Bonamy Holtak

A new study highlights significant genetic diversity in African populations within genes linked to humoral inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), a group of rare disorders characterized by impaired antibody production…

Researchers from Griffith University and collaborators have reported promising results from a Phase II clinical trial of a novel drug designed to treat sepsis, a life-threatening condition with no approved…

New research shows that interactions between microbes and immune cells shortly after birth play a critical role in setting long-term immune balance in the skin (Figure 1). The study reveals…

Researchers have uncovered new evidence linking Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) to the immune dysfunction seen in multiple sclerosis (MS) (Figure 1). The study points to an unexpected role for CD8+ “killer”…

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer treatment, but many patients, including up to 40% with melanoma, do not respond because tumors create highly immunosuppressive environments. Researchers have now developed an…

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses continue to cause sporadic human infections and remain a pandemic concern. New research (in press) suggests that this may be partly explained by variation…

Researchers have identified a critical enzyme that controls how long-lived tissue-resident macrophages develop and function across the body (Figure 1). These immune cells are essential for maintaining organ health, clearing…

Mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis can survive and multiply inside immune cells called macrophages, but how they achieve this has remained unclear. New research reveals that these bacteria hijack a…

A new pilot study suggests that prolonged exposure to airborne pollen, particularly ragweed, may worsen symptoms and quality of life in people with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The research found that…

A large population-based study suggests that receiving the shingles vaccine may be associated with slower biological aging at the molecular level (Figure 1). Researchers analysed data from nearly 4,000 U.S.…

Large population study identifies metabolic signatures that improve early risk prediction (Figure 1). Figure 1: Study overview. a, To identify blood metabolites associated with incident T2D, we analyzed 469 harmonized…

Chronic, low-grade inflammation is a defining feature of obesity and a major contributor to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. New research reveals…

New research identifies the immune cells that travel from skin to joints and why they trigger disease in some patients (Figure 1). Figure 1: CD11b+ myeloid cells migrate from the…

New studies show that preserving lymph nodes may be critical for effective anti-tumour immune responses (Figure 1). Figure 1: LNs preserve the stemness, proliferative fitness and polyfunctionality of T cells.…

New research reveals that CD8⁺ T cells rely on caspase-8 to control Toxoplasma infection in the brain (Figure 1). Figure 1: Caspase-8 is essential for controlling T. gondii infection in…

A comprehensive single-cell atlas reveals how tissue environment and time shape eosinophil identity across the body (Figure 1). Figure 1: Single-cell transcriptomics analysis identifies tissue-specific eosinophil states. a, Schematic diagram…

New research uncovers how tumours use TGF-β to build a powerful double barrier against the immune system and how it might be dismantled (Figure 1). Figure 1: Inhibition of T…

Researchers find that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate restores key brain functions disrupted by Alzheimer’s in preclinical models (Figure 1). Figure 1: CaAKG ameliorates impaired LTP in APP/PS1 mice with a more profound…

Researchers use a temporary “liver factory” to restore T cell strength in older mice (Figure 1). Figure 1: Hepatic reconstitution of declining T cell signalling factors to restore immune signalling…

New analysis suggests immune signatures can guide safer, more effective checkpoint inhibitor combinations in melanoma (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed melanoma treatment, but…

New research links oral bacteria to disability severity in MS, pointing to a possible “oral–brain axis” (Table 1). Table 1: Proportion of patients with high and low relative abundances of…

New research shows that beneficial bacteria train the maternal immune system to tolerate the developing fetus (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. Pregnancy poses a remarkable immunological challenge: the mother’s…

A new deep-learning framework combines protein language models and 3D structure to accelerate vaccine antigen discovery. Vaccines remain the most powerful tool for preventing infectious diseases but designing them is…

Clinical trial data show nemolizumab eases itch and improves sleep within days for people with severe eczema and prurigo nodularis (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. For people living with…

New strategies aim to overcome the biggest barrier to CAR-T success beyond blood cancers (Figure 1). Figure 1: Key features that prevent CAR-T cells from infiltrating solid tumors through the…

New research reveals that deadly filoviruses directly infect intestinal cells, disrupting fluid balance and driving life-threatening diarrhoea (Figure 1). Figure 1: Directed differentiation of human iPSCs into region-specific intestinal (HIOs)…

Researchers uncover “pseudo leukotrienes” that could reshape how asthma and inflammatory diseases are treated (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. For decades, asthma has been explained by a familiar culprit:…

Researchers uncover how chemotherapy-like strategies may selectively eliminate HIV-infected immune cells (Figure 1). Figure 1: Antiproliferative drugs abrogate the proliferation of HIV-1–infected cells reactive to Gag peptides. (A) Schematic representation…

New research links poor sleep and anxiety to reduced natural killer cells in young adults (Figure 1). Figure 1: Anxiety has a negative influence on the percentage of peripheral NK…

A new study identifies “mitoxyperilysis,” a previously unknown cell death pathway that could be harnessed to treat cancer (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. In many diseases, from infections to…

New ANAcare report offers clinicians a practical roadmap for accurate, consistent diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy (Figure 1). Figure 1: Typology of IgE-mediated, non–IgE-mediated, and mixed-type food allergies. Diagnosing food…

New research shows that dietary iron deficiency impairs antiviral immunity in the lungs and the effects may persist even after iron levels return to normal (Figure 1). Figure 1: Mouse…

New research shows that protecting infants from RSV could prevent asthma later in life. A major international study has uncovered compelling evidence that respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in early…

The study titled “Multilevel systems biology analysis identifies key immune response profiles and potential correlates of protection for the M72/AS01E vaccine against tuberculosis” applies an integrated computational framework to characterize…

Scientists develop a non-invasive nanomedicine that delivers immune-stimulating therapy directly to brain tumours (Figure 1). Figure 1: cGAS-agonistic ISD45-SNAs activate the cGAS-STING pathway in murine macrophages. (A) Schematic of the…

In a recent study, researchers uncover how changes in joint immune cells may explain treatment resistance in rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes painful…

New research reveals an unexpected immune-driven cause of chemotherapy-induced nerve damage and a possible way to prevent it (Figure 1). Figure 1: Paclitaxel activates IRE1α in immune cells in the…

Scientists discover the molecular switch that drives tissue-resident memory T cell development, opening new doors for cancer, infection, and autoimmune therapies. Our immune system relies on a hidden army of…

Recent advances in single-cell technologies and immune profiling have revealed just how diverse T-cell populations are. They exist far beyond the classic “CD4 helper” vs “CD8 cytotoxic” labels. But the…

New “protein-degrading” compounds show promise against aggressive pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies, notoriously resistant to chemotherapy and…

A recent study reveals how Epstein–Barr virus reprograms immune cells to attack the body’s own tissues (Figure 1). Figure 1: EBV-seq enables identification of EBV-infected B cells. (A) An EBV-seq…

Researchers use artificial intelligence to create functional antibodies against deadly viruses, without needing a physical sample (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. A new study published in Cell demonstrates how…

A new longitudinal study tracked anti-wildtype SARS-CoV-2 spike IgG levels monthly in healthy adults from 2020 onwards, analysing responses after mRNA vaccinations and in the context of so-called hybrid immunity…

A new study uncovers how immune cells can exploit aberrant protein synthesis in cancer cells to identify shared, highly expressed targets for adoptive T-cell therapy (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical…

New research reveals how oxygen deprivation leaves a lasting genetic imprint on the body’s infection-fighting cells (Figure 1). Figure 1: ARDS induces long-term alterations of neutrophil phenotypes and functions. a–i,…

Brain tumours represent one of the greatest challenges in modern cancer immunotherapy. Unlike other malignancies, they develop within the brain’s immune-privileged environment, a highly protected space designed to limit inflammation…

Why do some people get dangerously ill from infections while others recover quickly? Age, sex, smoking, and obesity have long been known to raise risk, but what connects these seemingly…

A new study maps how immune and brain cells interact to sustain long-term inflammation in multiple sclerosis (Figure 1). Figure 1: Graphical abstract. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is often described as…

Lung transplantation offers a vital lifeline for patients with end-stage lung disease, yet more than 50% of lung-transplant recipients experience organ rejection within five years. Despite decades of research, the…

When our immune system launches an attack, precision is everything. Natural killer (NK) cells and T cells act as the body’s elite assassins, releasing microscopic “toxic granules” that destroy virus-infected…

Immunology is entering a new technological era. From humanized mouse models and organ-on-chip systems to multi-omic sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, researchers now have unprecedented ways to observe and manipulate the…

A new gene therapy has successfully restored long-term immune function in 59 of 62 children born with ADA-SCID (adenosine deaminase deficiency–severe combined immunodeficiency), a rare and fatal genetic disorder that…

As humanity prepares for a new era of space exploration, from commercial missions to potential colonies on the Moon and Mars, understanding how the human body responds to life beyond…

A treatment originally designed for cancer may hold promise for people living with HIV. A new Phase 1 clinical trial, reports that budigalimab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting programmed cell…

In a new study researchers introduce T-CellAnnoTator (TCAT), a computational pipeline designed to make sense of this complexity by quantifying gene expression programs (GEPs) across millions of single cells...

New research shows that lowering IL-6 activity may help prevent cardiovascular disease, without leaving people more vulnerable to infections...

New research shows they have another surprising role: acting as defenders by starving pathogens of the nutrients they need to survive...

A new study reveals how the body’s own protective immune programming in the intestine inadvertently creates a sanctuary for HIV...

In a recent study, researchers have uncovered a molecular brake that limits the ability of CD8⁺ T cells to expand and fight cancer...

Researchers shows how a interesting phenomenon could be translated into a short-term, broad-spectrum antiviral therapy with potential applications in future pandemics...

A new study reveals that central memory CD8+ T cells are established in early childhood and persist across the human lifespan, underpinning long-term immunity to influenza...

A new study has demonstrated that pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, induces remarkable tumour regression in advanced unresectable desmoplastic melanoma...

For the first time, researchers have shown that inflammation within the placenta during pregnancy can directly reprogram the fetal immune system, leading to heightened allergic responses after birth...

In a major advance for cancer immunotherapy, researchers have developed a new type of CAR T cell that only activates its tumor-killing machinery when it encounters specific features of the…

In a new first-in-human trial, researchers have successfully engineered patients’ own blood-forming stem cells to continuously produce cancer-killing T cells, a major step forward in long-lasting immunotherapy for hard-to-treat cancers...

In a new study published researchers found that interferon-related gene activity declines with age in lupus patients...

In a new study, researchers used Mendelian randomisation, a genetic technique leveraging large-scale population datasets, to examine the role of the immune system in seven major neuropsychiatric conditions...

Researchers have discovered how to block an enzyme called NNMT, which plays a central role in helping ovarian tumours evade the immune system...

A new study has mapped out the molecular and metabolic transformations that blood stem cells undergo during aging, differentiation, and disease...

New research reveals that diet alone can drive long-lasting changes in IgA responses, independent of the gut microbiota...

In a new study, researchers have shown that a 42-gene “Signature of Misfiring” (SoM) serves as a robust predictor of immune dysfunction across individuals at high risk of severe infections...

Researchers have engineered a monoclonal antibody that, when applied directly to the inside of the nose, protected mice from developing allergy and asthma-like symptoms...

Bone health is vital for vegans, as key sources of calcium and vitamin D—crucial for bone density—are mainly found in dairy products.

Produced naturally in the skin through sunlight exposure, vitamin D influences many biological pathways. In the immune system, it particularly affects the communication between dendritic cells, specialised immune cells that…

A new study shows that the immune system can detect and respond to latent Toxoplasma gondii infections...

A new study identifies the immune protein lipocalin 2 (Lcn2) as a major contributor to lung injury in severe cases of COVID-19...

A recent study reveals that these cognitive side effects, in brain rot, are a real, measurable phenomenon in response to cancer therapies...

In a new study, researchers analysed blood samples from patients undergoing biologic treatment and discovered a surprising pattern: rather than being reduced, some inflammatory immune cells increased during therapy...

A new study provides the first detailed map of how the human immune system, specifically T cells, recognizes and responds to the Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen known for causing…

Check out the programme for the day   Immunopaedia-20th-Bday-Symposium-Programme_Final.pdf

Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by white, lacy patches or painful erosions on the mucous membranes inside the mouth. It is primarily managed with topical…

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent and debilitating joint disease marked by the progressive degradation of cartilage, inflammation, and structural alterations. Typically diagnosed based on pain symptoms and joint stiffness, OA…

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted millions worldwide, including children, who generally experience milder symptoms. However, understanding the immune response in children is critical, especially as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge. A…

Feline heartworm disease, caused by the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, presents diagnostic challenges, especially in early infections with immature worms. This study assessed thoracic radiographic changes in cats from an endemic…

Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia (IIP) is a complex group of lung diseases without a known cause, often resulting in progressive lung fibrosis. Unlike interstitial lung disease (ILD) associated with connective tissue…

Differentiating tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from para-pneumonic pleural effusion (PPE) is challenging due to overlapping clinical signs. Conventional diagnostic methods, such as adenosine deaminase levels, can misclassify cases. This study…

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) varies widely in clinical presentation and patient outcomes, highlighting the need for improved stratification methods. Traditional clinical scoring systems have limited accuracy for predicting severe cases and…

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, enabling the immune system to better target tumours. However, they can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including CPI-induced diabetes mellitus (CPI-DM).…

As people with multiple sclerosis (MS) live longer, healthcare providers face new challenges in treating elderly patients. The treatment of elderly individuals with MS is complicated by the effects of…