By Ashley Moseman and Uli von Andrian, Harvard Medical School. (Source:https://www.cell.com/immunity/image-resource-lymphnode)

breaking news

How do γδ T cells control humoral immunity ?

14th August 2018 γδ T cells have also been shown to participate in induction of humoral immune responses by helping B cells. Whether γδ T cells directly interact with B…

ChelekaAugust 14, 2018

Harris et al., 2018: Graphical Abstract.

breaking news

Can antibiotic treatment improve Rotavirus immunogenecity?

10th August 2018 Harris et al., designed a proof-of concept clinical trial that aimed to determine if mimicking some of the bacterial phenotypes observed in the observational studies is associated with improved…

ChelekaAugust 10, 2018

breaking news

Clade C RV144-like vaccine is immunogenic.

7th August 2018 Bekker and colleagues conducted the HVTN100 phase 1/2a clinical trial which aimed at determining the safety and immunogenicity of the Subtype C ALVAC-HIV and bivalent subtype C…

ChelekaAugust 7, 2018

Erythema migrans in Lyme borreliosis. This 2007 photograph depicts the pathognomonic erythematous rash in the pattern of a “bull’s-eye”, which manifested at the site of a tick bite on this Maryland woman’s posterior right upper arm, who’d subsequently contracted Lyme disease. (Source: CDC Public Health Image Library, Photo Credit: James Gathany)

breaking news

Can B cell responses predict resolution of Lyme Disease?

3rd August 2018 Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Infection ...

ChelekaAugust 3, 2018

E-cigarettes may not be a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes.

α4β7-MAdCAM interaction promotes HIV replication.

Comparing H56 responses in NHP and humans using mathematical modelling.

Fatal SFTSV is associated with defective B cell responses

Potential treatment for metastatic colorectal cancers: T cell engaging bispecific antibodies

How do γδ T cells control humoral immunity ?

Can antibiotic treatment improve Rotavirus immunogenecity?

Clade C RV144-like vaccine is immunogenic.

Can B cell responses predict resolution of Lyme Disease?

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