Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

S2 Genomics and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Collaborate on Single-Cell Genomics on Solid Tissues – Financialbuzz.com

S2 Genomics, a manufacturer and provider of automated tissue sample preparation systems, and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), a leading genomics research institute, today announced that RIKEN IMS has joined the S2 Genomics Early Technology Access Program to evaluate and further develop single cell sequencing applications on the S2 Genomics Singulator tissue preparation system.

Achieving high-quality single cell data from solid tissues relies upon consistent and reproducible cell or nuclei dissociation procedures. To overcome the challenges often seen with manual cell dissociation methods, S2 Genomics has developed the automated Singulator system to process solid tissue samples into suspensions of cells or nuclei for single-cell analysis.

Current methods of cell isolation are a significant bottleneck for researchers and can lead to inconsistencies in their data. The Singulator automates and standardizes the dissociation of solid tissues and can improve the quality of single-cell and single-nuclei data from a variety of solid tissue types, said Dr. Stevan Jovanovich, President and CEO of S2 Genomics. We are excited to work with the RIKEN IMS to evaluate the performance of the system and to develop new applications for the Singulator platform.

Dr. Aki Minoda, Unit Leader of the Epigenome Technology Exploration Unit, commented on the collaboration: We are delighted to collaborate with S2 Genomics and incorporate the Singulator into our workflow for single-cell analyses.

About S2 Genomics, Inc.

S2 Genomics, founded in 2016, is a leading developer of laboratory automation solutions to process solid tissue for life science applications. S2 Genomics technology platforms integrate advanced fluidics, optics, and biochemistry capabilities to produce sample preparation solutions for the next generation sequencing (NGS) and cell biology markets. For more information, visit http://www.s2genomics.com.

S2 Genomics, the S2 Genomics logo, and Singulator are trademarks of S2 Genomics, Inc.

About the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences

The RIKEN IMS aims to elucidate the pathogenesis of human diseases and establish new therapeutic methodologies by conducting cutting-edge research on human genome and immune function. To that end, we have established four Divisions: (1) Division of Genomic Medicine, (2) Division of Human Immunology, (3) Division of Disease Systems Biology, and (4) Division of Next Generation Cancer Immunology. These groups work together to promote state-of-the-art research.

For more information, visit https://www.riken.jp/en/research/labs/ims/index.html.

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S2 Genomics and the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences Collaborate on Single-Cell Genomics on Solid Tissues - Financialbuzz.com

Immunology

Make sure to get the Flu Shot even if you’ve already had the Flu – WFMYNews2.com

GREENSBORO, N.C. If you skipped this years flu shot and then came down with the virus, you may think theres no point in getting the vaccine now.

But youd be wrong.

There are good reasons to get a flu shot, even if youve already been sick this season, says David Topham, Ph.D., a professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Rochester and director of the New York Influenza Center of Excellence.

Two types commonly make people ill: type A and type B. In the beginning of this flu season, most cases of flu in the U.S. were type B (an unusual development, because type A usually predominates in the early months of a season).

Now, it looks liketype B flu may be beginning to wane while influenza A may be on the rise. And were probably far from done with flu season. According tothe Centers for Disease Control and Preventions latest data, doctors visits due to flu-like illness are still on the rise, though the pace may be slowing. For the first week of February, flu illnesses jumped from 6.7 percent to 6.8 percent of all doctors visits, while in the last week of January, flu illnesses shot up from 5.7 percent to 6.7 percent of all doctors visits.

Flu season looks like it may be starting to level off, but its still going up for the country as a whole, says Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., an epidemiologist with the CDCs influenza division.

Getting the flu a second time can make you just as miserable as it did the first time around. And the potential for complications with the second infection is just as great as it was with the first.

Those complications can be serious, such as pneumonia and even sepsis, a potentially deadly reaction your body can have to infection.

Flu can also harm your heart. A study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that an individuals heart attack risk was six times higher than usual in the seven days following a positive test for influenza.

This may be of most concern to older adults, especially those with heart disease or who are at higher risk for heart disease because of smoking, diabetes, or other factors, says Jeff Kwong, M.D., lead author of the study and a scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Ontario.

The bottom line: If you havent had one yet,get a flu shot even if you already had the flu (or a bug you think might have been the flu). Although the vaccine doesnt guarantee that youll avoid a second case of the flu, it will reduce the likelihood of it and its complications.

If you did get the vaccine this season, theres no need to get a second one. Scientists believe the protection usually lasts for the whole season.

But if youre still getting over a respiratory illnessor any kind of bugwait until youre fully recovered before going for the flu shot, says Topham at the University of Rochester. When you have another illness, he says, your immune system is focused on the infection that you have and doesnt respond as well to a vaccine.

And keep in mind that if youre starting to recover from the flu and symptoms worsen again, this could signal a secondary infectionsuch as pneumonia,and you should call your doctor right away.

Your hygiene habits can also help stop the spread of flu. Remember to be diligent about washing your hands and covering any coughs or sneezes. Avoid touching your eyes and mouth to keep from transferring any germs that may be on your hands. Keeping air at 30 percent to 50 percent humidity by using a humidifier can help, too; dry air helps the flu virus live longer.

If you do get sick again, stay home to avoid infecting anyone else.

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The way your immune system sees them is very different, Topham says.

Two types commonly make people ill: type A and type B. In the beginning of this flu season, most cases of flu in the U.S. were type B (an unusual development, because type A usually predominates in the early months of a season).

Now, it looks like type B flu may be beginning to wane while influenza A may be on the rise. And were probably far from done with flu season. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions latest data, doctors visits due to flu-like illness are still on the rise, though the pace may be slowing. For the first week of February, flu illnesses jumped from 6.7 percent to 6.8 percent of all doctors visits, while in the last week of January, flu illnesses shot up from 5.7 percent to 6.7 percent of all doctors visits.

Flu season looks like it may be starting to level off, but its still going up for the country as a whole, says Lynnette Brammer, M.P.H., an epidemiologist with the CDCs influenza division.

Getting the flu a second time can make you just as miserable as it did the first time around. And the potential for complications with the second infection is just as great as it was with the first.

Those complications can be serious, such as pneumonia and even sepsis, a potentially deadly reaction your body can have to infection.

Flu can also harm your heart. A study published in 2018 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that an individuals heart attack risk was six times higher than usual in the seven days following a positive test for influenza.

This may be of most concern to older adults, especially those with heart disease or who are at higher risk for heart disease because of smoking, diabetes, or other factors, says Jeff Kwong, M.D., lead author of the study and a scientist at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Ontario.

The bottom line: If you havent had one yet, get a flu shot even if you already had the flu (or a bug you think might have been the flu). Although the vaccine doesnt guarantee that youll avoid a second case of the flu, it will reduce the likelihood of it and its complications.

If you did get the vaccine this season, theres no need to get a second one. Scientists believe the protection usually lasts for the whole season.

But if youre still getting over a respiratory illnessor any kind of bugwait until youre fully recovered before going for the flu shot, says Topham at the University of Rochester. When you have another illness, he says, your immune system is focused on the infection that you have and doesnt respond as well to a vaccine.

And keep in mind that if youre starting to recover from the flu and symptoms worsen again, this could signal a secondary infection such as pneumonia,and you should call your doctor right away.

Your hygiene habits can also help stop the spread of flu. Remember to be diligent about washing your hands and covering any coughs or sneezes. Avoid touching your eyes and mouth to keep from transferring any germs that may be on your hands. Keeping air at 30 percent to 50 percent humidity by using a humidifier can help, too; dry air helps the flu virus live longer.

If you do get sick again, stay home to avoid infecting anyone else.

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Make sure to get the Flu Shot even if you've already had the Flu - WFMYNews2.com

Immunology

Vanishing Twin releasing new EP to help fund upcoming North American tour (stream it) – Brooklyn Vegan

To help fund theirupcoming North Americantour, eclectic London-based band Vanishing Twin are selling a new 7 EP,In Piscina!, featuring four groovy instrumentals of the space age bachelor pad variety, It makes for a nice companion piece to last years fantasticAge of Immunology. Stream the EP and last years album below.

Vanishing Twins tour kicks off in Austin for SXSW, and hits Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and Philadelphiabefore wrapping up in NYConApril 1 at Berlin. Head below for all dates.

Vanishing Twin 2020 Tour Dates17-20 March, SXSW, Austin, TX22 March, Echoplex, LA23 March Rickshaw Stop, SF25 March, Treefort Music Festival, Boise26 March, Doug Fir Lounge, Portland27 March, High Dive, Seattle28 March, Biltmore Cabaret, Vancouver30 March, Kung Fu Necktie, Philly01 April, Berlin, NYC

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Vanishing Twin releasing new EP to help fund upcoming North American tour (stream it) - Brooklyn Vegan

Immunology

QIMR Berghofer researcher appointed to help guide childhood nutrition initiative – Mirage News

QIMR Berghofer Associate Professor Severine Navarro has been appointed to the steering committee of the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research.

The centre, which was launched by the Childrens Hospital Foundation in Queensland in 2018, aims to better understand key issues in childhood nutrition and how to tackle them.

Associate Professor Navarro is the head of the Mucosal Immunology Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute and her research focuses on the link between gut health and the immune system.

She was the first person to receive funding through the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research for her work into how parasites affect our gut microbiome and how they might help prevent a range of inflammatory conditions from allergies to mental illnesses.

The Centre is also funding Associate Professor Navarro to conduct research into the link between diet and gut health during pregnancy and early childhood.

I am delighted to be appointed to the steering committee for the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research, and to help further important studies into how we can safeguard the health of future generations, Associate Professor Navarro said.

The Centre is advancing important research into child health including the prevention and management of food allergies, diet, childhood eating behaviours and infant feeding, and I am proud to play a part in that.

I am also very grateful to the Centre for supporting my research in this field.

Associate Professor Navarro was also recently appointed the head of the Queensland branch of the Australia and New Zealand Society for Immunology the leading scientific group for immunology research in Australia and New Zealand.

In the last 10 to 15 years, immunology has emerged as a breakthrough field of research, with implications for all aspects of human health including inflammation, mental health and cancer risk and recovery, she said.

There is a lot more to learn, and as the head of the Queensland branch of the ASI, I am very pleased to support and promote this important field of research.

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QIMR Berghofer researcher appointed to help guide childhood nutrition initiative - Mirage News

Immunology

Alteration in Expression of miR-32 and FBXW7 Tumor Suppressor in Plasm | CMAR – Dove Medical Press

Sanaz Mansouri,1,* Behzad Khansarinejad,2,* Ghasem Mosayebi,2 Aziz Eghbali,3 Mahdieh Mondanizadeh1,4

1Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran; 2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran; 3Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran; 4Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Mahdieh MondanizadehDepartment of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, IranTel/Fax +98-8634173526Email m_mondanizadeh@yahoo.com

Background: T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive and malignant neoplasm that arises from the hematopoietic T-cell precursors. Inactivation of FBXW7 gene is frequently observed in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, suggesting a significant tumor-suppressive role for FBXW7 in the pathobiology of this leukemia. Considering the role of microRNAs in cell proliferation and regulation of apoptosis, the aim of this study was to identify novel oncogenic microRNAs that suppress FBXW7 in patients with T-ALL.Patients and Methods: The expression levels of two bioinformatically predicted microRNAs miR-32 and miR-107 were compared in patients with T-ALL and a control group. A total of 80 plasma samples were subjected to RNA extraction, and the microRNA expression profiles were assessed by the RT-qPCR. The expression level of miR-103 was used as the endogenous reference for normalization of quantitative data.Results: The plasma levels of miR-32 and miR-107 in patients with T-ALL were significantly higher (5.65, P< 0.001) and lower (0.432, P= 0.002), respectively. On the other hand, the expression levels of FBXW7 gene were significantly downregulated by 76.9 fold in T-ALL patients (P< 0.001). The results of the ROC curve analysis indicated that overexpression of miR-32 might be used to distinguish T-ALL patients with reasonable sensitivity and specificity.Conclusion: miR-32 is considered as a novel oncomir that targets FBXW7 and might have a role in the etiology or progression of T-ALL. Furthermore, miR-32 can potentially serve as a non-invasive biomarker for detection of T-ALL.

Keywords: biomarker, FBXW7, T-ALL, microRNA

This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited. The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License.By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed. For permission for commercial use of this work, please see paragraphs 4.2 and 5 of our Terms.

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Alteration in Expression of miR-32 and FBXW7 Tumor Suppressor in Plasm | CMAR - Dove Medical Press

Immunology

NIH study supports new approach for treating cerebral malaria – National Institutes of Health

News Release

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Findings suggest drugs targeting immune cells may help treat deadly disease mainly affecting children.

Researchers at the National Institutes of Health found evidence that specific immune cells may play a key role in the devastating effects of cerebral malaria, a severe form of malaria that mainly affects young children. The results, published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, suggest that drugs targeting T cells may be effective in treating the disease. The study was supported by the NIH Intramural Research Program.

This is the first study showing that T cells target blood vessels in brains of children with cerebral malaria, said Dorian McGavern, Ph.D., chief of the Viral Immunology and Intravital Imaging Section at the NIHs National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) who co-directed the study with Susan Pierce, Ph.D., chief of the Laboratory of Immunogenetics at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). These findings build a bridge between mouse and human cerebral malaria studies by implicating T cells in the development of disease pathology in children. It is well established that T cells cause the brain vasculature injury associated with cerebral malaria in mice, but this was not known in humans.

More than 200 million people worldwide are infected annually with mosquito-borne parasites that cause malaria. In a subset of those patients, mainly young children, the parasites accumulate in brain blood vessels causing cerebral malaria, which leads to increased brain pressure from swelling. Even with available treatment, cerebral malaria still kills up to 25% of those affected resulting in nearly 400,000 deaths annually. Children who survive the infection will often have long-lasting neurological problems such as cognitive impairment.

The researchers, led by Drs. Pierce and McGavern, examined brain tissue from 23 children who died of cerebral malaria and 11 children who died from other causes. The scientists used state-of-the-art microscopy to explore the presence of cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) in the brain tissue samples. CTLs are a type of T cell in our immune system that is responsible for controlling infections throughout the body.

Current treatment strategies for cerebral malaria focus on red blood cells, which are thought to clog blood vessels and create potentially fatal blockages leading to extreme pressure in the brain. However, findings in the mouse model demonstrated that CTLs damage blood vessels, leading to brain swelling and death. The role of CTLs in cerebral malaria in children hasnt been thoroughly investigated prior to this study.

The results of the current study demonstrate an increased accumulation of CTLs along the walls of brain blood vessel in the cerebral malaria tissue samples compared to non-cerebral malaria cases. In addition, the CTLs were shown to contain and release effector molecules, which damage cells, suggesting that CTLs play a critical role in cerebral malaria by damaging the walls of brain blood vessels.

The disease appears to be an immunological accident in which the CTLs are trying to control a parasitic infection but end up injuring brain blood vessels in the process, said Dr. McGavern.

In separate studies we discovered that treatment of mice with a drug that targets T cells rescued over 60% of otherwise fatal cases of experimental cerebral malaria, said Dr. Pierce. Given our findings of T cells in the brain vasculature of children who died of the disease, we are excited by the possibility that this drug may be the first therapy for cerebral malaria.

The impact of HIV coinfection on the risk of developing cerebral malaria is not known. The NIH researchers compared CTL patterns in the cerebral malaria cases that were co-infected with HIV and those that were HIV negative. In the HIV-negative cases, the CTLs were seen lining up against the inside wall of brain blood vessels. In the HIV-positive cases, the CTLs had migrated across the surface to the outside of the vessels. There were also significantly more CTLs present in the HIV-positive cases.

Together these findings suggest that CTLs may play an important role in cerebral malaria and that HIV infection may worsen the disease.

Additional research is needed to uncover the role of T cells in human cerebral malaria. Future studies will also investigate how targeting T cells may help treat the disease. Plans for a clinical trial are underway to test the effects of a specific T cell blocker in cerebral malaria patients in Malawi.

The NINDSis the nations leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system.The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

NIAID conducts and supports research at NIH, throughout the United States, and worldwide to study the causes of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and to develop better means of preventing, diagnosing and treating these illnesses. News releases, fact sheets and other NIAID-related materials are available on the NIAID website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

NIHTurning Discovery Into Health

Riggle et al. CD8+T cells target cerebrovasculature in children with cerebral malaria. Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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NIH study supports new approach for treating cerebral malaria - National Institutes of Health

Immunology

The UK must continue to accelerate innovation by investing in the people and platforms that drive immunological research – PoliticsHome.com

The past 70 years have witnessed an accelerating journey of discovery into the workings of the immune system, revolutionising our understanding of this intriguing area of medicine. The UK has been at the forefront of this, developing the infrastructure for experimental medicine and securing our position as leaders in advanced therapeutics, whilst at the same time bringing the community together to shape the future of immunological research in the UK.

Millions of people in the UK are living with long-term diseases linked to the immune system[i]. Common conditions include Crohns disease, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, as well as MS, asthma and cancers. The remarkable accumulation of insights and discoveries has paved the way for a whole new wave of advanced therapeutics over the past two decades, each one helping the many thousands of people in the UK and millions worldwide affected by these conditions to improve their quality of life.

However, despite this progress, many people are still unable to lead fulfilled and active lives because of the physical and psychological impact of these conditions, all of which create a huge burden on the patient, the NHS and wider society. It is essential that the UK continues to invest in the people and platforms that drive translation of cutting-edge science into practical clinical use to address this remaining unmet need. We must take all possible steps to strengthen the UKs academic institutions and its life sciences industry that has such an important role to play in immunological research and commercialising novel therapies.

The British Society for Immunology, biopharmaceutical company AbbVie, the UK BioIndustry Association, and the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society recently came together to create and launch a vision for the future of immunology in the UK. Calling for policymakers to increase funding for immunology research, especially in areas of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, in line with the Governments 2.4% GDP research investment commitment, the Joint Vision for the Future of Immunology set out to further understand the underlying causes and characteristics of the diseases, and explore new approaches to help us better support patients. In particular:

It is only by working in partnership across the UK health system that we can advance our research efforts and ultimately benefit all patients in the UK.

#FutureOfImmunology

Join Chi Onwurah MP and AbbVie for a parliamentary roundtable to discuss the future of immunology and how innovation and advances in science in inflammatory conditions can help inform clinical practice, improve patient outcomes and reduce costs to the NHS. Thames Pavilion, 4 March 2020, 09:00. To RSVP, please email rsvp@dodsgroup.com #FutureOfImmunology

Disclaimers

This non-promotional meeting has been organised and funded by AbbVie and is intended for MPs and policy makers.

This article has been written by AbbVie with permission from Dr Doug Brown, Chief Executive of the British Society for Immunology, to by-line the article

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The UK must continue to accelerate innovation by investing in the people and platforms that drive immunological research - PoliticsHome.com

Immunology

Researchers warned re-emergence of SARS-like virus in 2007 – Outlook India

Researchers warned re-emergence of SARS-like virus in 2007

New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) The possibility that a SARS-like virus could re-emerge in China was warned by researchers in 2007. Experts had claimed that the presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats in southern China is a "time bomb".

The outbreak of coronavirus and SARS in China is believed to have passed from bats and other animals to humans in a wet market.

"The presence of a large reservoir of SARS-CoV-like viruses in horseshoe bats, together with the culture of eating exotic mammals in southern China, is a time bomb. The possibility of the re-emergence of SARS and other novel viruses from animals or laboratories and therefore the need for preparedness should not be ignored," a University of Hong Kong research paper said.

American Society for Microbiology had published this research paper titled ''Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus as an Agent of Emerging and Re-emerging Infection'' report in October 2007.

The research paper said that the rapid economic growth in southern China has led to an increasing demand for animal proteins, including those from exotic game food animals such as civets. Large numbers and varieties of these wild game mammals in overcrowded cages and the lack of biosecurity measures in wet markets allowed the jumping of this novel virus varies from animals to humans.

"The small re-emergence of SARS in late 2003 after the resumption of the wildlife market in southern China and the recent discovery of a very similar viruses in horseshoe bats, bat SARS-CoV, suggested that SARS can return if conditions are fit for the introduction, mutation, amplification, and transmission of this dangerous virus.

The paper was authored by Vincent C.C. Cheng, Susanna K.P. Lau, Patrick C.Y. Woo, and Kwok Yung Yuen of the Department of Microbiology, Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.

--IANS

ravi/sn/skp/

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Researchers warned re-emergence of SARS-like virus in 2007 - Outlook India

Immunology

Capito, Manchin announce funding for Marshall University research – My Buckhannon

WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced a grant of $434,180 to support Marshall Universitys Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation Research. Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Across West Virginia, our universities are known for their exceptional research capabilities, Senator Capito said. This funding will help support Marshall Universitys Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and further our understanding in the field of Immunology. I am proud of Marshall Universitys research efforts and the positive impact they create in our state. This is a wonderful investment into West Virginia, and I thank DHHS for their continued support.

Marshall University conducts essential research that impacts countless lives every day and this funding will ensure their research continues. I applaud Marshall for their great work in medical research, which covers diseases that affect millions of Americans, and look forward to them continuing to make West Virginia proud, said Senator Manchin.

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Capito, Manchin announce funding for Marshall University research - My Buckhannon

Immunology

86-year-old Copaxone creator has no intention of slowing down – The Jerusalem Post

For 86-year-old Prof. Ruth Arnon, nothing compares to waking up in the morning and going to work in the laboratory.When it comes to being excited by experiments, age is simply not a factor for the world-renowned Weizmann Institute of Science biochemist and co-creator of multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone.Born in Tel Aviv in 1933, Arnons academic background was in biochemistry, but she worked her entire career to advance a chemical approach to immunology.She currently heads the scientific advisory board of BiondVax Pharmaceuticals, a Jerusalem-based company developing an unprecedented, universal influenza vaccine based on decades of her research at the Weizmann Institute. In 2010, Arnon become the first female president of the Israel Academy of Sciences and the Humanities.There is nothing more exciting than planning an experiment and getting the results, Arnon told The Jerusalem Post. If you get the results you wanted, its extremely exciting. If you didnt expect the results, it can sometimes be even more exciting.Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva received FDA approval for Copaxone in 1996, a prime example of unexpected but greatly exciting results. The drug is indicated for reducing the frequency of relapses among multiple sclerosis.Already in my PhD, I studied synthetic polymers in order to look at their universal properties and to see whether there is a correlation between the structure of the protein-like polymers and immunological properties, Arnon said.Her studies subsequently led to the development of a synthetic polymer of amino acids, similar to a protein involved in multiple sclerosis. Arnon and her co-researchers originally intended to develop a polymer to mimic the disease in animals, but they found the polymer did not induce a disease. On the contrary, it inhibited the disease.With these results, we made a switch in our minds and studied the properties of this polymer as an inhibitor, she said. Eventually, it led to Copaxone.Today, BiondVax is building on Arnons immunology research and making encouraging strides toward developing a universal, multi-season and multi-strain flu vaccine that has eluded researchers for decades. Approval of the vaccine will represent a major transformation in the field of influenza immunology, which currently operates according to instructions issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).The company is now in the final stage of human clinical trials, with studies to date showing the vaccine to be safe, well-tolerated and immunogenic to a broad range of influenza strains. Results are expected at the end of the current flu season.We looked at the structure of several proteins of influenza, and we focused on regions in the proteins that do not change, Arnon said. Assuming that we immunize with a synthetic molecule containing the regions conserved among many strains of influenza, then this material will be able to provide immunity against many strains of the virus.Recognizing her distinguished career and contributions to medical research, Arnon was awarded the 2020 OurCrowd Maimonides Award for Lifetime Achievement in Science, Leadership and Menschlichkeit at the OurCrowd Global Investor Summit on Thursday. She was welcomed with a standing ovation by thousands of attendees.Presenting the award, OurCrowd founder and CEO Jon Medved paid tribute to Arnon, saying: Countless people owe her their lives and their quality of life to her hard work and innovation.In addition to roles at the Weizmann Institute and the Israel Academy, Arnon has served in many senior national and international positions, including president of the European Federation of Immunological Societies, secretary-general of the International Union of Immunological Societies and on the steering committee of the WHO Task Force on Immunological Methods for Fertility Control.Regarding aspiring scientists, Arnon told the Post her most important advice was to do what you love most and work on that.Whatever you love, you will do with excitement, and it will give you pleasure. Dont try to force yourself to do things that you dont like, she said. I think scientists are fortunate in the sense that they can really follow their philosophy and do what they love most.

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86-year-old Copaxone creator has no intention of slowing down - The Jerusalem Post