Category Archives: Immunology

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

Immunology

Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread – The Japan Times

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA While doctors have focused on respiratory samples from pneumonia cases to identify coronavirus patients, they might have ignored a less apparent source of the spread: diarrhea.

The novel coronavirus was detected in the loose stool of the first U.S. case a finding that hasnt featured among case reports from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak. However, that doesnt surprise scientists who have studied coronaviruses, nor doctors familiar with the bug that caused SARS.

Diarrhea occurred in about 10 to 20 percent of patients afflicted with severe acute respiratory syndrome about 17 years ago and was the source of an explosive SARS outbreak in the Amoy Gardens residential complex in Hong Kong.

SARS and Wuhan viruses bind to the same distinctly shaped protein receptors in the body that are expressed in the lungs and intestines, making these organs the primary targets for both viruses, said Fang Li, an associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences at the University of Minnesota.

The discovery of the Wuhan virus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, in the fecal material of the 35-year-old man treated at the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in Washington is interesting, said Scott Lindquist, the state epidemiologist for infectious disease at Washingtons Department of Health.

That adds to the knowledge about this, he told reporters on a conference call Friday. Its not only excreted in your respiratory secretions, its also secreted in your stool.

Researchers dont yet know how exactly 2019-nCoV spreads from person to person, but they suspect it is most likely from coming into contact with virus-containing droplets that could be emitted by an infected persons cough and transferred to their hands or surfaces and objects.

That has led to a run on face masks. But those may be of limited benefit in the event the virus is being transmitted via the fecal-oral route, said John Nicholls, a clinical professor of pathology at the University of Hong Kong.

Squat latrines lacking covers, common in China, and hands that arent washed thoroughly with soap and water after visiting the bathroom could be a source of virus transmission, said Nicholls, who was part of the research team that isolated and characterized the SARS virus.

A virus-laden aerosol plume emanating from a SARS patient with diarrhea was implicated in possibly hundreds of cases at the Amoy Gardens housing complex in 2003. That led Hong Kong researchers to understand the importance of the viruss spread through the gastrointestinal tract and to recognize both the limitation of face masks and importance of cleanliness and hygiene, Nicholls said in an interview.

I think in Wuhan, that would be a very likely place where you might get the transmission from fecal material, he said. If its using the same receptor as for SARS, I cant see why it shouldnt be replicating in the gut.

Nicholls and colleagues at the University of Hong Kong are testing laboratory models of human tissues and specimens to understand where and how the Wuhan virus replicates, he said.

Doctors have reported diarrhea infrequently in 2019-nCoV patients admitted to Wuhan hospitals, though it has been more prominent among reported cases outside the city, including members of a Shenzhen family infected in Wuhan, and more recently in the first U.S. case in Washington state. That patient experienced a two-day bout of diarrhea from which a sample tested positive.

The lab in Washington didnt attempt to grow the virus from that specimen, said Lindquist, because it wasnt going to add anything to his care.

Many of the emerging coronaviruses are so-called pneumoenteric viruses, meaning they can replicate both in the respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal system, said Ralph Baric, professor of microbiology and immunology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, who has studied coronaviruses for decades.

Overwhelmed by hundreds of severely sick pneumonia patients, doctors in Wuhan might not have focused on any gastric signs, Baric said in a phone interview.

The Chinese are so overwhelmed at the moment and trying to do a combination of treating patients and dealing with the scope of the outbreak, and then trying to get out papers that describe whats happening, he said.

Any virus in stool is more likely to be present during the acute phase of an infection, occurring before hospitalized patients develop a life-threatening complication known as acute respiratory distress syndrome, Baric said.

I have also spent most of my time focusing on the respiratory tract symptomology rather than the gut because of the relationship between these different emerging viruses and acute respiratory distress syndrome, he said.

Zijian Feng, deputy director general of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and colleagues released a report Wednesday on the first 425 Wuhan cases, and noted that early infections that didnt appear to display typical signs such as fever and viral pneumonia or had mild symptoms might have been missed.

The initial focus of case detection was on patients with pneumonia, but we now understand that some patients can present with gastrointestinal symptoms, Feng and co-authors said in their report, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Emerging evidence of virus-containing diarrhea warrants further investigation, said Peter Collignon, a professor of clinical medicine at the Australian National University Medical School in Canberra, who advises the Australian government on infection control.

This is something new, Collignon said in an interview. We presume its respiratory droplets, but with SARS there was evidence of other routes. We have to keep an open mind.

View original post here:
Coronavirus lurking in feces may be a hidden source of spread - The Japan Times

Immunology

What You Need to Know About the First Peanut Allergy Treatment Approved by the FDA – Benzinga

MILWAUKEE, Feb. 01, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ --The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the very first peanut allergy treatment: Palforzia, a standardized oral immunotherapy (OIT) product for peanut allergy. This is the first treatment for any food allergy to be approved by the FDA. In light of this groundbreaking approval, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) is here to share information about OIT to help patients understand this therapy and what it means for their treatment options.

"Most allergists trained at a time when we never thought we'd see a treatment for food allergy. Previously we recommended carrying injectable epinephrine and strict avoidance, which in some cases leads to serious or even life-threatening allergic reactions with inadvertent food exposures. Now, we have the first FDA approved treatment for food allergy, that when used in combination with avoidance measures, can reduce the possibility that an inadvertent exposure will lead to a serious allergic reaction," said AAAAI President David M. Lang, MD, FAAAAI, who is also Chair of the Allergy/Immunology Department in the Respiratory Institute at Cleveland Clinic.

What is OIT? OIT involves feeding an increasing amount of an allergen to an individual allergic to that specific allergen. The goal of OIT is to increase the threshold that triggers an allergic reaction.

For example, the newly approved Palforzia is a capsule filled with peanut powder that can be mixed into food. Patients taking this capsule are therefore exposed to controlled doses of peanut protein. Over time, the dose will gradually increase with the hopes that higher doses will induce a level of tolerance that prevents allergic reactions to accidental peanut exposure.

It is important to remember that OIT is not a cure for peanut allergy, and it is likely an individual starting this therapy will need to remain on it indefinitely. Patients utilizing this therapy will still be expected to avoid dietary peanut and carry an epinephrine auto-injector.

Who Will Benefit From This Treatment? OIT will not be right for every patient. It is not a "one size fits all" approach. How to predict which individuals will respond to OIT and which individuals will be at highest risk of side effects (including anaphylaxis) has not been clearly determined, and there are many other important questions about OIT that require ongoing study.

The AAAAI encourages patients and families to engage with an allergist/immunologist to discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives of OIT and all other emerging treatments for food allergy. Ultimately, the choice of treatment, including that of active non-intervention, will be based on individual and family factors after careful discussion with one's physician.

"Patients and their families will need to understand the realities of these new therapies. As physicians, we must invest the time to explain the potential for benefit compared with the potential for harm/burden, and permit patients and families to express their values and preferences, allowing them to participate in the medical decision making process to determine whether they desire to proceed with food oral immunotherapy," said Dr. Lang.

Who Can Provide More Details? Food allergy experts from the AAAAI are available to speak about this new therapy and what it means for patients. If you're a reporter looking to speak with an expert, please email media@aaaai.org. If you're a patient, the AAAAI's Find an Allergist/Immunologist service will allow you to find a trusted AAAAI member specialist close to home.

You can learn more about the current state of OIT at the AAAAI's website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has nearly 7,000 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries.

SOURCE American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

See original here:
What You Need to Know About the First Peanut Allergy Treatment Approved by the FDA - Benzinga

Immunology

What we’re learning about infectious disease from bats and mosquitos – Source

We know surveillance is used to keep an eye on convenience stores and homes; it is also used to monitor the spread of infectious diseases. Of course, video cameras wont work to spot viruses or bacteria, so researchers at Colorado State University are working to create other methods that allow us to watch out for infectious disease harmful to humans.

Anna Fagre, Ph.D. student in CSUs Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Pathology, investigates how bats might be useful for disease surveillance. In Uganda, Fagre studies bats in caves visited by humans for recreational or religious purposes to determine what diseases or viruses might be present in that area.

We look at the potential for bats to act as reservoirs for these viruses, Fagre said.

Through non-lethal sampling, Fagre collects blood, saliva and fecal samples to find out what diseases exist in the bats. This information allows the researchers to determine if a particular disease might spread via blood through arthropod vectors like mosquitoes, or through the bats own fluids.

As the first veterinarian to receive the $25,000 Robert E. Shope International Fellowship, Fagre specializes in understanding the parasites found on bats, such as ticks and bat bugs, to study how these arthropods might transfer diseases from bats to humans.

But her team intends to take data collection a step further.

When we trap the bats, well be microchipping them, kind of like you would a dog or a cat, so we can identify the bats moving forward, Fagre said.

With GPS technology, the team will be able to track individual bats, view where they have been, and examine whether theyve picked up a disease between samplings. This can be extremely valuable in pinpointing where a virus is spreading from or what population of bats has been infected.

It allows us to get a step ahead of the virus, Fagre explained. If we know which viruses are present in the bat populations, and we know that humans are interacting with these bats by coming into these caves, then we know exactly which pathogens or viruses to be monitoring for in the human population.

This information can help doctors to diagnose the problem more quickly in patients with unknown illnesses.

Continued here:
What we're learning about infectious disease from bats and mosquitos - Source