Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

Severe sepsis predicted by common protein – Newswise

Newswise A sugar-binding protein could fuel terrible inflammation and worsen sepsis, a disease that kills more than 270,000 people every year in the US alone, reports a team of researchers led by UConn Health in the 4 January issue ofNature Immunology.

Sepsis is caused mostly by bacterial infections. The immune system runs out of controls and triggers a cytokine storm, a condition in which inflammation-causing proteins flood the blood. Organs may break down, and death often follows.

Other diseases can also cause cytokine storms; medical historians believe cytokine storms were behind the lethality of the 1918-1919 flu epidemic, as well as the Black Death. Cytokine storms are also observed in patients with severe COVID-19 and believed to be involved in death in COVID-19.

A main trigger for the cytokine storms during sepsis is the overreaction of the body when it detects an infection inside the cells. When a cell detects bacteria or pieces of bacteria inside itself, it immediately activates enzymes that in turn activate a protein that pokes holes on the cell membrane from within, eventually causing the cell to burst open and spill cytokines into the bloodstream. Cytokines are alarm signals, calling in the immune system to fight the bacteria. Cytokines also make other cells more likely to burst open and sound the alarm. Usually, the system damps itself after a while and calms down, but in sepsis it spins out of control, causing more and more cells to burst and die and release even more cytokines into the bloodstream.

When cells burst open, they release not only cytokines, but also other danger molecules called alarmins that alarm the body of an infection or injury and can amplify the ongoing cytokine storm.

UConn Health immunologist Vijay Rathinam wanted to know which alarmins were released when a cell detected a specific kind of bacterial molecule called lipopolysaccharide inside itself. Dr. Ashley Russo, then a graduate student in the Rathinam lab, catalogued--in collaboration with immunologists Tony Vella and Antoine Menoret at UConn Health--proteins released by these cells when they detected lipopolysaccharide.

And they found something exciting. Galectin-1, a protein that binds sugars and sugar-coated proteins, seemed to be emanating from the cells. Interestingly, they found that galectin-1 is small enough to be slipping out of the holes poked in the cells' membrane, even before the cells burst open.

Once they noticed that, they began to look at the role galectin-1 played in sepsis. They found that galectin-1 seemed to be suppressing a brake on inflammation, causing the cytokine storm to ramp up. They also found that mice lacking galectin-1 had less inflammation, less organ damage, and survived longer than normal mice did during sepsis resulting from a bacterial infection and lipopolysaccharide.

To find out if galectin-1 is released during sepsis in human patients, the team collaborated with the Jena University Hospital's Drs. Deshmukh, Bauer, and Sponholz and found that sepsis patients had higher levels of galectin-1 than other non-sepsis patients in critical care and healthy people.

The team is considering whether galectin-1 might be a good drug target to help dampen cytokine storms during sepsis, as well as a useful marker doctors could use to identify critical ill patients at risk.

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This study was made possible by key additional collaborations with the laboratories of Dr. Gabriel Rabinovich of the Laboratorio de Inmunopatologa, Instituto de Biologa y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Tcnicas in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Drs. Beiyan Zhou, Sivapriya Kailasan Vanaja, and Jianbin Ruan of UConn Health, and Dr. Greg Hudalla of University of Florida.

This project was funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health to Dr. Rathinam.

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Severe sepsis predicted by common protein - Newswise

Immunology

Myeloid Therapeutics Launches with Over $50 Million in Financing and Two Clinical Trials – BioSpace

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Jan. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc., a company harnessing and reprogramming myeloid cells for treating cancers, launched today with over $50 million in financing to initiate multiple clinical trials in 2021. The Company combines advanced gene and cell engineering capabilities with substantial biologics knowledge to elucidate and redirect the power of myeloid cells to treat cancers, particularly solid tumors and those that are poorly served by existing therapies. Myeloid has advanced its lead development candidates through preclinical studies, implemented its manufacturing platform and plans to dose patients in the first half of this year.

The Company's scientific founders include Ronald Vale, Ph.D., a world-renowned biochemist and cell biologist, and executive director of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Janelia Research campus; and hematologist, oncologist and Pulitzer-Prize winning author Siddhartha Mukherjee, M.D., D.Phil. Newpath Partners led the financing round with participation from 8VC, Hatteras Venture Partners and Alexandria Venture Investments.

With this funding, Myeloid will initiate clinical trials for the Company's programs, which target T cell lymphoma, glioblastoma and other solid tumors. The team will also continue to design and advance a broad pipeline of targeted myeloid cell therapies, including primed myeloid cells, myeloid multi-specific engagers and other development candidates created with Myeloid's novel mRNA delivery technologies. The Company expects to enter the clinic with its two lead programs in glioblastoma and T cell lymphoma in 2021.

"I believe Myeloid is best positioned to leverage the unique power of myeloid cells to help patients fighting cancers that until now, have been very difficult to treat," said Dr. Mukherjee. "Despite the promise of current cell therapies, many challenges remain when it comes to targeting specific types of cancers, including solid tumors, and in efficiently manufacturing treatments. I'm thrilled to help develop Myeloid's transformative treatment modality, which has the potential to overcome many of these challenges."

"Myeloid cells play a critical role in orchestrating the body's immune responses, including by directly killing cells, bacteria and viruses through a number of disease-fighting mechanisms," said Michael Dee Gunn, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Immunology at Duke University, and a pioneer in the research of molecular mechanisms of innate immunity and inflammation and a member of Myeloid's Scientific Advisory Board. "This novel class of cell therapies has strong potential to benefit patients with the highest unmet medical needs."

ATAKTM Cell Platform

The Company's ATAK platform was inspired by Drs. Vale and Mukherjee, who envisioned the disease-fighting power of myeloid cells versatile cells with effector functions capable of targeting and eliminating cancerous cells, along with other harmful cells in the body. Within the oncolytic setting, the ATAK platform is being applied to harness the innate abilities of myeloid cells, to specifically recognize and engulf cancer cells, to produce anti-tumor agents, promote anti-tumor adaptive immunity, alter the tumor microenvironment and ultimately to kill cancer. In addition to reprogramming monocytes to target difficult-to-treat cancers, the platform offers Myeloid and its partners many additional advantages, including novel mRNA-based protein and gene delivery, a library of intermixed cell receptors, and chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) that may be applied to enhance treatment effects or to engineer novel tri- and bi-specific cell engagers.

Myeloid is currently focused on advancing two categories of novel ATAK therapies: ATAK CAR monocytes and ATAK primed monocytes. ATAK CAR monocytes are myeloid cells with innate immune receptor-inspired CARs to recognize and kill cancer. ATAK primed monocytes function like cell vaccines, programmed to trigger T cells to kill cancer cells.

Manufacturing candidates from the ATAK platform benefit from speed and scalability in manufacturing process development. The Myeloid team can scale manufacturing rapidly, from product concept to clinical use. In addition, current products derived from the ATAK platform have a single-day cell manufacturing process. Given the observed strengths of the manufacturing process, Myeloid reasonably envisions same-day ATAK platform treatment, especially relevant upon clinical presentation of aggressive tumors. The Company is also in the process of developing "off the shelf" approaches in order to advance the full range of clinical delivery options.

Myeloid Leadership and Scientific Advisory Board

As co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Myeloid, Daniel Getts, Ph.D., MBA, oversees the Company's portfolio and growth strategies. Dr. Getts is a repeat biotech entrepreneur, having led research at TCR2 through its IPO and the development of the first cell therapy to show clinical responses in ovarian cancer. Before that, he co-founded Cour Pharmaceuticals Development Company.

The Company's Scientific Advisory Board includes world-renowned scientists whose expertise span oncology, immunology, cell therapy, synthetic biology and genetic engineering:

"Our mission is to apply our energy and significant research capabilities to design and develop truly transformative treatments," said Dr. Getts. "We built Myeloid's ATAKTM platform to overcome many limitations of existing cell therapies, in part by embracing the natural tendencies of monocytes to penetrate solid tumors and catalyze immune reactions. By harnessing the power of monocytes, which are the cells that comprise the largest population of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, we are working to bring new therapies to patients. We have also designed and successfully implemented an efficient, flexible manufacturing process that sets a new threshold for cell therapies. We are very pleased to have the support of this strong group of investors, who enable us to further develop the ATAK platform, to advance multiple solid tumor programs into the clinic, and to bring forward new transformative programs as we broaden Myeloid's pipeline."

"Myeloid cells are the body's front-line-disease-fighting tools, and they are critical in the orchestration of adaptive immune responses. These myeloid cells are overrepresented in solid cancers and I have been fascinated with their therapeutic potential since researching them during my medical training," said Thomas Cahill, M.D., Ph.D., Myeloid co-founder and Managing Partner of Newpath Partners. "Most other cell therapies focus on reprogramming the adaptive immune system and they have truly improved patient outcomes, especially with respect to liquid tumors. To expand on this promise, the next logical step was to empower the cells at the front lines of solid tumors. By engineering myeloid cells, the Company is developing an extremely versatile and potent class of new therapeutic agents. I look forward to continuing to support this team through their first wave of clinical trials and beyond."

About Myeloid Therapeutics

Myeloid Therapeutics is an immunology company focused on combining biology insights with cutting-edge technologies to harness myeloid cells and eradicate cancer and other diseases. With broad clinical applications possible, the Company is presently advancing its cell therapy product candidates, derived from its ATAKTM platform technology, with initial applications in T cell lymphoma and a primed monocyte approach to treating glioblastoma. The ATAK platform is scalable to multiple treatment modalities and to other disease areas in collaboration. Myeloid expects to enter the clinic with its two lead programs in the first half of 2021. For more information, visit https://www.myeloidtx.com/.

Media Contact:Sarah SuttonGlover Park Groupssutton@gpg.com202-337-0808

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SOURCE Myeloid Therapeutics, Inc.

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Myeloid Therapeutics Launches with Over $50 Million in Financing and Two Clinical Trials - BioSpace

Immunology

Assistant/Associate Professor in Immunology job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 239789 – Times Higher Education (THE)

Job Description

The Department of Medical Microbiology & Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS), UAE University, seeks candidates for a faculty position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Professor in Immunology. Outstanding candidates working in all areas of immunology are invited to apply. We are particularly looking for an innovative investigator with a strong research productivity who has an established, or a clear potential to establish, an independent research program.

Candidates with experience in translational immunology research and with a strong background in computational and systems biology, genomics or bioinformatics will be preferred. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled. The College of Medicine operates an internationally recognized, integrated, problem/team-based learning curriculum and provides excellent research facilities. English is the language of instruction. Areas of research within the Department include integrative immunology approaches to study cancer immunity and immunotherapy, mechanisms of autoimmune disorders, molecular epidemiology of human bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance, development of retroviral vectors for gene therapy, EBV and its role in the pathogenesis of human diseases and public health, neuroimmune regulatory pathways, and host-pathogen interactions.

Minimum Qualification

The successful candidate must have a PhD or MD/PhD from an accredited institution. The candidate should have a strong track record of research in immunology. It is expected that the appointee will also have experience in teaching medical and postgraduate students. Importantly, candidates must demonstrate the potential to establish an independent and sustained research program in their area of expertise and be able to obtain peer-reviewed internal and external funding.

Preferred Qualification

As above.

Division College of Medicine&Health Sciences

Department Microbiology - (CMHS)

Job Close Date open until filled

Job Category Academic - Faculty

Salary 30000-40000 UAE Dirhams per month, based on experience

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Assistant/Associate Professor in Immunology job with UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY | 239789 - Times Higher Education (THE)

Immunology

Lasting immunity against Covid-19 found after mild or asymptomatic infection: Study – Hindustan Times

Scientists have found evidence of protective immunity against Covid-19 in people up to four months after mild or asymptomatic coronavirus infection, providing hope for the long-lasting efficacy of vaccines.

The researcher, including those from Queen Mary University of London analysed antibody and T cell responses in 136 healthcare workers in the UK, who had mild or asymptomatic Covid-19 infection dating back to March.

The study, published in the journal Science Immunology, found that 89 per cent of healthcare workers analysed carried neutralising antibodies 16-18 weeks after infection.

The team, also involving researchers Imperial College London and University College London, UK, found most workers also had T cells capable of recognising multiple different parts of the virus.

However, they noted that the two responses did not always persist in harmony, with some individuals showing T cell immunity but no evidence of antibodies, and vice versa.

Our study of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers from London hospitals reveals that four months after infection, around 90 per cent of individuals have antibodies that block the virus, Joseph Gibbons, a Postdoctoral Research Assistant at Queen Mary, said.

Even more encouragingly, in 66 per cent of healthcare workers we see levels of these protective antibodies are high and that this robust antibody response is complemented by T cells which we see reacting to various parts of the virus, Gibbons said.

Describing the finding as good news, he explained that if someone has been infected with the coronavirus, there is a good chance that they will have developed antibodies and T cells that may provide some protection in case they encounter the virus again.

Much of the debate on protective immunity has focussed on the different roles of B cells, which make antibodies, and T cells, white blood cells which help protect from viruses, including direct killing.

The latest study found that while protective antibody responses were usually complemented by a T cell response, over half of the healthcare workers had different antibody and T cell responses.

The workers did not produce a T cell response specific to proteins found on the outer layer of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The research also found that T cell responses tended to be higher in those with the classic, defining symptoms of Covid-19, while asymptomatic infection resulted in a weaker T cell immunity than symptomatic infection, but equivalent neutralising antibody responses.

The new study also provides reassurance for vaccination efforts, suggesting that even following mild infection, individuals carry antibody and T cell immunity to many parts of the virus, known as epitopes.

The researchers noted that while new variants are appearing, the changes to the virus dont necessarily occur within these epitopes so it is hoped the vast majority of immune recognition can likely continue unperturbed.

Our study in asymptomatic and mild cases gives a positive insight into the durability of immunity to SARS-CoV-2 after four months of infection, Corinna Pade, a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Queen Mary, said.

The researchers noted that it is an important finding as mild or even no symptoms of Covid-19 are very common and representative of most infections in the community.

Such abundant immune responses also give hope for the long-lasting efficacy of vaccines, Pade added.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

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Lasting immunity against Covid-19 found after mild or asymptomatic infection: Study - Hindustan Times

Immunology

Covid jab supply will be biggest cause of delay in Irish rollout as Pfizer dont have enough to go around, e – The Irish Sun

THE supply and availability of the Covid-19 vaccine will be the biggest cause of delays in Ireland's rollout, an immunologyexpert said.

Professor of Experimental Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, Kingston Mills, said Pfizer do not have enough of the jab to go around, and are cranking up manufacturing to meets countries' needs.

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Ireland's first doses of the jab will be administered this week at four hospitals, with a roll-out beginning nursing homes after.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has predicted that Ireland will see up to 20,000 people vaccinated a week from early January on.

Professor Mills said supply and availability of doses will be the largest challenge in Ireland's roll-out.

Speaking on Newstalk's Late Breakfastwith Mark Cagney, Prof Mills said: "I think what's going to delay the rollout is the supply and availability of vaccine.

We have currently got quite a small number of doses, only 10,000, so we are going to get through that quite quickly.

"So the delay in getting into health care workers and nursing homes is supply.

Pfizer just dont have enough of this vaccine to go around for all the countries that want it yet.

"They are going to be cranking up the manufacturing now and hopefully that will be solved in the weeks and months ahead.

According to Prof Mills, transparency is key in the vaccine roll-our in order to ensure successful uptake.

He said: There are huge benefits that is the thing that has to be said with these vaccines.

90 per cent of people 95 per cent in the cases of Pfizer will not get Covid if they are vaccinated. That is what the clinical trials show so that is a huge, huge benefit.

There were some side-effects. People got some injection site reactions; some people got a slight fever. These are all transient events that are often association with vaccination.

They need to be spelled out to the public and transparency is key to all of this.

"Making sure that everyone knows about any potential issues and then if people get a slight reaction, they will know that was common enough based on the clinical trial and it shouldnt be a problem.

Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said Covid-19 restrictions over the coming weeks must be "sustainable" and may be in place for a "long period".

TheFine Gaelleader explained that the availability of the vaccine has "changed things" in regards to reopening the country.

And he said restrictions should be in place until the vulnerable are vaccinated.

Varadkar told RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland: "The availability of the vaccine does change things now.

"We can actually now foresee the point in which well have vaccinated those most at risk, the very elderly, people in residential care and healthcare workers.

"I think there is a case for saying that restrictions that are in place should stay in place until thats done.

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"But that also, needs to then be reflected in the kind of restrictions we put in place because they need to be sustainable for a long period.

"Theyre not just for three or four weeks."

Varadkar said that the Cabinet plan to review the restrictions on January 12 and that has not changed.

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Covid jab supply will be biggest cause of delay in Irish rollout as Pfizer dont have enough to go around, e - The Irish Sun

Immunology

Secondary Bloodstream Infections Associated With Severe COVID-19 and Worse Health Outcomes – SciTechDaily

People with severe COVID-19 who had secondary bloodstream infections were sicker, had longer hospital stays and worse health outcomes, Rutgers study finds.

People with severe COVID-19 and a secondary blood infection were significantly sicker upon hospital admission, had longer hospital stays, and poorer outcomes, according to a Rutgers study.

The study, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, is the first to assess the microbiology, risk factors, and outcomes in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 and secondary bloodstream infections.

The researchers looked at 375 patients diagnosed with severe COVID-19 from March to May 2020. Of that group, they sampled 128 cases that had secondary bloodstream infections, 92 percent of which were bacterial infections.

These patients were more likely to have altered mental status, lower percent oxygen saturation, septic shock and to be admitted to the intensive care unit compared to those without bloodstream infections, said co-lead author Pinki Bhatt, an assistant professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Schools Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Disease.

The researchers also found that patients who needed more advanced types of supplemental oxygen upon hospital admission had higher odds of secondary bloodstream infections.

The in-hospital mortality rate for these patients was more than 50 percent, but the study reported these deaths were associated with, not caused by, the condition.

According to the study, infections in COVID-19 patients may have contributed to the severity of illness or it may reflect other underlying physiological and immunological complications of COVID-19.

The study showed that the most common cause of secondary blood stream infections was unknown or not determined followed by central-line associated bloodstream infection as the most common presumed source.

The study found that 80 percent of all the patients in the study received antimicrobials at some point during hospitalization, including those who did not have bloodstream infections. This likely reflects clinicians inclination to administer antimicrobials given the limited information on the natural course of this novel disease, Bhatt said. She noted that further studies are needed to better understand when to suspect and treat empirically for secondary bloodstream infections in severe COVID-19.

Reference: Risk Factors and Outcomes of Hospitalized Patients With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Secondary Bloodstream Infections: A Multicenter Case-Control Study by Pinki J Bhatt, Stephanie Shiau, Luigi Brunetti, Yingda Xie, Kinjal Solanki, Shaza Khalid, Sana Mohayya, Pak Ho Au, Christopher Pham, Priyanka Uprety, Ronald Nahass, Navaneeth Narayanan, 20 November 2020, Clinical Infectious Diseases.DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1748

Other Rutgers authors include Stephanie Shiau, Luigi Brunetti, Yingda Xie, Kinjal Solanki, Shaza Khalid, Sana Mohayya, Pak Ho Au, Christopher Pham, Priyanka Uprety and Ronald Nahass.

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Secondary Bloodstream Infections Associated With Severe COVID-19 and Worse Health Outcomes - SciTechDaily

Immunology

Medical Musings: Scientist ushered in science of immunology, ability to produce vaccines with landmark 1885 treatment – Daily Press

Louis Pasteurs method for zapping the germs from fresh milk changed the way people bought and consumed dairy, and today many more food products are pasteurized for safety. Pasteurs work was one of the most immediate consequences of germ theory, where he worked to kill something invisible to the naked eye that nonetheless could cause grave illness.

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Medical Musings: Scientist ushered in science of immunology, ability to produce vaccines with landmark 1885 treatment - Daily Press

Immunology

For immunologists, 2020 has been a terrifying, incredible year – The Guardian

You may think of immunologists as biologists, but we are also in the defence business. This aspect of our role really comes into its own when a new, devastating disease rears its head. We estimate that the new coronavirus Sars-CoV-2 first made the leap to humans last December. Over one and a half million lives have been lost in the past year as a result. Dealing with Covid has undoubtedly left its mark on the field my field and it seems like a good time to take stock.

Right now I am sitting opposite my Christmas tree, the cat beside me, and I cant help thinking that swooning over That Plot from the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine briefing (page 58 if you are interested) is probably a phenomenon restricted to viral immunologists. But if this year has taught us anything, its not to make assumptions. And sure enough, Ive seen it shared on social media by non-scientists as a symbol of hope.

Its been quite the journey to get to that graph. In March we were asked to go home, shut down our labs and think of things for our students and staff to do. It was unclear whether many of them would be eligible for furlough. Research students had to teach themselves new skills, trying their hand at programming languages and science writing. Masters students switched to dry projects, forgoing the coveted lab experience that is often the main point of an expensive MRes degree.

Postdocs, who are on contracts, entered a new era of uncertainty. Universities were forced to implement hiring freezes and funding bodies deferred or cancelled grant schemes. Academics with clinical backgrounds went back to frontline duties, their research stagnating but, thankfully, their salaries secure. Nevertheless, their risk of catching a new dangerous disease increased, and PPE was in short supply. Non-clinicians were seriously worried about how student recruitment would affect universities income and their job security by association. It was clear that there would be tough times ahead.

At the same time as all this insecurity, there was a buzz of intellectual excitement in viral immunology: a new virus, an unknown entity. We had so many questions! We consumed preprints a version of a scientific paper that precedes peer review with a desperate thirst. It takes months to put a scientific paper through peer review, but preprints share the data immediately for all to see and can help shape the next steps in disease prevention and treatment. Immunologists worked with journalists to evaluate and interpret new findings on a daily basis, and this has increased the publics trust in science.

I fangirled over my viral immunology heroes as they appeared on broadcast media and in the popular press, dispelling misinformation and flying the flag for evidence-based medicine. In 1663, the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge was formed under the motto Nullius in verba, which can be glossed as take nobodys word for it.

Back then, fellows met at the societys premises to promote and defend their research under the harsh questioning of their peers. In 2020, however, we had lockdowns.

One of the best parts of my job is travelling to meet with scientists, learning about their discoveries and forging relationships that lead us down new and fruitful paths. Scientists know no borders, and being stuck at home during the pandemic has hindered the emergence of new collaborations.

On the other hand, we took to meeting remotely like ducks to water; immunologists are now equipped to attend a seminar presented by a colleague from the other side of the planet, while feeding their children lunch and moving the laundry to the dryer. Caring responsibilities while working from home have given rise to hilarious memes, but have also caused a huge amount of stress, and it is estimated that women have and will be disproportionately affected. The resulting decrease in productivity is likely to impact womens career progression in the years following the pandemic, and scientists and funders are looking for solutions.

The economic after-effects of the pandemic will hold back research in some areas of immunology for years to come, because so much discovery science relies on funding from charities that are currently in dire straits. On the other hand, governments have diverted resources to coronavirus projects to cope with the new healthcare challenges. Academics have collaborated with industry to speed up vaccine development and drug discovery, and expensive clinical trials have experienced no trouble getting support. As a result, the first Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out less than a year from the discovery of the virus, and there are plenty more to come.

The pandemic has acted as a proof-of-concept test for the idea that investing in scientific discovery is crucial for humanitys health and economic prosperity. If we put money into science and work together, we can take on global challenges with resounding success. For example, we are now laying the foundations of the infrastructure needed to deploy vaccines globally, and we will be able to use this to target diseases other than coronavirus with prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination. This will include autoimmune diseases and cancer as well.

I dont need to tell you that its been a terrible year in terms of human suffering. But I take comfort from the fact that its also been a year that proved how powerful not just immunology, but science as a whole, can be.

Zania Stamataki is a senior lecturer in viral immunology at the Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham

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For immunologists, 2020 has been a terrifying, incredible year - The Guardian

Immunology

American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Updates Guidance on Risk of Allergic Reactions to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines – Newswise

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS (Dec. 22, 2020) Following reports of some patients experiencing anaphylaxis after getting a COVID-19 vaccine, theCDC has issued guidance related to COVID-19 vaccines and severe allergic reactions. Specifically, the CDC recommends patients experiencing a severe allergic reaction after getting the first shot should not get the second shot. The CDC also says that doctors may refer these patients to a specialist in allergies and immunology to provide more care or advice.

Reactions to vaccines, in general, are rare, with the incidence of anaphylaxis estimated at 1.31 in 1 million doses given. With the FDA emergency use authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine on December 11, 2020 and the Moderna vaccine on December 18, 2020, the ACAAI COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force recommends the following guidance for physicians and other providers related to risk of an allergic reaction on vaccination.

These recommendations are based on best knowledge to date but could change at any time, pending new information and further guidance from the FDA or CDC.

Editors note: Please contact Hollis Heavenrich-Jones hollisheavenrich-jones@acaai.org 847-725-2277 if you would like to interview a member of the ACAAI Covid Task Force on the topic of allergic reactions to the vaccines.

About ACAAI The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals, headquartered in Arlington Heights, Ill. The College fosters a culture of collaboration and congeniality in which its members work together and with others toward the common goals of patient care, education, advocacy and research. ACAAI allergists are board-certified physicians trained to diagnose allergies and asthma, administer immunotherapy, and provide patients with the best treatment outcomes. For more information and to find relief, visit AllergyandAsthmaRelief.org. Join us on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

References

McNeil MM, Weintraub ES, Duffy J, et al. Risk of anaphylaxis after vaccination in children and adults.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2016; 137(3):868-878.

Dreskin et al. International Consensus (ICON): allergic reactions to vaccines.World Allergy Organization Journal2016; 9:32.

Wylon, K., Dlle, S. & Worm, M. Polyethylene glycol as a cause of anaphylaxis.J Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol.12,67 (2016).

Stone CA, Liu Y, et al. Immediate Hypersensitivity to Polyethylene Glycols and Polysorbates: More Common Than We Have Recognized.J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2019; 7(5): 15331540.

Sellaturay P, et al. Polyethylene GlycolInduced Systemic Allergic Reactions (Anaphylaxis),J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract.2020.

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American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Updates Guidance on Risk of Allergic Reactions to mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines - Newswise

Immunology

Dangerous Side Effects of Your Christmas Tree, According to Science | Eat This Not That – Eat This, Not That

If you find yourself sneezing or wheezing this holiday season, it may not only be because you're overly emotional about that new robe your kids got you. It may be because of "Christmas tree syndrome." Approximately 5 percent of Americans are allergic to mold, and your treelive or artificialmay be spreading it in your house. "Mold can cause many health effects," says the CDC. Read on to see how this might affect youand speaking of illnesses, to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had Coronavirus.

Mold and pollen are common irritants. "Live pine trees can cause problems for those with asthma," reports the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. "They can bring mold and pollen into your home." "For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash," says the CDC. "People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold."

"The trees themselves most likely have mold spores and pollen on them that are brought into the home," Melanie Carver, vice president of community health and marketing for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, told the Detroit News. "Mold grows in warm, humid environments, and sometimes the inside of your home provides the perfect conditions to encourage mold growth."

"Artificial trees and decorations stored in a garage or basement can have mold and dust on them. Be sure to wipe down the decorations and wash the tree stand," advises the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. "Cardboard boxes and open bags allow dust to accumulate. Switch to storage containers that keep out dust mites. If you have room, store your decorations and artificial tree in a temperature-controlled part of your home to cut down on moisture."

"Christmas trees are a possible source of mold exposure during the holiday season," says Philip Hemmers, an allergist and immunologist with St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn, who co-authored a study about Christmas trees and allergies. "Mold allergies peak in the fall, and we see a second peak with a lot of our mold-sensitive patients during the holiday season. Our finding correlates with this second peak of mold sensitivity."

RELATED: Simple Ways to Never Age, According to Experts

"Hose down your live tree to knock off mold, pollen and dirt," recommends the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. "Let it dry for a few days in a garage, or outside if it's warm enough, before you bring it inside." "Around five to seven days would probably be a good amount of time to have a live Christmas tree up, since after seven days the mold count starts to increase exponentially," Dr. Sharmilee Nyenhuis, an allergist at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told the Detroit News. As for yourself, to have the happiest of holiday seasons, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don't miss these 35 Places You're Most Likely to Catch COVID.

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Dangerous Side Effects of Your Christmas Tree, According to Science | Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That