Category Archives: Science

Using CAR-transduced Tregs to suppress autoimmune disease

Posted on 13 July 2020 by mmmbitesizescience

New research from a team of Israeli scientists has found that CAR-transduced regulatory T cells (Tregs) can be used to suppress autoimmune disease. In the images above, mice with colitis (inflammation of the colon, seen as the angry red blotches … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Immunology, Immunotherapy, Science | Leave a comment

Two Cancer Immunotherapy Targets are Better Than One

Posted on 13 July 2020 by mmmbitesizescience

In cancer patients undergoing adoptive T cell therapy, T cells that recognise and react to an abundant protein fragment expressed by a tumour cell are infused into the bloodstream. These protein fragments are known as tumour-associated antigens. Because cancers are … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Cancer Immunotherapy, Disease, Immunology, Personalised Medicine, Science | Leave a comment

Balancing modern and ancient anti-viral immunity

Posted on 13 July 2020 by mmmbitesizescience

The human genome is stuffed full of ancient retrovirus genomes, a heritable legacy of ancestral infections. These pieces of DNA are dynamic elements, and can hop around the human genome and drive its ongoing diversification. Mostly, though, they are kept … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Disease, Evolution, Health, Science, Virology, Viruses | Leave a comment

Using Viruses to Tune T Cell Functionality

Posted on 13 July 2020 by mmmbitesizescience

As we have learned more about the world of microbes, it’s become clear that it’s possible to use bacteria and viruses as treatments against disease. But although microbes often work incredibly well at protecting against infections or attacking tumours, we … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Bacteria, Cancer Immunotherapy, Disease, Health, Immunology, Microorganisms, Oncolytic Virus, Personalised Medicine, Science, Vaccines, Virology, Viruses | Leave a comment

Parasite proves proficient at immune scooping

Posted on 13 July 2020 by mmmbitesizescience

As T cells bumble around our bodies, they are constantly on stand-by to recognise pathogenic target proteins. These pieces of protein are presented to T cells for inspection by other immune cells, known as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). The T cells … Continue reading →

Rate this:

Posted in Disease, Immunology, Microorganisms, Parasites, Science | Leave a comment