Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

State-of-the-art cancer care at a university level close to home – Freeport Journal-Standard

Yesterday, Feb. 4, was World Cancer Day, an international call to action established in 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. The day isnt an attempt to raise awareness of any certain type of cancer, but instead the fight that thousands of people and their health care teams are fighting, every day.

We at the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport are proud to be part of that fight. In just the past few years, our talented team of professionals has cared for patients fighting 20 different types of cancer, right here on our Freeport campus.

Our medical oncologist-hematologist Arshad Shaikh, MD, offers our patients treatments that are on the front line of immunology, which gives a patients own immune system the power to fight certain cancer cells.

Our radiation oncology team, led by Bobby Koneru, MD, and Gary Shultz, DO, from the Paramount Oncology Group in Dubuque, provides our patients state-of-the-art treatments usually only available in university hospitals. Volumetric Modulated ARC Therapy (VMAT) also called Smart Arc or RapidArc radiation therapy allows our experts to more precisely target cancer cells for treatment, leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.

Though patients dont usually see him at the center, our team includes surgical oncologist Spyridon Theodorakis, MD, FACS. He served fellowships in surgical oncology at Tulane University in New Orleans and at Roswell Park Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, New York, and has made it possible for breast cancer patients to consult and have reconstruction surgery in the same place as their lumpectomy or mastectomy, right here at FHN.

Our center is more than high-tech, though: From the moment a patient walks in our door, were part of his or her team. Our outstanding staff genuinely cares about our patients, and were honored to take time to get to know them and their needs.

Perhaps most importantly, we understand that being diagnosed with cancer is a big, frightening deal. Thats why we offer a three-day guarantee: Youll have a follow-up appointment within three business days of your referral. In addition, you may contact us, even if you arent a regular FHN patient.

When you are diagnosed with cancer, you want a top-notch team of experts working on your treatment as soon as possible. At the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport, youve got just that. Call us at 815-599-7000 to get your team together.

Julie Nampel MSN, RN, is the director of the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport.

See more here:
State-of-the-art cancer care at a university level close to home - Freeport Journal-Standard

Immunology

Illuminating The Intersection Of Art, Science And Technology – KPBS

An ambitious new exhibition at San Diego Art Institute paired local artists with cutting-edge research scientists to create revelatory works ofart

Photo by Bhavna Mehta

Above: A close up of "Fault Lines," a new installation by Bhavna Mehta at San Diego Art Institute.

Decades of scientific progress will converge with the work of dozens of San Diego artists in a major new group show, "Illumination," at San Diego Art Institute (SDAI) in Balboa Park.

One component of the exhibition paired 16 San Diego artists with local scientists studying in a field of interest to the artist. Scientists like Zbigniew Mikulski from the La Jolla Institute of Immunology, Lu-Lin Jiang from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Krishna Vadodaria from the Salk Institute, Ben Frable from Scripps Institute of Oceanography and more.

The artists spent time in the lab with their matched scientists, furthering their knowledge of a particular research project and developing a piece of work that reflected the science itself, the interactions with the research or researchers or anything that sprung from the collaboration.

When curator Chi Essary asked San Diego-based paper artist and sculptor Bhavna Mehta to participate and to pitch a topic she'd like to work with, Mehta took a gamble: Pitch something too specific. Mehta, who was stricken with polio as a child, selected contagious diseases of the spinal cord, assuming that the idea was too narrow, and it would be unlikely that the project would find a willing scientist for a pairing. It was a last-ditch effort of steering her work away from something she hadn't yet tackled as an artist: her own spine.

"It was a true dread," she said about making art about her own body. "It's not that I've been avoiding it, it's just that I haven't found the language to do it."

Essary, however, delivered. Mehta visited Dr. Samuel Pfaff at the Salk Institute's Gene Expression Laboratory, which specifically studies motor neurons and diseases of the spinal cord. "I have a real deep personal connection with the Salk Institute," Mehta said. Researchers from the lab also visited Mehta's studio to learn more about her work.

One revelation for Mehta throughout the process was the fundamental intersections of art and science: the value of questions and the pursuit of the unexpected.

"I don't make a lot of art expecting something, because I think you're always disappointed," she said, and felt similarity with the scientists. "You're willing to be surprised by what you find."

Mehta's piece, a massive installation called "Fault Lines," uses hundreds of small paper cut forms and pins to create a cross section of her spinal cord.

The spinal cord is like a superhighway of activity and information, with motor neurons sending messages through the entire body and controlling activity, sensation and what Mehta described as "the involuntary dance of organs." These elements are represented by gray, white, yellow, vivid orange and purple shapes, pinned directly to the wall in 3-dimensional relief. These are the specific tiny things that polio ravages, blown up to 200 times their size.

"It's always going to be painful for me," Mehta said, about the process of creating this piece and understanding her own history. "But the purpose of art is not to show but to discover."

Another impactful pairing in the project was that of scientists Zbigniew Mikulski ("Dr. Z") and Dr. Sara McArdle with filmmaker Cy Kuckenbaker.

"It was very much like giving a little kid a video game joystick for the first time," Kuckenbaker said. With access to one of the La Jolla Institute of Immunology's microscopes over the course of three extended visits to the lab, he began to understand the magnitude of the information stored in each cell in the human body.

Kuckenbaker's project includes a video installation, but strikingly, he also printed out all of the data included in a single chromosome, one of the smallest: chromosome 22. "It took five days to print," he said.

Each page is a combination of base pairs represented by the letters GCAT in sequences for 10,000 pages, or 5,000 sheets of paper. That's just for one chromosome. Each cell contains a whopping 46 of these chromosomes including the copies, and the human body contains trillions of cells. For Kuckenbacker, creating a tangible work of art from these quantifiable but astronomic facts is a way of understanding and relating something unfathomable.

The pages are bound into a book that, when set on the floor, reaches about knee height. For Kuckenbaker, it shows the "extraordinary efficiency in nature."

To round out the show, SDAI invited 10 more local artists to show pieces. These artists all routinely create work that deals with technology, climate, global health or other scientifically relevant themes, including Yasmine Kasem, and Los Angeles-based Young Joon Kwak, who created a bright pink twisted neon sculpture for the exhibition.

The exhibition opens Saturday, Feb. 8 with an opening reception, and runs through May 3 at SDAI in Balboa Park. Admission is free to San Diego Art Institute for the entirety of 2020.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified base pairs. The story has been updated to reflect the change.

KPBS' daily news podcast covering local politics, education, health, environment, the border and more. New episodes are ready weekday mornings so you can listen on your morning commute.

Julia Dixon Evans Arts Calendar Editor and Producer

I write the weekly KPBS Arts newsletter and edit and produce the KPBS Arts calendar. I am interested in getting San Diegans engaged with the diversity of art and culture made by the creative people who live here.

To view PDF documents, Download Acrobat Reader.

Follow this link:
Illuminating The Intersection Of Art, Science And Technology - KPBS

Immunology

FDA just approved the first treatment for peanut allergies – The Daily Briefing

FDA on Friday approved Aimmune TherapeuticsPalforzia, the first-ever treatment for life-threatening peanut allergies.

Infographic: 6 ways your pharmacist can save the day

Theincidenceof peanut allergies in children in the United States has increased by 21% since 2010, according to theAmerican College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. The latest estimates suggest about 2% to 5% of U.S. children have a peanut allergy.

There's a significant debate among providers about how to prevent or treat peanut allergies. Recent guidelines have recommended parents begin feeding their children peanuts at a young age to help their immune systems learn how to tolerate peanuts.

Researchers and some providers have tested a similar approach, known as oral immunotherapy, on kids who already have developed a peanut allergy. The technique involves slowly introducing children to small amounts of peanutsbut according to The Atlantic, many providers view such experiments as risky.

Palforzia is a capsule that contains small amounts of peanut powder.

For the treatment, doctors prescribe and administer a small dose of the drug, which can be mix with applesauce or another food. After the initial dose, patients must take the drug daily with doctors increasing the dose 11 times over several months until the patient is ingesting the equivalent of about one peanut. Doctors must administer each dosage increase, and if the patient tolerates the increase they may continue that dosage at home.

Researchers employed by Aimmune in 2018 published clinicaltrialresults in theNew England Journal of Medicineshowing that after a one-year period, two-thirds of children taking the treatment could safely consume two peanuts in a controlled setting, compared to 4% of patients who did not take Palforzia, according to the Associated Press.

FDA on Friday approved Palforzia, making it the first drug to receive FDA approval to treat life-threatening peanut allergies. The goal of the treatment is to reduce the risk of a life-threatening allergic reaction, not to make it so that individuals with peanut allergies can regularly eat peanuts. Aimmune CMO Daniel Adelman said Palforzia is only "intended to desensitize patients to peanut protein. So while they still must practice avoidance, it can mitigate allergic reactions after accidental consumption."

The drug is approved for children ages four to 17 who have a confirmed diagnosis of peanut allergy. According to FDA, "Those who take Palforzia must continue to avoid peanuts in their diets."

Researchers assessed the effectiveness of Palforzia in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study that enrolled about 500 people who were allergic to peanuts. Researchers found 67.2% of participants who took Palforzia recipients tolerated a 600 mg dose of peanut protein after six months, compared to 4.0% of participants who received the placebo.

Researchers assessed safety using two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in about 700 people with peanut allergies. Researchers found the most common side effects were abdominal pain, nausea vomiting, tingling in the mouth, itching (including in the mouth and ears), cough, runny nose, throat irritation and tightness, hives, wheezing and shortness of breath, and anaphylaxis. The risk of anaphylaxis is why FDA required patients to take the initial dose and the increased dosages in the presence of a doctor.

The medication will cost $890 per month, but Aimmune said it will offer an assistance program that will reduce the patient's share of the cost to as low as $20 for some patients.

Some providers said the drug could be a "big deal" for patients who live in constant fear of making contact with peanuts.

Subhadra Siegel, chief of pediatric allergy and immunology at New York Medical College, said, "The thought of relieving that anxiety and being able to eat in a restaurant without worry. These are huge debilitating things for families with food allergies."

Two separate surveys found that allergists favor Palforzia as a treatment for patients with peanut allergies, with analysts predicting the drug will make about $52 million in 2020 and as much as $830 million in 2023.

Given the drug would be the first ever to treat life-threatening peanut allergies, Aimmune projects that Palforzia's annual sales could exceed $1 billion.

However, some experts said the new drug is simply an overpriced version of peanut flour, which can be sold as a dietary supplement at a much lower cost.

A study by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review found that there was no sufficient evidence that using Palforzia would be more effective than avoiding peanuts or another oral immunotherapy.

But Thomas Casalechief medical adviser atFood Allergy Research & Education(FARE), a nonprofit advocacy and lobbying group that helped create Aimmuneargued that, even though supplement manufacturers can offer cheaper versions of peanut flour, having an FDA-approved version makes the treatment safer and more accessible to patients.

Still setting aside price, the drug raises other concerns.

While researchers in an Aimmune clinical trial found that patients showed greater tolerance of peanuts in a clinical setting, outside of the laboratory they actually experienced more serious allergic events. According to The Atlantic, 14% of those receiving the peanut powder pill reported a severe allergic reaction during the study period, compared with just 3% in the placebo group. Ameta-analysispublished inThe Lancetconfirmed the risk.

Jeff Tice, a physician and health policy analyst at the University of California at San Francisco who examined the product, said, "This is just what we're trying to preventhaving to get taken to the ER sort of outcome." He added, "The trials clearly demonstrated desensitization [to peanuts], but apparently at the cost of more harm, and no clear evidence of long-term benefit" (Hamblin,The Atlantic, 9/13/19; Johnson, Washington Post, 1/31; Loftus, Wall Street Journal, 1/31; FDA release, 1/31; Feurstein, STAT+, 2/3).

Here is the original post:
FDA just approved the first treatment for peanut allergies - The Daily Briefing

Immunology

Trinity researchers in potential MS treatment breakthrough – The Irish Times

An important discovery that could lead to more effective treatments for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, has been made by scientists from Trinity College Dublin.

The researchers have identified the role played by a specific immune molecule, known as IL-17, in priming cells that cause the disease. Rather than being directly involved in damaging the nervous system, IL-17 kick-starts the disease-causing immune response that mediates the damage, they believe

Their work, published in Immunity scientific journal, also suggested there is significant potential in drugs that target the IL-17 molecule, both for MS and psoriasis/rheumatoid arthritis.

MS is a debilitating disease that affects some 2.3 million people globally and over 9,000 people in Ireland. It is associated with infiltration of immune cells into the brain and spinal cord that cause damage to nerves, leading to neurological disabilities.

However, the cause and precise immunological basis to this autoimmune disease is still unclear.

Studies in a mouse model of MS, called experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), have shown that immune T cells, which secrete IL-17, cause damage to the myelin sheath that surrounds nerves in the central nervous system (CNS).

Early clinical trials with antibody-based drugs that block IL-17 are showing promise in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS and have already been licensed for the treatment of psoriasis.

The Irish research outlines a new role for IL-17 in EAE and, potentially, in MS. The new research shows that, instead of playing a direct part in CNS pathology, a key role of IL-17 is to mobilise and activate an army of disease-causing immune cells in the lymph nodes that then migrate to the CNS to cause the nerve damage, said Prof Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology at TCD.

Crucially, our findings suggest that drugs that block IL-17 may not need to get across the blood-brain-barrier to be effective in treating MS, add Dr Aoife McGinley, another member of the research team.

So, as well as shedding new light on the importance of IL-17 as a drugs target in RR MS, our research highlights the huge potential of drugs that block IL-17 in the treatment of other autoimmune diseases.

See the rest here:
Trinity researchers in potential MS treatment breakthrough - The Irish Times

Immunology

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Immunology job with EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY | 195270 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Application closing date:10/02/2020Salary:33,797 (Grade 5)Package:Excellent benefits package

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Immunology - Full time, 18 month FTC

We have an exciting opportunity for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow contributing to the project Cationic Host Defence Peptides (HDP) as Novel Therapeutic Antiviral Agents in Dengue Virus Infection.

The role

We are seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to work on a project thatis funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Indonesian Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (RISTEKDIKTI) focused on HDP as novel therapeutic antiviral agents in Dengue virus infection.The project will focus on roles of HDP in Dengue infection in the context of the inflammatory response, together with assessing the therapeutic effects of these peptides, and their capacity for regulating autophagy and apoptosis in Dengue infection.

The project is led by Professor Peter Barlow at Edinburgh Napier University, and is a collaboration with the University of Indonesia and the Eijkman Institute for Molecular Biology in Jakarta. You will join a dynamic research group at Edinburgh Napier that has a broad interest in the mechanisms of pathogen-mediated inflammation. As part of the project the Fellow will also be expected to make 3-4 short visits to Jakarta performing experimental work and analysis. Additional costs for accommodation and living expenses for this portion of the project will be provided.

Your main responsibilities will be to design and perform the experimental work as outlined in the project award, utilising a variety of immunological and molecular techniques. You will be expected to contribute to the effective communication and publication of the findings in the scientific literature and at national and international scientific meetings and conferences.You will also be involved in the training of postgraduate research students.

Who we are looking for

You will have a PhD in Immunology, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, Biomedical Sciences or other related discipline. You must also have a track record in immunological/infectious disease research, preferably viral infections, as evidenced by practical experience. Ideally, you will also have expertise in working with HDP, as well as epithelial models and murine models of infection. You must be highly motivated with excellent numerical skills together with excellent oral and written communication skills, and excellent project and time management skills.

For a detailed list of requirements, you can reach the full role profilehere

Please note that the successful candidate must have permission to work in the UK by the start of their employment. We are unable to sponsor any candidate for this role.

Benefits we offer

In return, we offer a great working environment where we support ambition, recognise achievement and offer an attractive benefits package. This includes a minimum of 46 days annual leave (includes bank holidays), a generous pension scheme, professional development opportunities, discounted access to onsite sports facilities and a wide range of other staff discounts.

Further information about our benefits can be foundhere

Salary: GBP 33,797 (Grade 5)

Additional Information

Application closing date: Monday 10 February 2020 (midnight GMT)Interviews will be held on: 19th FebruaryAnticipated start date: 1 April 2020

This role does not meet the minimum requirements set by UKVI to enable sponsorship of migrant workers. Therefore, we cannot progress applications from candidates who require sponsorship to work in the UK. For further information on this, please visit the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/work-visas

The University is committed to inclusion, demonstrated through our work in respect of our diversity awards and accreditations (Advance HE's Athena SWAN Charter) and hold Disability Confident, Carer Positive and Stonewall Scotland Diversity Champion status. More details can be foundhere

See the article here:
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Immunology job with EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY | 195270 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Immunology

New Study Further Supports the Benefits of SPIRIVA RESPIMAT in the Treatment of Asthma – BioSpace

RIDGEFIELD, Conn., Feb. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Boehringer Ingelheimtoday presented results from a new retrospective analysis of real-world data that showed patients prescribed Spiriva Respimat (tiotropium bromide) Inhalation Spray 1.25 mcg experienced fewer asthma-related exacerbations when Spiriva Respimat was added to a popular class of asthma treatments (combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta2-agonist (ICS+LABA)) vs. patients receiving an increased dose of ICS+LABA. This new retrospective analysis of data from nearly 8,000 adults and adolescents with asthma was presented today at the Western Society of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (WSAAI) 2020 Annual Scientific Session in Hawaii.

An asthma exacerbation, also known as an asthma attack, is characterized by coughing, wheezing, severe shortness of breath and chest tightness or pain. Symptoms can often be managed with prompt at-home therapy, but severe asthma exacerbations can become life-threatening and require emergency treatment.1

The study found that when adding Spiriva Respimat to ICS+LABA treatment, patients had fewer exacerbations and hospitalizations compared to those receiving an increased dose of ICS+LABA or continuing on high-dose of ICS+LABA, ultimately meeting the study's primary endpoint. Results also met the two secondary endpoints by showing:i

"Exacerbations are a common worry for those living with asthma. Their sudden onset can be alarming to patients and their caregivers, which is why we aim to prevent them with treatment," said Bradley Chipps, MD, Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy and the Cystic Fibrosis Center at the Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento, California, who served as an investigator and co-author of the study. "Instead of increasing the dose of the ICS+LABA, healthcare providers should consider Spiriva Respimat as a treatment option that may lower the risk and occurrence of asthma exacerbations."

Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. are living with asthma, and in more than 60% of adults, the condition is uncontrolled. Uncontrolled asthma can impair lung function, increase risk of exacerbations, reduce quality of life, and is associated with higher health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs.2,3,4

_________________________

iResults from real-world studies are not intended for comparisons with clinical trials. Real-world studies were observational trials. Difference in study designs, patient populations, outcomes definitions, and methods of collecting data make it difficult to make comparisons with clinical trials or with each other. Real-world data should be viewed as complementary information.

Important Safety Information

Do not use SPIRIVA RESPIMAT (tiotropium bromide) Inhalation Spray if you are allergic to tiotropium, ipratropium, atropine or similar drugs, or any ingredient in this medicine.

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT is not a rescue medicine and should not be used for treating sudden breathing problems. Your doctor may give you other medicine to use for sudden breathing problems.

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT can cause allergic reactions. Symptoms can include raised red patches on your skin (hives), itching, rash and/or swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat that may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking the medicine and seek emergency medical care.

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT can cause your breathing to suddenly get worse (bronchospasm). If this happens, use your rescue inhaler, stop taking SPIRIVA RESPIMAT, and call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical care.

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT can increase the pressure in your eyes (acute narrow-angle glaucoma), which can cause the following symptoms: eye pain, blurred vision, seeing halos or colored images along with red eyes. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking your medicine and call your doctor right away.

Dizziness and blurred vision may occur with SPIRIVA RESPIMAT. If you experience these symptoms, use caution when engaging in activities such as driving a car, or operating appliances or machinery.

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT can cause new or worsened urinary retention. Symptoms of blockage in your bladder and/or enlarged prostate may include difficulty passing urine and/or painful urination. If you have any of these symptoms, stop taking your medicine and call your doctor right away.

The most common side effects with SPIRIVA RESPIMAT in adult patients with asthma were sore throat, headache, bronchitis, and sinus infection. The side effect profile for adolescent and pediatric patients was comparable to that observed in adult patients with asthma.

Do not spray SPIRIVA RESPIMAT into your eyes, as this may cause blurring of vision and pupil dilation.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including kidney problems, glaucoma, enlarged prostate, problems passing urine, or blockage in your bladder.

Tell your doctor all the medicines you take, including eye drops. Ask your doctor if you are taking any anticholinergic medicines because taking them together with SPIRIVA RESPIMAT can increase side effects.

Indication

SPIRIVA RESPIMAT, 1.25 mcg, is a long-term, once-daily, prescription maintenance treatment of asthma for people 6 years and older. SPIRIVA RESPIMAT is not a treatment for sudden asthma symptoms.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit http://www.FDA.gov/medwatchor call 1-800-FDA-1088.

About Boehringer IngelheimBoehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., based in Ridgefield, Conn., is the largest U.S. subsidiary of Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation.

Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, the company operates globally with approximately 50,000 employees. Since its founding in 1885, the company has remained family-owned, and today our goal is to improve the lives of humans and animals through its three business areas: human pharmaceuticals, animal health and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

Boehringer Ingelheim concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can improve and extend patients' lives. As a research-driven pharmaceutical company, it plans in generations for long-term success. Its research efforts are focused on diseases with high, unmet medical need. In animal health, the company stands for advanced prevention.

In 2018, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of around $20.7 billion (17.5 billion euros). R&D expenditure of almost $3.7 billion (3.2 billion euros) corresponded to 18.1 per cent of net sales. Boehringer Ingelheim is committed to improving lives and strengthening our communities. Please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us/csr to learn more about Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

For more information, please visit http://www.boehringer-ingelheim.us, or follow us on Twitter @BoehringerUS.

Media Contact:

Chris WahlersBoehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.203-798-4375christopher.wahlers@boehringer-ingelheim.com

References

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-study-further-supports-the-benefits-of-spiriva-respimat-in-the-treatment-of-asthma-300996550.html

SOURCE Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

The rest is here:
New Study Further Supports the Benefits of SPIRIVA RESPIMAT in the Treatment of Asthma - BioSpace

Immunology

IMIDomics and Gossamer Bio Enter into a Strategic Collaboration to Advance the Development of Novel Treatments for Patients with Immune-Mediated…

DetailsCategory: More NewsPublished on Monday, 03 February 2020 15:21Hits: 200

BARCELONA, Spain I February 03, 2020 I IMIDomics S.L. today announced they have entered into a strategic collaboration with Gossamer Bio, Inc., to advance the discovery and development of novel treatments to address patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs). IMIDs affect large populations across the globe, are chronic and costly conditions, and affect patients in the prime of their lives. They constitute a broad class of diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which dysregulation of the immune response leads to inflammatory pathophysiology and ultimately tissue destruction.

The collaboration will give Gossamers world-class immunology research and development team the ability to benefit from IMIDomics unique clinical and molecular patient database to ultimately inform product discovery and development strategy. The agreement allows Gossamer to select and collaborate with IMIDomics on multiple projects, the first project being in the field of inflammatory bowel disease.

We are thrilled to work with Gossamer towards our shared goal of advancing care for patients suffering from IMIDs, and are confident our platform will accelerate Gossamers efforts to deliver important medicines for patients in need, said Dr. Sara Marsal Barril, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of IMIDomics. Exquisite characterization of IMID patients is critical to the determination of accurate diagnoses and employment of effective treatments, as well as the elucidation of disease mechanisms and discovery of new, effective medicines.

We are very excited to collaborate with IMIDomics, who have assembled a unique and world-class platform for clinical and molecular profiling of IMID patients, biobanking and analytics, said Luisa Salter-Cid, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer at Gossamer. Their platform will drive a deeper understanding of IMID patients and disease biology, which we hope will inform our strategy for drug discovery and development. Together we have the opportunity to deliver on our common mission of improving patient lives.

About IMIDomics

IMIDomics provides critical insights for treating patients with Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs). IMIDomics comprehensive platform integrates access to a dynamic and high quality IMID patient biobank, corresponding curated clinical data, associated proprietary multiomics molecular data and world-class clinical expertise. The companys analytics platform extracts unique insights into disease biology and patient conditions through our proprietary interactive portal. IMIDomics unique capabilities result in novel insights that drive drug discovery and development, and guide precision treatment of patients. For more information, please visit http://www.imidomics.com.

SOURCE: IMIDomics

Follow this link:
IMIDomics and Gossamer Bio Enter into a Strategic Collaboration to Advance the Development of Novel Treatments for Patients with Immune-Mediated...

Immunology

Editorial: How frightened should you be about the coronavirus? Just enough to dial up routine health precautio – Chicago Tribune

Were in a phase where a lot is unknown, and that makes it scary, and there might be a tendency to a strong reaction until more is learned, Mark Mulligan, director of NYU Langone Healths division of infectious diseases and immunology, told The Wall Street Journal. Its not a time for panic or overreaction but to follow the playbook.

View original post here:
Editorial: How frightened should you be about the coronavirus? Just enough to dial up routine health precautio - Chicago Tribune

Immunology

Mechanism Cells May Use To Protect Themselves From Oxidative Damage Uncovered – Technology Networks

A Montana State University biotechnology researcher was part of an international team that recently discovered an internal mechanism which may protect human cells from oxidative damage. The discovery could lead to strides in understanding many problems associated with aging and some chronic illnesses.Ed Schmidt, a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology in MSU's colleges of Agriculture and Letters and Science, worked with research teams from Hungary, Sweden and Japan on the project. The mechanism, Schmidt said, is a previously unknown tool that cells can use to protect their proteins from being irreversibly damaged by cellular processes called redox reactions, which are common and necessary but which, in excess, can cause extensive damage.

"Redox reactions are any reaction where you're moving electrons from one molecule to another," said Schmidt. "Almost everything that goes on in our cells, chemically and energetically, involves the transfer of electrons. But it's critical that these be kept in balance. Our cells invest an enormous amount of effort and machinery into maintaining the right redox balance."

The discovery made by Schmidt's team focuses on sulfur atoms as part of protein molecules inside cells. When cells are exposed to external stressors from things humans eat, chemicals the cells are exposed to or any number of other sources that oxidative stress can damage parts of the proteins. It was previously thought that cells had no way to reverse that oxidation, instead relying upon making new proteins to replace the damaged ones. However, said Schmidt, it appears that our cells are sometimes able to protect themselves by adding an extra sulfur atom onto existing sulfurs in certain protein molecules. Then when the cell is exposed to stress, only that extra sulfur is damaged and can then be cleaved off by the cell, leaving behind a whole and undamaged protein.

"We suspect that once exposure begins, it's too late for the cell to do this," said Schmidt. "We think that cells have a subset of proteins already in this state with extra sulfur atoms, which makes them probably inactive, but kind of on reserve. These proteins on reserve get damaged but can be repaired and allow the cell to begin recovery to make new proteins."

Extreme oxidative damage can cause DNA mutations, said Schmidt. When those mutations accumulate, there is some evidence that points to an increased risk for cancers, inflammatory diseases and illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes. This new discovery may help lead to future strides in medicine by helping to predict or even mitigate those health problems, if human cells can utilize this mechanism more efficiently, Schmidt said, adding that there are even potential applications for medical procedures such as organ transplants.

"During transplants, the organ goes through a period where it doesn't have any oxygen or blood flow, but once it is transplanted, it gets a rush of oxygenated blood that causes a burst of oxidative stress," said Schmidt. "Now that we're starting to understand these mechanisms, maybe we can do something more sophisticated to allow the cells in a transplanted organ to prepare and protect themselves."

Schmidt's research team, which is also a part of the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, worked with four other teams that brought expertise in biological sulfur chemistry, redox biology, cell biology and cell signaling from around the world. Next steps in this research, Schmidt said, include investigating exactly how cells manage to add those extra sulfur molecules and how that process is regulated.

"It's possible that by understanding this system more, we could make progress," said Schmidt.

"Understanding some of these mechanisms allows us to come up with new ideas."ReferenceDka et al. (2020) Control of protein function through oxidation and reduction of persulfidated states. Science Advances. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aax8358

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

More:
Mechanism Cells May Use To Protect Themselves From Oxidative Damage Uncovered - Technology Networks

Immunology

Coronavirus or common cold? How to tell the difference – CIProud.com

Posted: Feb 3, 2020 / 11:02 AM CST / Updated: Feb 3, 2020 / 11:02 AM CST

DALLAS, Texas (NEXSTAR) With the coronavirus causing concerns across the globe, many people may be wondering if their seasonal symptoms are the common cold, flu or something more.

Symptoms for the viral infection include runny nose, headache, cough and fever. And yes, those are also the common symptoms of the flu.

According to a report in Canadas Global News, that creates difficulty for medical professionals. It may be challenging to weed out mild cases of coronavirus due to its similarities with the flu, said Allison McGeer, an infectious disease specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.

Every respiratory virus is the same you get a runny nose, a stuffy nose, a cough, sometimes a sore throat, all because the lining of your nose and throat are damaged. The symptoms are caused by that virus or bacteria damaging the cells of your respiratory tract. It doesnt matter what virus is causing it, McGreer told Global News.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shortness of breath, body aches and chills could be associated with more dangerous types of the coronavirus. In more extreme cases, the virus may cause pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney failure and death.

Symptoms of milder coronavirus cases can be somewhat indistinguishable from the flu, Eleanor Fish, an immunology professor at the University of Toronto, told Global News.

While there isnt a vaccine to prevent coronavirus, there is a diagnostic test that quickly detects the bug. There are research teams already hard at work to create a vaccine.

At this point, the experts say travel history plays the biggest role in determining whether you have flu or cold-like symptoms versus the coronavirus. If you havent traveled to Wuhan, China, youre likely in the clear.

View original post here:
Coronavirus or common cold? How to tell the difference - CIProud.com