Antiviral-antibody combination improves influenza outcomes in mice Researchers at McMaster University found in a mouse study that combining a class of well-known antiviral drugs and neutralizing antibodies was more effective than either approach alone, which they contend could be used to treat seasonal influenza and help prevent the next flu pandemic.Read More
Adjuvanted liposomal vaccine protects baby mice from RSV, looks promising for human newborns After a more than 50-year wait, a vaccine to protect infants from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -- the leading global cause of death in children under age five -- could finally become a reality. A single dose of an adjuvanted liposomal vaccine formulation has induced protection against RSV infection in baby mice.Read More
Research shows heart-damaging route of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein Researchers have demonstrated that the spike protein from the SARS-CoV-2 virus can lead to heart muscle injury through the inflammation process, according to preliminary research to be presented this week at the American Heart Association’s 2022 Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions.Read More
Solid tumors targeted with investment into innovative therapies Solid tumors are particularly difficult to treat due to their ability to evade detection by the immune system. And even if these tumors are detected, immune cells often struggle to efficiently attack them at their core, leading to continued growth. Despite these roadblocks, companies such as 2seventy bio, Bristol Myers Squibb, and Transgene are rising to the challenge through collaborations and investments into technology to treat solid tumors.Read More
Critical step identified in immune system response could lead to new treatments New research has identified a crucial protein that controls the immune system's release of a key factor in fighting infections. The study, published in the journal Nature Communications on January 10, found that the MNDA protein is necessary for white blood cells to produce a type of interferon. This discovery could lead to new drugs to help fight infections or treat autoimmune conditions.Read More
Gamma delta T cells may hold key to malaria immunity Scientists have shown how a poorly understood group of immune cells -- gamma delta T cells -- are directly involved in immunity to malaria, according to research published December 1 in Science Translational Medicine. The results promise to spur the future development of next-generation malaria vaccines.Read More