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Cell Biology

Temple researchers reverse muscle fibrosis associated with overuse injury in animals – News-Medical.Net

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Mar 30 2020

Overuse injuries - think muscle strains, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff tears - are a considerable problem in the United States, especially among young athletes. But while commonly associated with sports, overuse injuries - particularly those involving muscle strains - also affect significant numbers of workers whose jobs involve manual labor.

High-force, high-repetition movements, such as those involved in heavy lifting, create microinjuries in muscle fibers. Muscle tissue responds by making small repairs to the damaged fibers. But over time, with repetition of injury, healing capacity becomes overwhelmed, and microinjuries progress to fibrosis - the replacement of muscle tissue with connective tissue. Fibrosis ultimately weakens muscles and can put pressure on nerves, causing pain.

While long thought to be irreversible, new research by scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) shows for the first time in animals that it may be possible to undo the damage caused by fibrosis and, in the process, restore muscle strength.

The findings, published online March 30 in The FASEB Journal, offer hope for people who have been unable to return to work because of an overuse injury.

The accumulation of scar tissue from muscle fibrosis is the primary cause of muscle weakness that arises following overuse injury, also known as repetitive strain injury."

Mary F. Barbe, PhD, Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at LKSOM

Dr. Barbe and colleagues, including her primary collaborator Steven N. Popoff, PhD, the John Franklin Huber Chair and Professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology at LKSOM, found that this scarring process can be halted and even reversed by a drug known as FG-3019. FG-3019, which works by blocking the activity of a protein called CCN2, was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Dr. Barbe's team carried out their investigation in a rat model of overuse injury in which animals were trained to do a task in a high-force, high-repetition manner for a reward. After 18 weeks, animals trained on the task developed muscle fibrosis characteristic of overuse injury.

The researchers then divided the animals into three groups: one that received no treatment, one that received an inactive "sham" treatment, and one that received FG-3019. The treatment period lasted six weeks, during which all animals were given a rest from the high-force, high-repetition task.

Following the six weeks of rest, analyses of muscle tissue showed that untreated animals and sham-treated animals had significantly elevated muscle levels of fibrosis-related proteins, including collagen and CCN2, which promotes the growth of connective tissue. By contrast, in FG-3019-treated animals, CCN2 and collagen levels were similar to levels in control rats that were not trained to perform the repetitive task. Fibrotic damage was also reversed in animals given FG-3019, and these animals showed significant improvements in grip and other tests of muscle strength.

"FG-3019 is already in clinical trials for other diseases involving fibrosis, including pulmonary fibrosis and kidney fibrosis," Dr. Barbe said. "Our work adds to the relevance of this drug in treating fibrotic diseases, with the novel application for muscle fibrosis associated with overuse injury."

Dr. Barbe and colleagues hope to pursue the use of FG-3019 in clinical trials in human patients.

"If we can successfully reverse muscle fibrosis in humans, we will be able to provide relief and help workers with overuse injury eventually return to their jobs."

Source:

Journal reference:

Barbe, M.F., et al. (2020) Blocking CTGF/CCN2 reduces established skeletal muscle fibrosis in a rat model of overuse injury. FASEB Journal. doi.org/10.1096/fj.202000240RR.

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Temple researchers reverse muscle fibrosis associated with overuse injury in animals - News-Medical.Net

Cell Biology

Weakness in lung and kidney cancer cells could serve as therapeutic target – News-Medical.Net

Researchers at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have made an important discovery about how some cancers rely on glucose to survive which could lead to the development of tumor-specific treatments that do not affect healthy cells.

Image Credits: crystal light / Shutterstock.com

The team describes how some cancer cells that have high expression of a certain amino acid transporter and effectively become addicted to glucose could be targeted with glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitors.

The amino acid transporter is called solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) and examples of cancers that express this at high levels are lung cancer and kidney cancer renal cell carcinoma.

The study, which was recently published in the journal Nature Cell Biology aimed to find tumor-specific treatment approaches based on the metabolic reprogramming that cancer cells use to survive.

Study leader Boyi Gan from the universitys Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology says it is this metabolic reprograming that often results in cancer cells becoming extremely dependent on certain nutrients if they are going to have any chance of surviving.

"Limiting the supply of such nutrients or blocking their uptake or metabolism through pharmacological means may selectively kill 'addicted' cancer cells without affecting normal cells. Our understanding of nutrient dependency in cancer cells can provide great insights for targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer therapies," says Gan.

Gan gives an example of how this nutrient dependency can be used as a therapeutic approach in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

This rare disease, which affects white blood cells is aggressive and quick to progress. It can affect adults and children, but it usually develops in children, adolescents, and young adults and is the most common form of leukemia among children. In the majority of cases, it affects children aged 0 to 5 years and is slightly more common among boys than among girls.

Unlike healthy cells, the cancer cells seen in acute lymphoblastic leukemia are unable to make the amino acid asparagine, a nonessential amino acid that is needed to synthesize glycoproteins and other proteins. Since the cancer cells cannot make this amino acid, they rely on extracellular sources for their survival. The treatment Gan describes disrupts this source of extracellular asparagine and once the cancer cells can no longer acquire this important amino acid, they die.

Another example of an amino acid cancer cells rely on is cystine a protein component commonly found in eggs, meat and dairy products that is known to exert potent antioxidant activity.

The majority of cancer cells acquire cystine using the SLC7A11 amino acid transporter. Once the cancer cell has used the transporter to import cystine, it converts cystine into another amino acid called cysteine. This amino acid is used to produce and accumulate glutathione.

As an antioxidant, glutathione prevents essential cellular components from becoming damaged by reactive oxygen species Accumulating stocks of glutathione, therefore, help cancer cells to survive and it is the most abundant amino acid in the body.

"SLC7A11 is frequently overexpressed in cancers and has a well-established role in maintaining glutathione levels which reduce cancer cell death," says Gan.

However, Gan says the current study found that importing cystine actually poses a danger to cancer cells. Since it is one of the least soluble amino acids, an excess build-up of cystine inside cells can be toxic. Cancer cells, therefore, need to quickly change cystine into the related cysteine.

Consequently, cancer cells with high levels of SLC7A11 and high demand for cystine become dependent on glucose for survival.

Boyi Gan, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Gan and team, therefore, demonstrated a metabolic vulnerability among cancer cells that was associated with high levels of SLC7A11 expression a finding that could pave the way for new therapeutic approaches.

The researchers found that using (GLUT) inhibitors to eliminate the glucose supply that cancer cells turn to, led cystine to accumulate inside the cells at a toxic level.

This strategy therefore specifically destroys cancer cells that are rich in SLC7A11 and suppresses tumor growth.

The findings suggest that GLUT inhibitors may represent a promising new approach to treating cancers such as lung and kidney cancer where tumors express high levels of the amino acid transporter SLC7A11.

Sources:

New therapeutic strategies proposed for some lung and kidney cancers. EuerkAlert! 2020. Available at:https://www.eurekalert.org/emb_releases/2020-03/uotm-nts032620.php

Overview-Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. NHS 2019. Available at:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acute-lymphoblastic-leukaemia/

Asparagine. PubChem. Available at:https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/asparagine

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Weakness in lung and kidney cancer cells could serve as therapeutic target - News-Medical.Net

Cell Biology

How Five Working Parents Are Getting Through Each Day – BuzzFeed News

The journalists at BuzzFeed News are proud to bring you trustworthy and relevant reporting about the coronavirus. To help keep this news free, become a member and sign up for our newsletter, Outbreak Today.

Michelle, 36, small city in the middle of a whole lot of corn in the Midwest

Im an ER resident doctor and mom to a 9-month-old baby, currently under quarantine because a patient I admitted was later found to be positive for COVID-19. I am in my final few months of training, and Im on the front lines in the worst pandemic of the century.

6:16 a.m.: My first pump of the day. This is usually my best or most productive pump. My schedule is usually crazy, but I realized my little one likes an early breakfast. I put on my gloves, mask, and wash my hands thoroughly. I follow that up with some hand sanitizer for good measure. I get my phone out and look at pictures of my daughter to get the milk flowing. Im self-isolated in a different bedroom; my husband and daughter are sleeping in the office next door. While its possible they have been exposed already, Im terrified that I will be the one bringing this virus home to them. I put the milk away and Clorox wipe anything Ive touched. I go back to sleep for a couple hours.

2:40 p.m.: I have been down the Reddit rabbit hole for too long reading about the coronavirus reading studies from China, firsthand accounts from Italy and I need a break. I read an article about rationing ventilators in Italy, and I cant imagine being in that position, but I know its a possibility in my near future. Baby is napping in the other room. Im on my laptop and watching her baby cam on my phone all day. I can at least see her sweet smile sometimes. I get out the yoga mat and try to do 20 minutes.

6:35 p.m.: My husband brings me dinner. Disposable plate, silverware that I can shove in the dishwasher when I wash the pump parts later. I can hear him trying to feed our baby dinner. Baby loves food and is babbling while eating. My heart hurts when I hear her. Its so clich, but they really do grow up fast.

9:17 p.m.: Im washing the pump parts for the day and setting them in the drying rack. Its the only time Im allowed out of the bedroom except the bathroom. Baby has been asleep for an hour or so now. I do one final pump and sleep for the night. My quarantine will be over next week. Im scared. I want to take care of people, but we are already rationing PPE (personal protective equipment). I want to take care of people. Its what I am trained to do. Its what I went into medicine for. But being a mom changes things. I want to take care of people, but my ultimate responsibility is to my daughter and husband. They didnt sign up for this. I didnt sign up to practice in a resource poor environment. I want to help.

Kat, 28, New York City

My name is Kat, otherwise known as Ms. Li to my students. I am an English teacher at a public school in central Brooklyn, where I also live. I am a single mom to a preschooler, also in the public school system in our neighborhood. These past couple weeks have been a whirlwind as we transition our students from gearing up for the state exams (which would have been administered this week) to making sure every family has a computer and internet access so they can continue learning from home. I'm also a graduate student in a master's in teaching program.

9:15 a.m.: Right after teaching my 8:10 a.m. online class to over 60 students, I scarf down some "dinner for breakfast" (lentil soup with yogurt) while putting up assignments and calling families to guide them through the online assignments. This is my time to squeeze as much work in as possible before [my] kid wakes up.

10 a.m.: We threw some banana muffins in the oven. While they bake, my son writes his name and draws. My version of homeschooling isn't that advanced yet give me a couple weeks of this and I'll get more creative.

11 a.m.: Finished decorating the banana muffins with strawberry cream cheese frosting.

3 p.m.: In an all-staff Zoom conference with schoolteachers and administration. Of course my kid has to be making all kinds of noise onscreen the entire time. Hit mute.

Jay, 39, suburbs of a major Midwestern city

I work for a large company at a large office complex, and my wife works for a small firm with fewer than 50 employees. Both of our employers had flexible remote work policies prior to the pandemic but since the declaration, my company required remote work and my wifes firm allows any employee to work remotely (after much convincing), but has not closed its offices. We have two children, a son (2) and a daughter (4 months) who attend an in-home daycare that chose to close soon after schools were ordered closed by the governor. My wifes been back from maternity leave for three weeks. Our daughter was hospitalized for a week in January with RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and has been on a lactose-sensitive baby formula since she was a few weeks old. We still use a humidifier nightly and a nebulizer infrequently to battle lingering respiratory effects of the RSV. We live in the first house we bought together, which is large enough for a family of four but does not allow for a dedicated office space with a lockable door, nor does it provide enough space for any of our retired parents to move in with us and stay for an extended period of time to watch the children. Neither of our retired parents nor siblings live in our state.

6:15 a.m.: I was up feeding the baby at 2 a.m. He's been sleeping through the night for the past two weeks. I'm really glad I got trapped in a Facebook black hole for an hour last night 🙁 Alarm went off at regular 5:15 a.m. time. Got up and showered. Coffee is brewing and I'm logged into my work VPN. Received notice in my work email that someone who works in the same building as me tested positive for COVID-19. I'm glad my state's governor shut everything down last week and my employer forced everyone to start working remotely beginning this week. Looks like good, proactive decision-making in hindsight.

7:24 a.m.: Baby is up and has woken up my wife. I managed to get a decent amount of work done while everyone else is asleep. While we warm up a bottle, we discuss today's plans: My calendar is free of meetings; she has a 2 p.m. and needs to put together the agenda. Toddler will be stirring soon. I will handle morning duties so she can put together her agenda.

10 a.m.: Put the toddler in front of the TV with his snack so I can feed the baby and get a few emails done. Both my wife and I ended up spending the last half hour looking for baby formula online. We have a delivery subscription through the manufacturer for the allergy formula the baby needs, but our subscription has an error, and the call center has been closed both times I've called in the last two days. Most places are out of stock or only have one left. All online deliveries from Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS are on hold.

4 p.m.: Spent two hours at lunchtime driving around to local CVS stores to find formula. Managed to score 11 bottles after visiting five stores and our pediatrician's office while still leaving one or two on the shelf at each store for other parents like us. Managed to scarf down some lunch before changing a poopy diaper. Our toddler woke up from his nap while my wife took a 2 p.m. conference call. Somehow made a grilled cheese for my toddler after his nap, but had to let him eat it in the living room while watching TV (usually we try to make sure he eats at the dinner table and no TV) just to keep him quiet during the conference call. Finally getting back to work while my wife and kids go for a walk. I'm frustrated with not having gotten any work done since 8 a.m., but we have to share time. Also frustrated with emails I'm reading from team members asking for status updates from meetings held last Wednesday or Thursday. Were I in the office yesterday and today, I would have probably made progress on those things. Is no one else struggling to balance? WTF? No, they're not. Only one other person on my team has children under 19.

11:04 p.m.: I got in about two more hours of work from 46 p.m. before everyone got back from their walk and I had to start dinner. I had planned to make shrimp fried rice for dinner this morning. Ended up warming veggie burgers and fries in the oven. *shrug emoji* I did get the toddler to eat a lot before getting up and running around every five minutes, and then I got him to bed on time tonight. Cleaned the kitchen and then tried to get primary results off Twitter before giving up on getting any more work done. I scheduled four follow-up meetings for this week during regular business hours. I'm a bit concerned I wont be able to hold myself to all of them. Fingers crossed that I don't get woken up in three hours like last night. The most exhausting thing is that I truly haven't realized until today that 2-year-olds only have a 15-minute interest in anything besides TV and electronic devices. In order to entertain him for an hour, you have to have four things planned or put him in front of the TV, which we're not yet comfortable doing, even during this pandemic.

Kiani, 34, Spanish Fort, Alabama

Im a mother to two young sons (Ethan is 6, Nolan is 3). I am a scientist by training (PhD in cell biology from Duke University) and was a college professor for six years. Last year, I quit my job and announced my candidacy for the US House of Representatives in Alabamas 1st Congressional District.

On March 16, I suspended face-to-face campaign events out of an abundance of caution. On March 18, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the runoff election would be postponed until July 14. However, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill decided that absentee ballots would be mailed immediately, creating a four-month voting window that is currently open. Since people are voting, I am not able to fully suspend my campaign. As such, I am a congressional candidate, attempting to run a fully digital campaign that respects the guidelines of social distancing while managing my team and caring for my two young children from home.

9:15 a.m.: We had a busy weekend, so we are starting the day later than usual. Breakfast is my time to wrap my head around the day. I start a to-do for the day its a fluid document, but in this time of uncertainty I am thankful for any semblance of order. Today, my goal is to start to tackle what Ive started calling The Document Problem. With people shut in and public libraries closed, and with much of my district having limited access to technology, Im worried about my constituents abilities to produce vital documents during this time: printing and mailing in absentee ballot applications, producing and notarizing advanced medical directives, completing the US census, etc. So Im planning to spend the day calling various offices to brainstorm. The boys are enjoying the fruits of my stress baking: bread pudding made with Wednesdays homemade bread.

11:30 a.m.: The pandemic has forced us to close down the campaign office, so Ive cobbled it back together in my upstairs office. To keep the campaign alive, weve gone almost fully digital, with frequent emails and social media posts. Since I have a PhD in cell biology, weve started a series of videos called #QuarantineWithKiani so I can help explain the current situation to my worried constituents. I put a movie on for the kids so I can sneak upstairs and record a short video about getting tested for COVID-19. It requires five takes because the sound of the kids yelling at each other is audible on the video. A six-minute video took one hour to record.

1:30 p.m.: After lunch, the boys are having imaginative playtime while Im on the phone with my campaign manager. We plan the weeks communications schedule. It seems like having unlimited access to me these past few days has made the boys clingier than usual. They insist on being within 3 feet of me at all times. They have a pirate/knight sword fight right next to me and spill a glass of water all over my computer and notebook. I lose my cool for a minute, and then we clean it up. Realistically, the countdown of productive minutes has begun. Within 30 minutes, they will demand my full attention for the rest of the day. Its frustrating that I only got a few of my goals done today.

8 p.m.: Bedtime. The boys have always been calmed by physical affection, so my husband and I take turns lying with each boy at night, talking about the day, and tucking them in. Since social distancing started, we have noticed that the boys are increasingly needy for me theyve probably become used to spending the entire day with me. Tonight, Ethan cries because its daddys turn to put him to bed. I lay Nolan down, and we wont settle until I lie with him and hold his hand. He wont sleep unless I hold his hand. My husband is feeling rejected; Im feeling claustrophobic.

Courtney, 41, Durham, North Carolina

I work from home in freelance communications, and my husband is a clinical psychiatric pharmacist in a local hospital. I've been trying to work from home while caring full time for Jane, 4, because we want to keep her preschool, which is still open, safe for those who need it most. My husband's patient population is really vulnerable to disease, so we do wonder each day if he's been exposed and just doesn't know it. His stress level is really taking its toll, and I'm more stressed each day about not getting enough work done for my clients who also have pressing communications issues and need me to be dependable, not screaming at my child during a Zoom call.

10 a.m.: We get up early, watch some Sesame Street, and then I work with clients for as long as Elmo and coloring books will hold Jane. I'm in higher education communications, so there are a lot of pressing COVID-19 needs. Janes school is still open, but it's important to save their capacity for the children of first responders and health care workers, grocery store workers, those folks providing necessities. Because my husband works in a hospital, we worry about bringing germs there. At 10 a.m., I usually schedule an outside activity and work break with Jane. We were collecting rocks, and she asked a neighbor in his yard if he knew the guy who got a cold and closed her movie theater. Labyrinth (her favorite movie) was supposed to show and got canceled. #priorities

12:30 p.m.: Im used to working from home, but Im not used to working from home with a kid. I feel guilty in every way. I feel guilty for ignoring Jane, for rushing her through activities, for not savoring the marvelous and unique way she explores the world like everyone says to Im trying to cram in work. Then I feel guilty because I have dependable, steady work when there are those who suddenly do not. Ive never felt stress like this in my whole life Im simply failing in every direction. This is week two, and its just not sustainable.

2 p.m.: Im working on a proposal for an important new client. I work as much as I can during the day while somehow managing some form of routine real routines with crafts or books, and emergency routines like chaotic mischief that I tune out because I know whatever shes doing both exhausts and delights her. I have to finish what Im working on because shell need my laptop for a Zoom lesson with her preschool ballet class. Ms. Caroline is a lovely, bendy saint who brings my child a lot of joy, and Jane deserves that time with her and her other baby ballerinas she hasnt had it in weeks.

4 p.m.: The dishes. I cannot. My exhausted, hardworking, bighearted husband will be coming home to these dishes to his silent chagrin, Im sure. He'll take off his shoes outside, strip off his scrubs in the kitchen, and wash off as much as he can in this awful sink, and then I will throw our sticky child at him so I can either finish all my work, spend real brainpower on a feature due soon, or, to be honest, drink a bunch of wine, ignore texts from all my well-meaning friends and family, and crash doing crosswords. I feel like he deserves better. At least I prepared a very simple dinner in the fridge tempeh and broccoli.

8 p.m.: Speaking of crashing, Ive felt tired all day, with a tickle in my throat, but now Im fully coughing and running a low-grade fever. Im breathing fine, but coughing hurts. I cant work tonight Im too tired, too worn-out, and worried. Now my husband is worried too and wants me to get in bed which means he inherits the mess, the overtired, wound-up kid, the unwalked dogs, the lingering mess of it all, until he crashes and it begins again. Tomorrow we'll see if I need a COVID-19 test. What if I have it and he carries it to his hospital, or he's walking around with it, asymptomatic?

Update from Courtney: After a long struggle involving multiple online and phone screenings and an initial rejection at the hospital, Courtney was able to get tested for COVID-19 and the results came back negative. Most poorly timed bronchitis EVER, she told me over email.

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How Five Working Parents Are Getting Through Each Day - BuzzFeed News

Cell Biology

Scailyte Announces Its New Advisory Board, Composed of World Leading Clinicians and Scientists – EconomyWatch.com

SURSEE, Switzerland-March 31, 2020- (Newswire.com)

Scailyte is an ETH Zurichspin-off and Top 100 Swiss Startup applying artificial intelligence to discover novel and ultra-sensitive biomarkers from single-cell data. Over the past threeyears, it has established ScaiVision, a proprietary data analytics platform for clinical research, which enables it to achieve groundbreaking discoveries in multiple disease areas. Scailyte has validated its approach by discovering its first single-cell biomarker for the detection of skin T-cell lymphoma, which it iscurrently translating into an in vitro diagnostics application that will radically improve the diagnosis and survival chances for thousands of patients suffering from this disease. Scailyteisscaling up its efforts by applying itsbiomarker discovery approach for multiple indications in oncology and womens health. In order to strengthen Scailytes discovery potential and provide strategic guidance, ithasappointed a scientific advisory board consisting of world-leading clinicians and scientists. The scientific advisory board is being led by Scailyte's co-founder, Professor Dr. Manfred Claasen.

Scailytes mission is to provide better healthcare and transform diagnostics, with particular focus on diseases with high unmet diagnostic need. With the rise of novel single-cell technologies, we are now in the unique position to leverage the potential of high dimensional single-cell data, and Scailyte is at the forefront of turning this potential into clinical applications, says Prof. Claassen

Prof. Dr. Manfred Claassen has been recently appointed as full professor in Clinical Bioinformatics at the University Hospital of Tubingen,with a focus on machine learning for single-cell biology and precision medicine. Prof. Claassen is an alumnus of the University of Tubingen and obtained his PhD from ETH Zurich. He did postdoctoral studies at Stanford University, where he pioneered research in single-cell data analysis and subsequently started his independent research group at ETH Zurich. This activity resulted in the key developments of an algorithm that paved the way for Scailytes innovative implementation of deep learning approaches for cell identity biomarker discovery.

Prof. Dr. Emmanuella Guenova is a dermatologist, specialist in cutaneous lymphoma and laboratory diagnostics of skin diseases, and appointed professor at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne. She is a senior physician-scientist, leading the specialized cutaneous lymphoma clinic at the Department of Dermatology of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV). Prof. Guenova is supporting Scailyte as a clinical advisor and principal investigator in its clinical development program for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Prof. Dr. Michael Mueller is a renowned gynecologist and gynecological oncologist, and managing director of the Women's Health Clinic at the University Hospital of Bern (Inselspital). Prof. Mueller is supporting Scailyte as a clinical advisor and expert in endometriosis and womens health.

Prof. Dr. Tomas Kalina is a physician and a cytometry expert currently leading a research group focused on disorders of adaptive immunity at the Charles University in Prague. Professor Kalina is supporting Scailyte as a clinical diagnostic advisor with his expertise in cytometry standardization.

Prof. Dr. Petter Brodin is a pioneer in single-cell analysis and is advising Scailyte in immunology and the application of single-cell technologies for clinical research. Prof. Brodin is based at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and heads a research group that focuses on systems level analyses of the human immune system. Prof. Brodin is a consultant pediatrician working at the Karolinska University Hospital

Dr. Michael Stadler received training in immunology and bioinformatics from the Universities of Lausanne and Geneva. He is a scientific advisor supporting Scailytes with the development of itsdata analytics platform.After postdoctoral studies in Bern and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), he joined the Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI) Basel, where he is a staff scientist and leads the computational biology group.

About Scailyte

Scailyte AG is a data-driven biomarker discovery company, founded in Luzern, Switzerland in 2017. The ETH Spin-off is using cutting edge technologies within the single-cell space and a proprietary biomarker discovery platform to develop clinical diagnostic applications in oncology and womens health. Scailyte is ranked among the Top100 Swiss Startups since 2019 and has won the MassChallenge Switzerland in 2018.

http://www.scailyte.com

Scailyte and ScaiVision are registered trademarks proprietary to Scailyte AG.

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Scailyte Announces Its New Advisory Board, Composed of World Leading Clinicians and Scientists - EconomyWatch.com

Immunology

Immunology News, Articles and Research

What is Immunology?

Immunology is the branch of biomedical science that deals with the response of an organism to antigenic challenge and its recognition of what is self and what is not. It deals with the defence mechanisms including all physical, chemical and biological properties of the organism that help it to combat its susceptibility to foreign organisms, material, etc.

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Immunology News, Articles and Research

Immunology

FREE Basic Immunology Lecture Notes, Study Guide and Exam Help

Basic Immunology Lecture Notes

My basic immunology exam notes were the first set of basic immunology exam notes here at this medical school that provided a FIRM BASIC UNDERSTANDING of immunology as a science, and put the deeper material of the subject into much needed context. The basic immunology exam notes previously written by other talented students here at this medical school were almost completely devoid of this basic understanding, and this rendered the deeper material contained within their pages almost completely useless for the average medical student. Though the basic knowledge of my basic immunology exam notes were incorporated at the cost of some of the deeper knowledge, this set of exam notes has already rendered several honorary students depicted on the walls of the immunology department.

Please click on the set of exam notes of interest to start downloading them.

By the time I picked up my pencil to start writing the immunology exam notes I was on the verge of a complete psychological breakdown. The constant pressure of always having to write unparalleled exam notes in every single last major subject I was undertaking had worn me down to a shadow of myself, and at times the pencil would hardly move across the paper on which I was writing. This resulted in the 5 last questions of this set of exam notes never being written, and at several occations I was seriously considering not even appearing at the exam. However, I pulled myself together and passed the exam with dignity, and mere days later I was on my way back home to Norway. I remained in Norway for the following couple of semesters until I had regenerated sufficiently to continue my studies here at this medical school. The immunology exam notes are still one of the most cherished immunology exam notes here at this medical school, but they came to be at a much greater cost than anyone could ever have imagined on beforehand.

The original copy of these exam notes bore the following words on its cover page:

"So tired I lay down these memories,I breathe shallow deep inside of me,time has run its course with me......I'm ready to go home."

This set of lecture notes has been downloaded times.

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FREE Basic Immunology Lecture Notes, Study Guide and Exam Help

Immunology

Immunology | Armando Hasudungan

Our body defenses help ward off damage and disease. Together these defenses make up our immune system. Functionally, the immune system can be divided into the innate and adaptive. The Innate immune system is our non-specific first line of defense and is functional already at birth. The Adaptive immune system is specific and involves recognition of foreign bodies once they breached the innate immunity defenses. The Adaptive immunity is constantly upgrading itself by learning.The immune system plays a key role in nearly all diseases and infections, but can become an unwelcome player in autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivity and some allergies.

Topics: Immune System | Medical Anatomy and Physiology | Immunology Map | Disease

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Immunology | Armando Hasudungan

Immunology

Immunology Conferences 2020 | Immunology Conferences …

Scientific Sessions

The state in which the immune system of the body becomes prone to Infectious diseases and cancer or becomes incapable of fighting the foreign bodies is termed as immunodeficiency. The two kinds of immunodeficiencies are primary immunodeficiency and secondary immunodeficiency. Secondary immunodeficiency is found to be the most common type of immunodeficiency. Immunodeficiency can be tackled either by proper treatment of the infection or by enhancing the immune system. The causes of immunodeficiency differ with the type of deficiency. Some of the prime reasons are improper sanitation, genetic and malnutrition. Certain immunodeficiencies are lifelong conditions, whereas some induce early mortality.

Related conferences

Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020

Related societies

American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

2. Transplant immunology

Transplantation immunology deals with the replacement of cells, tissues or organs from one part of the body to another or from one individual to another in order to restore damaged or diseased tissues or organs. The transplant can be seen by the immune system as a threat and may get destroyed or attacked by the immune system. If this happens the organ dies in less than half an hour time period as it cannot withstand the immune system outbreak. The donor is carefully analysed and matched in order to avoid any risk of transplant rejection. Immunosuppressants are taken to prevent transplant rejection or to treat the transplant rejection. The drawback of immunosuppressive drugs is that, they may leave the patients with various side effects.

Related conferences

Allergy Vaccines in Immunology Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020); Clinical and Experimental Immunology Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Characterization of Healthcare Data Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Diabetes Research and Management Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020)

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British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Russian Society for Immunology, European Federation of Immunological Societies, Australasian Society for Immunology, Indian Immunology Society, Korean Society for Immunology

3. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a diagnostic method that involves either enhancement of the immune system or the hindering of the immune system. Immunotherapy is one of the most commonly used treatment for cancer. Immunotherapies are of two types, activation immunotherapies and suppression immune therapies. Immunotherapies have been proved to treat various kinds of tumours. Immunotherapies used in cancer are mostly biological therapies, that is, they use substances made from living organisms. Checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell transfer, monoclonal antibodies etc are the types of immunotherapy that are used in cancer.

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Advances in Cellular Immunology and Allergy Research Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Immunotherapy and Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Latest Developments in Cellular and Molecular Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Medical Immunology Analysis Techniques Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Advancements in Cellular Immunology and Immunotherapy Techniques Conference, Vancouver (Aug 06-07, 2020)

Related societies

Japanese Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, Society for Immunology and Immunopathology, Turku Immunology Centre, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cuban Society for Immunology, Norwegian Society for Immunology

4. Immunology of pregnancy

The immune system of the mother (maternal immune system) plays an important role in the completion of a healthy pregnancy. In complex terms, pregnancy is a multifaceted immunological condition. So, it is important to assess the many immunological processes during this period. A successful pregnancy needs a healthy, active and responsive immune system. The fetal and maternal survival can be directly affected by the immune responses that are associated with them. Pregnancy is also considered as a phase characterized by high risk of bacterial and viral infection. The proper development and functioning of both the placenta and fetus are governed by various cells and molecules of the immune system.

5. Microbiome and epigenetics

In the recent years the fields of human epigenetics and human microbiome research have received significant attention. The ultimate environmental trigger for development is the host-associated microbiome. It has also been proved that the gut microbiome and cancer is linked. Certain microbial species are existing more commonly in cancer tissue than in flanking normal tissue throughout the development of disease, from early cancer growth to metastasisepigenetic processes, because of its spatial site and capability to convert environmental and diet-derived compounds before they reach human cells. The relationship between the gut microbiome and disease associate both the microbiome composition in general and specific microbial species in disease.

6. Microbiology

Microbiology is a branch of science that deals with microscopic organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, archaea, fungi and protozoa. It also includes essential research on the biochemistry, physiology, cell biology, ecology, evolution and clinical aspects of microorganisms, including the host response to these agents. Microbiology is used to understand about all characteristics of the organisms in order to define how they live in their environment and how they influence their surroundings and thus other organisms around them. Microbiology has proved to be one of the most important specialties in biology, making it possible to identify how some of these organisms cause diseases, find cures for such diseases and even utilize some microbes for industrial uses etc.

7. Neuroimmunology

Neuroimmunology is an integration of neuroscience and immunology. In neuroimmunology the interactions between the nervous system and the immune system is observed at different phases. The contributions of neuroimmunology helps in the discovery of new pharmacological treatments. During infections, activated macrophages and monocytes release pro inflammatory cytokines. These pro inflammatory cytokines affect the behaviour, sleep and mood. The overall body health can be dictated by various interactions between the nervous system and the immune system.

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Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020)

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American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

8. Immunotoxicology

Immunotoxicology can be referred to as the study of the inimical effects on the immune system by direct or indirect agents. These agents can chemical, biological and physical in nature. The immune responses to such agents can lead to adverse effects. It can be of two types. It either involves the toxic effects on the immune system or the mediation of a toxic effect by the immune system. Immune toxicity can be induced by agents like dexamethasone, cyclosporin A, azathioprine, heavy metals and air pollution. It may also result in hypersensitivity and immunosuppression.

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Allergy Vaccines in Immunology Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020); Clinical and Experimental Immunology Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Characterization of Healthcare Data Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Diabetes Research and Management Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020)

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British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Russian Society for Immunology, European Federation of Immunological Societies, Australasian Society for Immunology, Indian Immunology Society, Korean Society for Immunology

9. Immunodiagnostics

Immunodiagnostics are a group of clinical diagnostics which uses diagnostic techniques that make use of the immune system of the body. It plays a major role in understanding about various diseases in humans. These tests come in different types as they can be performed on serum. The techniques are easy to perform and decipher the diseased state of a person. New immunoassay formats and diagnostics are being introduced daily. Microfluidics is another prominent advancement in immunodiagnostics and have led to the discovery of microfluidic chips and rapid immunoassays.

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Advances in Cellular Immunology and Allergy Research Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Immunotherapy and Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Latest Developments in Cellular and Molecular Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Medical Immunology Analysis Techniques Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Advancements in Cellular Immunology and Immunotherapy Techniques Conference, Vancouver (Aug 06-07, 2020)

Related societies

Japanese Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, Society for Immunology and Immunopathology, Turku Immunology Centre, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cuban Society for Immunology, Norwegian Society for Immunology

10. Immunosuppression

Immunosuppression is the process by which the activity of the immune system is hindered. During organ/tissue transplant, there is a chance of organ/tissue rejection by the immune system of the body. In such cases the patient is asked to take immunosuppressive drugs. Certain parts of the immune system are found to exhibit immunosuppressive effects on other regions of the immune system. Another ill effect of immunosuppressive drugs is that sometimes they leave the patient with various side effects or make them prone to different diseases. The patients undergoing immunosuppression or who takes immunosuppressive drugs are known as immunocompromised.

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Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020)

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American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

11. Cancer immunology

The role played by the immune system during various phases of cancer is referred to as cancer immunology. One of the most common application is the immunotherapy. It also includes cancer immunoediting which is the study of the interaction between the immune system and the cancer cells. The antigens in the tumours are recognised by the immune system and this in turn activates an immune response. The antigens can either be tumour specific antigens or tumour associated antigens. Usually the tumour associated antigens are found in healthy cells but they are also present in the tumour cells as well.

Related conferences

Allergy Vaccines in Immunology Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020); Clinical and Experimental Immunology Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Characterization of Healthcare Data Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Diabetes Research and Management Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020)

Related societies

British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Russian Society for Immunology, European Federation of Immunological Societies, Australasian Society for Immunology, Indian Immunology Society, Korean Society for Immunology

12. Veterinary immunology

Veterinary immunology is the branch of immunology that deals with the study of all immunological aspects in animals. It is connected to both zoology and veterinary science. Some of the major researches in this field includes development of vaccines, understanding the mechanism of the animal immune system, failure of vaccines and the harmful effects caused by them. Veterinary immunology is gaining its grounds as the number of pets and farm animals are increasing at a very fast rate. It provides numerous benefits to the agricultural field by introducing new immunological techniques as farm animals are prone to various infectious diseases primarily due to the poor sanitation of their surroundings. Specially trained Vets and forest officials are appointed for the treatment of immunological diseases relating to wild animals.

Related conferences

Advances in Cellular Immunology and Allergy Research Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Immunotherapy and Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Latest Developments in Cellular and Molecular Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Medical Immunology Analysis Techniques Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Advancements in Cellular Immunology and Immunotherapy Techniques Conference, Vancouver (Aug 06-07, 2020)

Related societies

Japanese Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, Society for Immunology and Immunopathology, Turku Immunology Centre, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cuban Society for Immunology, Norwegian Society for Immunology

13. Antigens and antibodies

Antigens are foreign bodies that can create an immune response and are bound by the antibodies. Each antigen is designed in a unique way to match an antigen. Once the body is exposed to an antigen, the B cells in the immune system produces the Y shaped antibodies. The antigen binds to its antibody just the way a key fit in to the lock and the antigen gets removed from the body. The antigens present in vaccinations activate or stimulate the B lymphocytes. After the stimulation, plasma cells are formed which releases the antibody for the disease. There five kinds of antibodies and three kinds of antigens.

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Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020)

Related societies

American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

14. Immunopathology

Immunopathology deals with the responses formed by the immune system towards a disease. The pathology of an organism or organ is studied, taking the immunological factors into consideration. It is the destructive effects caused to an organism by its own immune response. The predominant cause for which is the by restless responses of the immune system.

Related conferences

Allergy Vaccines in Immunology Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020); Clinical and Experimental Immunology Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Characterization of Healthcare Data Conference, Toronto (Jul 16-17, 2020); Diabetes Research and Management Conference, Stockholm (Jul 16-17, 2020)

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British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Russian Society for Immunology, European Federation of Immunological Societies, Australasian Society for Immunology, Indian Immunology Society, Korean Society for Immunology

15. Infections and vaccines

The invasion of a disease-causing agent into a host body and their multiplication and survival in the hosts tissues bring about infections. The diseases caused by these infections are called infectious diseases and they are found to transmit from one individual to the other. Infections are caused by infectious agents that include bacteria, parasites, arthropods, virus, fungi and parasites. Vaccines are used to provide active acquired immunity to a disease and the administration of vaccines is called vaccination. Vaccination is believed to be the most important aspect in prevention of diseases and is one of the safest ways to fifth and prevent various infectious diseases. Childhood vaccinations are generally safe and side effects if present will always be mild. Smallpox was eradicated with the help of vaccines.

Related conferences

Advances in Cellular Immunology and Allergy Research Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Immunotherapy and Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Latest Developments in Cellular and Molecular Immunology Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Medical Immunology Analysis Techniques Conference, Montreal (Aug 04-05, 2020); Advancements in Cellular Immunology and Immunotherapy Techniques Conference, Vancouver (Aug 06-07, 2020)

Related societies

Japanese Society for Immunology, Clinical Immunology Society, Society for Immunology and Immunopathology, Turku Immunology Centre, Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Cuban Society for Immunology, Norwegian Society for Immunology

16. Autoimmune diseases and HIV

Autoimmune disease is a condition when the body sees its own tissue as a threat and attacks it. Abnormal immune responses bring about autoimmune diseases. Women are commonly affected by autoimmune diseases than men. The pathological effects of autoimmune diseases include damage of tissues, altered organ growth and changed organ function. HIV is a group of conditions that is caused as a result of the infection by human immunodeficiency virus. HIV/AIDS has affected society, both as a disease and as a source of separation. The vital cells such as T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells are infected by HIV.

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Diabetes Physiology and Management Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020); Emerging Focus in Diabetes Research Conference, Toronto (Jun 18-19, 2020); Hematology and Blood Disorders Conference, Riga (Jun 18-19, 2020); Healthcare of Pediatric Immunology and Pediatric Heart Diseases Conference, Vienna (Jun 18-19, 2020)

Related societies

American Academy of Allergy, American Association of Immunologists, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Canadian Society for Immunology, British Society for Immunology, German Society for Immunology, Finnish Society for Immunology

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Immunology Conferences 2020 | Immunology Conferences ...

Immunology

Human Immunology – Journal – Elsevier

Human Immunology publishes full-length, original, hypothesis-driven basic and clinical research articles as well as brief communications, reviews and editorials covering immunogenetics, transplantation immunology, autoimmunity, and immunity to infectious diseases in humans. It also publishes short population reports, which are tied to the allelefrequencies.net database, describing allele frequencies of HLA and KIR.

The journal's scope includes understanding the genetic and functional mechanisms that distinguish human individuals in their immune responses to allografts, pregnancy, infections or vaccines as well as the immune responses that lead to autoimmunity, allergy or drug hypersensitivity. It also includes examining the distribution of the genes controlling these responses in populations.

Research areas include:

Studies of the genetics, genomics, polymorphism, evolution, and population distribution of immune-related genes

Studies of the expression, structure and function of the products of immune-related genes

Immunogenetics of susceptibility to infectious and autoimmune disease, and allergy

The role of the immune-related genes in hematopoietic stem cell, solid organ, and vascularized composite allograft transplant

Histocompatibility studies including alloantibodies, epitope definition, and T cell alloreactivity

Studies of immunologic tolerance and pregnancy

T cell, B cell, NK and regulatory cell functions, particularly related to subjects within the journal's scope

Pharmacogenomics and vaccine development in the context of immune-related genes

Human Immunology considers immune-related genes to include those encoding classical and non-classical HLA, KIR, MIC, minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAg), immunoglobulins, TCR, BCR, proteins involved in antigen processing and presentation, complement, Fc receptors, chemokines and cytokines. Other immune-related genes may be considered.

Human Immunology is also interested in bioinformatics of immune-related genes and organizational topics impacting laboratory processes, organ allocation, clinical strategies, and registries related to autoimmunity and transplantation.

Original papers with new data will be given preference over uninvited reviews and meta- analyses.

As the flagship scientific publication of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI), Human Immunology is primarily directed to readers with an interest in histocompatibility, immunogenetics, transplantation, anthropology/population studies, HLA disease association and pharmacogenomics. These include basic and clinical scientists as well as histocompatibility laboratory professionals.

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Human Immunology - Journal - Elsevier

Immunology

Immunology | bioRxiv

CIS checkpoint deletion enhances the fitness of cord blood derived natural killer cells transduced with a chimeric antigen receptor

Katy Rezvani, May Daher, Rafet Basar, Elif Gokdemir, Natalia Baran, Nadima Uprety, Mayela Mendt, Lucila Kerbauy, Mayra Hernandez Sanabria, Nobuhiko Imahashi, Ana Nunez, Li Li, Mohsen Fathi, Ali Rezvan, Vakul Mohanty, Pinaki Banerjee, Hila Shaim, Junjun Lu, Gonca Ozcan, Emily Ensley, Mecit Kaplan, Vandana Nandivada, Yuanxin Xi, Duncan Mak, Enli Liu, Sonny Ang, Luis Muniz-Feliciano, Jing Wang, Shahram Kordasti, Nedyalko Petrov, Navin Varadarajan, David Marin, Lorenzo Brunetti, Richard Skinner, Shangrong Lyu, Leiser Silva, Mollie Schubert, Garrett Rettig, Rolf Turk, Mark Behlke, Matthew S McNeill, Gavin Kurgan, Natalie W Fowlkes, Heng Li, Ken Chen, Marina Konopleva, Richard Champlin, Elizabeth J Shpall, Francesca Lorraine Wei Inng Lim, Yifei Shen, Mustafa Bdaiwi, Sunil Acharya, Ye Li, Xinhai Wan

bioRxiv 2020.03.29.014472; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.03.29.014472 New Results

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Immunology | bioRxiv