Immunology Sponsored by Beckman Coulter
Different immune response helps kids clear SARS-CoV-2 quickly
Why does the SARS-CoV-2 virus seem to have less of an impact on children than adults? A new study published November 5 in Nature Immunology investigates this question, finding that the immune systems of children respond differently to SARS-CoV-2 in a way that allows them to more easily clear the virus from their bodies.  Discuss
Synthetic nanobodies show potential for new COVID-19 therapies
Synthetic nanobodies may provide a practical avenue for the development of novel COVID-19 therapies compared to human antibodies, which are bulkier and require greater research investment. A study on synthetic nanobodies was conducted by a group of German researchers and published in Nature Communications on November 4.  Discuss
Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines will rely on public trust
No matter how effective upcoming COVID-19 vaccines are, their ultimate success in combating the pandemic will depend on how much the public trusts the safety and efficacy of the products. That's according to a panel of physicians and scientists who discussed COVID-19 vaccine trials in a briefing on October 29.  Discuss
Most antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 are strong and long-lasting
How long does the immune response last in patients with the SARS-CoV-2 virus? This has been a key question in shaping the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a new report published in Science on October 28 offers some good news.  Discuss
New model could improve vaccine, immunotherapy design
A new model used to predict the outcomes of pathogen detection systems as a function of innate immunity may lead to more effective cancer immunotherapies and vaccines against existing and novel pathogens, according to results published in Cell Systems on October 27.  Discuss
New COVID-19 immunogen could help with early diagnosis
A new assay that detects the unique SARS-CoV-2 orf8 protein in the sera of COVID-19 patients in the early stage of the infection is a strategic step in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published online October 20 in mBio.  Discuss
Who should get the 1st COVID-19 vaccines?
Once a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be administered to the public, who should receive it first, given that its supply will be initially limited? A new perspective published in Science on October 21 fleshes out different COVID-19 vaccine distribution strategies that would ensure optimal protection from the disease under conditions of vaccine scarcity.  Discuss
Researchers identify 'ancient' DNA weapons against cancer
Researchers have identified silent ancient DNA elements buried in the human genome that when "reactivated" can initiate an immune response toward cancer cells. They also identified a key enzyme, normally used by cancer cells to evade immune responses, that can be leveraged against them. The research was published in Nature on October 21.  Discuss
How are asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers different from symptomatic patients?
A new retrospective study reveals that asymptomatic COVID-19 patients may have higher levels of lymphocytes, specifically T cells, compared to symptomatic COVID-19 patients despite carrying similar viral loads. The results were published in mSphere on October 7.  Discuss
New method reclaims resolution of single-cell RNA-seq
A new approach to RNA sequencing can enable scientists to extract 10 times more information from a single cell, including gene expression and subtle differences between healthy and diseased cells. The study, published in Immunity on October 13, reveals the power of the improved Seq-Well method and provides evidence of its efficacy in five inflammatory skin diseases.  Discuss
Conferences
2020 AACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo
December 13-17
Online
Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS) 2021
January 23-27, 2021
Online
Festival of Genomics & Biodata
January 28-29, 2021
London, Greater London United Kingdom
4th Annual Cell & Gene Therapy Innovation Leaders Summit 2021 Visualising The Future
February 1-3, 2021
Berlin, Berlin Germany
Lab of the Future USA
May 11-12, 2021
Boston, Massachusetts United States
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