Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

NexImmune Announces Research Collaboration with National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health…

GAITHERSBURG, Md., Oct. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NexImmune, Inc.(Nasdaq: NEXI), a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to orchestrate a targeted immune response by directing the function of antigen-specific T cells, today announced a collaboration with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke(NINDS), a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The collaboration will focus on enriching and expanding virus-specific T cell populations and determining their activity against infected human cell lines. The goal of this collaboration is to develop adoptive cell therapies that may benefit patients afflicted with immunological disorders related to these viral infections. Initially, we will focus our efforts on studying Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Human T-cell Leukemia Virus, type 1 (HTLV-1).

NexImmune is committed to developing novel therapies for the treatment of oncology, infectious disease and autoimmune disorders, said Kristi Jones, Chief Executive Officer of NexImmune. Compelling evidence exists that several autoimmune diseases are mediated by virally-infected cells. Current therapeutic approaches in these diseases broadly target cell populations that may or may not be expressly involved in the disease. NexImmunes AIM platform has the potential to selectively target and eliminate EBV-infected B cells in multiple sclerosis (MS), or HTLV-1-infected cells in HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM), which may offer a unique benefit over current approaches. We will be working with the NINDS to evaluate EBV and HTLV-1 as therapeutic targets in the pathophysiology of neurological immune diseases. This important collaboration will enable us to leverage the AIM platform to develop potentially innovative antigen-specific therapies for these patients.

There is a clear causal relationship between HLTV-1 infection and HTLV-1 Associated Myelopathy and a potential relationship between EBV infection and MS, stated David Hafler, M.D., FANA, and member of NexImmunes Scientific Advisory Board. This work will help advance our understanding of the role immune responses to viral infection play in different neuroimmunological diseases.

AboutNexImmune

NexImmune is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing a novel approach to immunotherapy designed to employ the bodys own T cells to generate a specific, potent, and durable immune response.

NexImmunes lead programs, NEXI-001, NEXI-002 and NEXI-003, are in Phase 1/2 clinical trials for the treatment of relapsed AML after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, multiple myeloma refractory to 3 or more prior lines of therapy and HPV-related cancers, respectively. NexImmune is also developing AIM nanoparticle constructs and modalities for potential clinical evaluation in oncology and in disease areas outside of oncology, including autoimmune disorders and infectious disease.

The backbone of NexImmunes approach is a proprietary Artificial Immune Modulation (AIM) nanoparticle technology platform. The AIM technology enables NexImmune to construct nanoparticles that function as synthetic dendritic cells capable of directing a specific T cell-mediated immune response. AIM constructed nanoparticles employ natural biology to engage, activate and expand endogenous T cells in ways that combine anti-tumor attributes of antigen-specific precision, potency and long-term persistence with reduced potential for off-target toxicities.

For more information, visit http://www.neximmune.com

AboutThe National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and its Viral Immunology Section

Created by the U.S. Congress in 1950, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has occupied a central position in the world of neuroscience for over 70 years. The mission of NINDS is to reduce the burden of neurological diseasea burden borne by every age group, every segment of society, and people all over the world.

To accomplish this goal, the Institute supports and conducts basic, translational, and clinical research on the healthy and diseased nervous system; fosters the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neurosciences; and seeks better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders.

The Viral Immunology Section studies the role of human viruses in the pathogenesis of chronic progressive neurologic disease. As part of its work, the laboratory is studying virological, immunological, and molecular mechanisms associated with the human T lymphotropic virus type-I associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis and the association of virus in multiple sclerosis.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on the beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management of NexImmune, Inc. (the Company). All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements concerning our planned and ongoing clinical studies for the Companys product candidates, including NEXI-001 and NEXI-002; the initiation, enrollment, timing, progress, release of data from and results of those planned and ongoing clinical studies; and the utility of prior preclinical and clinical data in determining future clinical results. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as may, will, should, expects, plans, anticipates, believes, estimates, predicts, potential or continue or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in the Risk Factors section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 31, 2021, and subsequent reports that we file with the SEC. Forward-looking statements represent the Companys beliefs and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this press release to conform any of the forward-looking statements to actual results or to changes in its expectations.

Contacts

Investors:Chad Rubin, SVP Corporate AffairsNexImmune, Inc.646.319.3261crubin@neximmune.com

Read this article:
NexImmune Announces Research Collaboration with National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the National Institutes of Health...

Immunology

Immunology – Clinical Care Options – ClinicalOptions

Disclaimer: The materials published on the Clinical Care Options Sites reflect the views of the reviewers or authors of the CCO material, not those of Clinical Care Options, LLC, the accredited provider, or the companies providing educational grants. The materials may discuss uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product discussed. Readers should verify all information and data before treating patients or using any therapies described in these materials.

2022 Clinical Care Options, LLC. All rights reserved.

Visit link:
Immunology - Clinical Care Options - ClinicalOptions

Immunology

PhD candidate in immunology wins three awards at Health Research Forum – UM Today

September 20, 2022

Marina Costa Fujishima, a PhD candidate in immunology in the Max Rady College of Medicine, took home three prestigious awards at the Canadian Student Health Research Forum, a national event held this past summer at UM.

She received the Dean of Medicine Poster Award, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Sex and Gender Research Gold Award and the Gairdner Award.

Costa Fujishima, who is from Brazil, conducts research focused on how the vaginal microbiome interacts with the immune system, and how the outcome of these interactions can play a role in reproductive health and susceptibility to disease.

Earlier this year, her achievements and potential were acknowledged when she became the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Forough Khadem Scholarship.

The scholarship was established to honour the life, spirit and work of Khadem, a student from Iran who earned her PhD in immunology at UM. It recognizes an outstanding international female graduate student who demonstrates leadership and a desire to have an impact on the world through science.

We recently spoke with Costa Fujishima about her PhD research.

What drew you to immunology?

I took an immunology class during the fourth year of my bachelors in microbiology. My current supervisor gave a guest lecture in the class, and I was just in love with it immediately.

What is the main focus of your research?

Im currently looking at how the composition of the vaginal microbiome can influence the immune system in the female genital tract. This is very interesting because human cohort studies have shown that certain microbial communities present in the vaginal canal can increase susceptibility to disease, including spontaneous pre-term birth and sexually transmitted infections like HIV, but we still dont understand why.

Those same studies showed a high abundance of white blood cells called neutrophils in the genital tract of these women, which also seemed to correlate with increased susceptibility to disease. So my research is trying to understand: How can these vaginal microbial species influence neutrophils? What exactly are neutrophils doing when they encounter different bacteria? Could neutrophils response result in adverse health outcomes, specifically increased HIV infection?

How did it feel to win three awards at this years Canadian Student Health Research Forum?

It was great! Im not a native English speaker, so I usually get very nervous thinking I will forget how to say everything I want in English. I was not expecting to win, but it was amazing. I loved explaining my research to the judges.

Can you tell us more about what you presented at the forum?

I talked about the mouse model we have set up in our lab. I have been able to show that neutrophils rapidly enter the vaginal tissue in the presence of certain bacteria species, but not others. Neutrophils not only come in, but I also found that they cause a lot of bystander damage in the vaginal tissue, which allows the HIV virus to enter the body more easily. When we prevent neutrophils from entering the vaginal tissue, there is less damage despite the presence of the bacteria.

Why did you choose UM for your PhD?

The immunology department and HIV research here at UM are so strong. There is so much cool work done here by world-renowned scientists and so much collaboration that it creates the perfect environment for young researchers like me.

Who are your mentors?

My supervisor, Dr. Thomas Murooka, is the best mentor I could have asked for. I look up to him a lot. Also my committee members, Dr. Lyle McKinnon, Dr. Catherine Card and Dr. Sam Kung.

What are your plans after you finish your PhD?

I want to stay in academia and become an independent researcher. I want to understand how the immune system can recognize and tolerate microbes that live within us, and how it decides whether those microbes are our friends or enemies. I am fascinated by this topic, so I want to stay in the field.

ALLYN LYONS

See more here:
PhD candidate in immunology wins three awards at Health Research Forum - UM Today

Immunology

New study reveals breakthrough infections increase immunity to COVID-19 – OHSU News

Health care systems encourage everyone eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination and booster. (Getty Images)

Vaccine boosters and breakthrough infections following vaccination both provide a substantial and potentially pandemic-breaking immunity against COVID-19, according to new laboratory research from Oregon Health & Science University.

The study, published Wednesday in the journal Med, is the latest in a series of OHSU discoveries using blood samples to characterize immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

As the number of omicron subvariant cases rise and as global vaccination and booster campaigns continue, an increasing proportion of the worlds population will acquire potent immune responses that may be protective against future SARS-CoV-2 variants, the researchers conclude.

The research measured a powerful immune response among samples from 99 OHSU employees who had blood drawn for the research. Notably, researchers measured an equally potent immune response to the virus with dramatic increases in magnitude, potency and breadth among people whose blood was drawn three months after a third vaccine booster dose and another group one month after a breakthrough infection.

In addition, the study found the immune response was just as powerful among people 65 and older.

Marcel Curlin, M.D. (OHSU)

Early in the pandemic, we had very high mortality in certain vulnerable groups, such as older adults in nursing homes, but that reality is slowly changing, said co-senior author Marcel Curlin, M.D., associate professor of medicine (infectious diseases) in the OHSU School of Medicine and medical director of OHSU Occupational Health. Our study bolsters the idea that vaccination is a pathway to a milder illness. Even if youre older, your chances of having a severe illness if youre re-infected down the line appears to be much lower than it was at the start of the pandemic.

Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D. (OHSU)

Co-senior author Fikadu Tafesse, Ph.D., associate professor of molecular microbiology and immunology in the OHSU School of Medicine, said he would expect an even more robust immune response among people receiving the new bivalent vaccine booster targeting the BA.4 and BA.5 variants.

We anticipate that updated vaccine strategies with variant-specific regimens will significantly improve the breadth of the immune response and provide better protections against the SARS-CoV-2 variants, he said.

In contrast to the onset of the pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is no longer novel to the human immune system. Most people in the world have now been vaccinated, infected or both meaning the virus is running up against a much more effective immune response with each new infection.

Curlin said the new study most likely reflects the fact that the virus is evolving to become more transmissible but less harmful.

Evolutionary pressure is driving the virus to find more ways to infect people at the cost of pathogenicity, most likely, he said. Pathogenicity refers to the capacity to cause symptoms associated with the disease.

Funding for this study was supported by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust; the OHSU Foundation; the National Institutes of Health training grant T32HL083808; and a grant from the OHSU Innovates IDEA fund. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

Follow this link:
New study reveals breakthrough infections increase immunity to COVID-19 - OHSU News

Immunology

Study: Children With Primary Immunodeficiency Disease May Have Higher Mortality from COVID-19 – Pharmacy Times

In a recent study, researchers observed that more than one-third of children with a primary immunodeficiency disease died from COVID-19.

Children with certain immunodeficiency diseases have a higher mortality rate due to COVID-19, suggests new research out of the Karolinska Institutet published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Most children infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, but those with certain immunodeficiency diseasesalso called inborn errors of immunity (IEI)may have mutated genes that affect the immune system, preventing it from protecting itself against infections. This could lead to severe, or deadly, complications.

Mortalityis much higher among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases infected with SARS-CoV-2. Our results indicate that basic immunological examination and genetic analysis should be conducted in children with severe COVID-19 or multi-inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C). The clinicians will then be able to help these children with more precise therapies based on their genetic changes, said study leader Qiang Pan-Hammarstrm, professor at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, in a press release.

Among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases (examples include hereditary and congenital diseases of the immune system), certain individuals have mild or no symptoms after contracting infection from COVID-19, whereas others experience severe symptoms. There is controversial evidence explaining why the range of symptoms differs greatly, according to the authors of the current study.

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet set out to understand whether genetics play a role in the severity of some COVID-19 cases among children with primary immunodeficiency diseases. Between August 2020 and September 2020, researchers identified 31 unvaccinated children in Iran who had the same primary immunodeficiency disease. The participants, aged 5 months to 19 years, suffered from a severe or critical COVID-19 infection.

After performing genetic and immunological analyses, researchers found that 11 children died from SARS-CoV-2 complications. Among participants, 5 (16%) children were diagnosed with MIS-C.

The research suggests that patients with MIS-C differ from those without MIS-C because they cannot produce their own antiviral antibodies. Consequently they, would not have the full benefit of vaccination, said lead author Hassan Abolhassani, assistant professor at the Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, in the press release.

Further, the genetic analyses showed that more than 90% of children with primary immunodeficiency diseases had a mutation that affected proteins (interferons) that regulate the immune system during a viral infection. These mutated genes could explain why their immune defenses were not functioning properly.

The researchers performed an additional literature review of global reports that studied this population. The team identified the mortality rate from COVID-19 to be 8% among children with an IEI.

The study was limited to researching patients with severe COVID-19 cases, those infected with the original strain, and non-vaccinated children.

Our results clarify the molecular mechanism of these immune diseases, which opens up the possibility of developing a more targeted therapy. The knowledge acquired from the study also allows us to develop better strategies for the treatment and prevention of severe COVID-19 disease in these patients, Pan-Hammarstrm said in the press release.

Reference

Karolinska Institutet. Higher risk of serious COVID-19 complications in children with primary immunodeficiency. EurekAlert! September 16, 2022. Accessed on September 19, 2022. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/964997

Read more from the original source:
Study: Children With Primary Immunodeficiency Disease May Have Higher Mortality from COVID-19 - Pharmacy Times

Immunology

First person to ever be treated with CRISPR-based HIV gene therapy – Interesting Engineering

Observation and evaluation

The person who received the first single-dose intravenous infusion EBT-101 therapy is being observed and evaluated for rebound of the HIV virus. Since this treatment has never been done before, researchers want to make sure the treatment stops the virus from replicating itself in the body. The research team is hoping that the individual will no longer need to use the antiretroviral therapy, which is currently the standard in HIV treatment.

Launching the EBT-101 phase 1/2 clinical trial

The trial was launched by Kamel Khalili, PhD, Laura H. Carnell, professor and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation, director of the Center for Neurovirology and Gene Editing and director of the Comprehensive NeuroAIDS Center, and Tricia H. Burdo, PhD, professor and vice chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Inflammation at the Katz School of Medicine.

Dr. Khalili mentioned that there are still no curative treatments for HIV after more than 40 years since the virus was discovered. Nearly 40 million people worldwide suffer from HIV. He said EBT-101 can potentially address long-standing unmet needs of individuals living with HIV/AIDS by removing viral DNA from their cells, thereby eradicating infection.

Details of the trial

The trial is a study meant to evaluate the safety and efficacy of EBT-101 in approximately nine participants living with HIV-1. These individuals undergoing the study are suppressed on antiretroviral therapy. Its goal is to assess the tolerability of a single dose of EBT-101 in participants and their response to it. There was an initial 48-week follow up period for the trial, with an intended long-term follow up.

Original post:
First person to ever be treated with CRISPR-based HIV gene therapy - Interesting Engineering

Immunology

Plasma Fractionation Market Worth $46.9 Billion by 2029- Market Size, Share, Forecasts, & Trends Analysis Report with COVID-19 Impact by…

REDDING, Calif., Sept. 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report, 'Plasma Fractionation Marketby Product [Immunoglobulins (Intravenous, Subcutaneous), Coagulation Factors, Albumin], Application (Immunology, Hematology, Neurology), and End User (Hospital, Clinical Research Lab, Academic Institutes) - Forecast to 2029', published by Meticulous Research, the Plasma Fractionation market is projected to reach $46.9 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 7.1% from 2020 to 2029.

Meticulous_Research_Logo

DownloadFree Sample Report Now @7https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5117

Blood plasma is a vital component of certain medical treatments for rare diseases and has no substitutes. As a result, its demand is rising globally. Many treatments are plasma intensive and require millions of liters of plasma annually. For instance, the treatment of hemophilia may require the yield of as many as 1,200 donations annually. In addition to the growing prevalence of blood disorders like hemophilia, the growing use of immunoglobulins in various therapeutic areas and the expansion of plasma collection centers are some factors driving the market. The number of plasma collection centers is rising, particularly in the U.S., as the country allows two plasma donations a week, unlike other countries that have banned more than one donation a week. Market players such as Grifols, S.A. (Spain) have expanded their plasma collection centers from 171 in 2016 to 344 as of 2021.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. FDA gave an emergency use authorization (EUA) for convalescent plasma therapy with high antibody levels to treat COVID-19. Thus, the demand for plasma increased amid the pandemic, positively impacting the market. Globally, Asia-Pacific has the highest number of plasma collection centers; however, the throughput is low at around 27%. Though the U.S. has fewer plasma collection centers than Europe, its throughput is high.

Story continues

Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business:https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5117

The plasma fractionation market is segmented by product [Immunoglobulins (IVIg, SCIg, and IMIg), Coagulation Factors, Albumin, Protease Inhibitors, and Other Products), Application (Immunology, Hematology, Neurology, Critical Care, Hematology-oncology, Rheumatology & Orthopedics, and Others), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Clinical Research Laboratories, and Academic & Research Institutes), and geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the regional and country-level markets.

Based on product, the plasma fractionation market is segmented into immunoglobulins, coagulation factors/concentrates, albumin, and protease inhibitors. The immunoglobulins segment is expected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing focus of the market players on expanding their plasma collection and IgG production facilities are the key factors attributing to the market growth. For instance, in February 2020, Grifols, S.A. (Spain) signed an agreement with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) to build a network of plasma collection centers and other facilities for the production of plasma medicines, including a plasma fractionation plant and a purification plant, in Saudi Arabia.

Based on end user, in 2022, the hospitals & clinics segment is expected to account for the largest share of the plasma fractionation market. The high demand for plasma-based products in multiple therapy areas and hospitals & clinics being the primary healthcare service contribute to the large market share of this segment. Many hospitals do not have a regular influx of people with hemophilia or other blood disorders; they still need to keep 4060 days of plasma inventory on hand at all times.

Quick Buy Plasma Fractionation Market - Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast (2022-2029), Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/68317165

Based on geography, in 2022, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the global plasma fractionation market. The highest number of plasma collection centers in the U.S. is a key factor for the large market share of this region. Additionally, with over 450 centers, most plasma collection centers are concentrated in the U.S. and Europe.However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period.

The report also includes an extensive assessment of the product portfolio, geographic analysis, and key strategic developments adopted by leading market participants in the industry in the last 3 years (20202022). The Plasma Fractionation market has witnessed a number of product launches, approvals, agreements, partnerships, collaborations, expansions, and acquisitions in recent years. For instance, in April 2020, Grifols, S.A. (Spain) launched its HyperRAB (3-mL 900-IU) for the treatment of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis.

Some of the key players operating in this market are CSL Limited (Australia), Grifols, S.A. (Spain), Octapharma AG (Switzerland), Kedrion S.p.A. (Italy), Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Japan), China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc. (China), Bio Products Laboratory Limited (BPL) (U.K.), Intas Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (India), LFB Group (France), ADMA Biologics, Inc. (U.S.), SK Plasma (South Korea), and GC Biopharma Corp. (South Korea).

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here:https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/plasma-fractionation-market-5117

Scope of the Report:

Plasma Fractionation Market, by Product

Coagulation Factors

Albumin

Protease Inhibitors

Other Products

Note: Other plasma-derived products include fibrin, sealant, and plasma

Plasma Fractionation Market, by Application

Note: Other applications include the management of respiratory diseases and wound healing.

Plasma Fractionation Market, by End User

Plasma Fractionation Market, by Geography

Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business:https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=5117

Related Reports:

Diagnostic Specialty Antibodies Market by Type (Primary, Secondary), Clonality (Monoclonal, Polyclonal), Technique (WB, Rapid Test, IHC, IP), Conjugate, and Application (Dengue, Malaria, Hepatitis, HIV, E. coli, Tuberculosis, Pneumonia, Cancer) - Forecast to 2029

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/diagnostic-specialty-antibodies-market-5241

Plasma Therapy Market by Type (Pure Platelet-rich Plasma, Platelet-rich Fibrin), Application (Orthopedics, Dermatology, Cosmetology, Rheumatology, Ophthalmology), End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Research Institutes) - Global Forecast to 2028

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/plasma-therapy-market-5218

Research Antibodies and Reagents Market by Product {Antibodies [Type (Primary, Secondary), Production, Source, Research Area (Oncology, Neurology)], Reagents}, Technology (ELISA, Western Blot), Application, End User (Pharma, Academia) - Global Forecast to 2027

https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/research-antibodies-reagents-market-5055

About Meticulous Research

Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa.

The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth.

Contact:Mr.Khushal BombeMeticulous Market Research Inc.1267WillisSt,Ste200 Redding,California,96001, U.S.USA: +1-646-781-8004Europe : +44-203-868-8738APAC: +91 744-7780008Email-sales@meticulousresearch.comVisit Our Website:https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Connect with us on LinkedIn-https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-researchContent Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/366/plasma-fractionation-market-2029

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1213534/Meticulous_Research_Logo.jpg

Cision

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/plasma-fractionation-market-worth-46-9-billion-by-2029--market-size-share-forecasts--trends-analysis-report-with-covid-19-impact-by-meticulous-research-301630999.html

SOURCE Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd

See the rest here:
Plasma Fractionation Market Worth $46.9 Billion by 2029- Market Size, Share, Forecasts, & Trends Analysis Report with COVID-19 Impact by...

Immunology

Unhealthy Gut Helps Breast Cancer Spread, Research Reveals – UVA Health Newsroom

Melanie Rutkowski, PhD, of the UVA School of Medicine and the UVA Cancer Center, studies how gut health affects breast cancer and its spread.

An unhealthy gut triggers changes in normal breast tissue that helpsbreast cancerspread to other parts of the body, new research from UVA Cancer Center reveals.

The gut microbiome the collection of microbes that naturally live inside us can be disrupted by poor diet, long-term antibiotic use, obesity or other factors. When this happens, the ailing microbiome reprograms important immune cells in healthy breast tissue, called mast cells, to facilitate cancers spread, UVA Healths new discovery shows.

The finding could help scientists develop ways to keep breast cancer from metastasizing (spreading to other parts of the body). When it does, it is often deadly: Only 29% of women with metastatic breast cancer survive five years; for men with metastatic breast cancer, that figure is just 22%.

The discovery could also let doctors predict which patients are at greatest risk of cancer recurrence after treatment, the UVA scientists say.

We show gut commensal dysbiosis, an unhealthy and inflammatory gut microbiome, systemically changes the mammary tissues of mice that do not have cancer. The tissue changes enhance infiltration of mast cells that, in the presence of a tumor, facilitate breast tumor metastasis, said researcher Melanie R. Rutkowski, PhD, of UVA Cancer Center and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. Mast cells recruited into the tissue environment during dysbiosis restructure the tissue architecture in such a way that tumor cells metastasize to other organs.

Rutkowski has been a pioneer in unveiling the surprising relationship between gut health and breast cancer. Her latest work reveals complex interactions between our gut microbes and mast cells in the breast. Mast cells are blood cells which help regulate the bodys immune response to disease and allergens. Rutkowskis new work suggests that the gut microbiome can systemically influence mast cell behavior and function in the presence of tumors.

Rutkowski and her team found that an unhealthy microbiome caused the mast cells to accumulate in the breast. These changes continued after tumor formation in a mouse model of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, making the breast tissue a prime launching ground for the cancers incursions into other parts of the body.

Further, the scientists found that the mast cells increased the amount of collagen in the mices breast tissue and spurred earlier cancer spread. Blocking the process that led to mast-cell accumulation prevented both, significantly reducing tumor spread to the lungs.

Based on their lab results, the researchers examined tissue samples taken from human patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. They found these patients, like the mice, had increased numbers of mast cells and increased deposits of collagen. The numbers of mast cells correlated with the amount of collagen and, notably, the patients risk for a recurrence of breast cancer.

Mast cells have had a controversial role in breast cancer, with some studies identifying a positive correlation with outcome while others have identified negative associations, said Rutkowski, of UVAsDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology. Our investigation suggests that to better define the relationship between mast cells and risk for breast tumor metastasis, we should consider the mast cell functional attributes, tissue collagen density and mast cell location with respect to the tumor.

Ultimately, she says, doctors may be able to target the gut-mast cell relationship in patients with breast cancer to help prevent the cancer from recurring and spreading. They also may be able to use the discovery to identify patients at risk for recurrence, allowing them to tailor the treatment strategy for the prevention of metastatic disease.

Personalized medicine in oncology is a promising approach to facilitate better outcomes for patients, said researcher Tzu-Yu Feng, PhD, the first author of a new scientific paper outlining the findings. Our research on the gut-mast cell axis has identified possible intervention points that could be targeted for a customized approach to therapy. The ultimate goal would be to improve survival for patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

Rutkowskis cutting-edge research is part of UVA Cancer Centers urgent mission to better understand and better treat cancer. UVA is one of only 52 cancer centers in the country to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).The designationrecognizes elite cancer centers with the most outstanding cancer research and treatment programs in the nation.

UVA Cancer Center is the only Comprehensive Cancer Center in Virginia.

Rutkowski and her collaborators have published their findings in the scientific journal Cancer Immunology Research. The research team consisted of Tzu-Yu Feng, Francesca N. Azar, Sally A. Dreger, Claire Buchta Rosean, Mitchell T. McGinty, Audrey M. Putelo, Sree H. Kolli, Maureen A. Carey, Stephanie Greenfield, Wesley J. Fowler, Stephen D. Robinson and Melanie Rutkowski.

The work was supported bySusan G. Komen, grant CCR17483602; the National Institutes of Healths National Cancer Institute, grant R01CA253285; and the American Cancer Society, grant IRG 81-001-26. Additional support came from UVA Cancer Center, the BBSRC Institute Strategic Programme Gut Microbes and Health, and Cancer Research UK.

To keep up with the latest medical research news from UVA, subscribe to theMaking of Medicineblog.

Continued here:
Unhealthy Gut Helps Breast Cancer Spread, Research Reveals - UVA Health Newsroom

Immunology

Report ranks Lakeland one of the most challenging cities to live with asthma – ABC Action News Tampa Bay

LAKELAND, Fla. About 25 million people living in the United States have asthma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A new report found Lakeland is the most challenging city in the south for a person with asthma.

Emily Stewart, 21, has had severe asthma most of her life.

As Ive gotten older, my asthma has progressively gotten worse.

Stewart said her symptoms are especially bad when the seasons change.

You just feel like your chest is really heavy. It'll feel like you have something sitting on your chest. Its hard to breathe. Youre wheezing, youre coughing and its just kind of non-stop. It'll wake me up out of the night sometimes, Stewart said.

The Lakeland native uses various treatments to improve her quality of life, including different inhalers and injections. However, a new report from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) ranked Lakeland as the worst place to live in the south if you have asthma.

Pollen counts are definitely an asthma trigger, as are viral infections; 80% of asthma exacerbation in children are triggered by viral infections such as rhinovirus and other similar viruses that cause common cold symptoms. Air pollution can be a trigger, said Dr. Kathryn Convers, owner of Lakeland Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The study looked at asthma prevalence, emergency room visits due to asthma attacks, and asthma-related deaths. Lakeland came in fourth in the entire country.

Were diagnosing patients newly with asthma on a daily basis, said Dr. Convers.

Dr. Convers said her office has a three-month wait for new patients. The report also examined access to medical care, where Lakeland is ranked 10th for the fewest asthma specialists. Dr. Convers is looking to bring on additional physicians to her practice.

We definitely recognize the greater need in Lakeland for asthma, allergy and immunology specialists, and so we absolutely hope to grow in the near future, Dr. Convers.

Read the original:
Report ranks Lakeland one of the most challenging cities to live with asthma - ABC Action News Tampa Bay

Immunology

What does the future hold for COVID-19? – UCLA Health Connect

By Sandy Cohen September 20, 2022

If COVID-19 becomes a seasonal virus like three of the four common-cold coronaviruses an annual COVID vaccine alongside our flu shot may offer all the protection we need.

President Joe Biden, in a September statement, even described the new COVID-19 boosters as a once-a-year shot.

But its really too soon to know if COVID-19 will become seasonal, says Otto Yang, MD, a professor in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

When a virus comes into the human population, it takes a while before it settles into a pattern, Dr. Yang says. When this hit humans, everybody was susceptible and it was easy for the virus to spread, but once a bunch of people have been infected and/or vaccinated, then its not as easy for the virus to spread and a seasonal pattern will emerge if its seasonal.

Anthony Fauci, MD, the nations top infectious disease official, predicted at a federal health briefing in September that in the absence of a dramatically different variant, we likely are moving towards a path with a vaccination cadence similar to that of the annual influenza vaccine, with annual updated COVID-19 shots matched to the currently circulating strains for most of the population.

Vaccine- and infection-induced protection against COVID-19 wanes after about four months, Dr. Yang says. So if the virus settles into a seasonal pattern, annual vaccination may be enough to reduce infection rates and illness severity during the viral season.

The flu virus, for instance, is seasonal, with most cases arising in the fall and winter. Thus, an annual flu shot that offers protection during the most infectious season prevents influenza from being as deadly as it once was, even though immunity from the flu vaccine lasts much less than a year.

The new bivalent COVID-19 booster shots introduced in September which encode the spike protein of the original strain of the virus and the omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 currently responsible for most infections were developed according to a similar rationale as the annual flu vaccine. This new booster aims to protect against the circulating strains of COVID-19, just as the flu vaccine is adjusted each year to protect against predicted circulating strains of that virus.

And, like the annual flu vaccine, the new COVID-19 boosters were developed and authorized without clinical trials with human subjects.

The same RNA platform used for the original COVID-19 vaccine was adapted to include RNA from the omicron variant, Dr. Yang says: This is the normal process with the flu vaccine, which changes every year. Moreover, the omicron variants are much more similar to the original virus than flu vaccine strains are to each other year to year, he says.

Its been a while since weve seen a big new variant, says Dr. Yang, noting omicron sub-variant BA.5 has been dominant for several months.

The virus has evolved to be better at spreading between humans, he says, as evidenced by mutations to the binding receptor domain, which the virus uses to attach to a cell to infect. The latest mutations make that attachment process more efficient against human cells, which reflects that it has adapted to humans after jumping species from an animal host.

Mutations happen randomly, Dr. Yang says. And if a mutation is helpful to a virus, that virus will have an advantage and take over, compared to its peers.

Thats what omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 have done.

Ashish Jha, MD, the Biden administrations COVID-19 coordinator, says that barring those variant curveballs, a once-a-year shot should suffice to protect the majority of Americans from serious illness from COVID-19.

Dr. Yang says hes fully vaccinated but is eager to get the new shot. He continues to avoid crowded indoor spaces, and when he cant, he wears an N-95 equivalent mask when inside in public settings, such as when grocery shopping.

Its not like I completely avoid indoor spaces or socializing with friends, he says. I just try to make sure its risk-balanced, adding that he does see small groups of low-risk friends indoors, for example.

But he opts for socializing outdoors whenever possible, he says.

I still have not been infected, Dr. Yang says. And I would prefer to keep it that way.

Get the latest information on COVID-19 vaccines.

Related Posts

Everybody should get a flu shot, says UCLA Health co-chief infection prevention officer Dr. Annabelle de St. Maurice

The phrase became popular after COVID-19 vaccines became available, but its not accurate, says UCLA Health infectious diseases specialist Dr. Annabelle de St. Maurice

Picking the right trainer and dietitian can make a significant difference for your health

Read more from the original source:
What does the future hold for COVID-19? - UCLA Health Connect