Category Archives: Immunology

Immunology

Global Immunology Drug Market to Witness Heightened Growth During the Period 2017 2025 – Lake Shore Gazette

The immune system is an assembly of structures and processes inside the body to protect against possibly damaging foreign bodies and diseases. It identifies various threats like bacteria, viruses, and parasites and distinguishes them from bodys healthy tissues. When the immune system weakness and lose the capability to detect and destroy the abnormal cells or body attacks and damages its tissues lead to diseases like cancer and autoimmune diseases. Immunotherapy is a process which includes the treatment by inducing, enhancing or suppressing an immune system to fight against the diseases.

According to American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, autoimmune disease affects up to 50 million Americans. Autoimmune diseases are of 80 types out of which most prevalent are rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematous (Lupus),Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis,inflammatory bowel arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis and affects different body organs like joints, muscles, skin, red blood cells, blood vessels, connective tissues and endocrine glands. Immunology drug is becoming the choice of several oncologists as they provide long-lasting affect by activating the immune system to identify cancerous cell and kill them through the natural process as well as improve the quality of survival. Some of the cancer treatment vaccines approved by FDA are bacillus Calmette-Gurin (BCG), Sipuleucel-T which propel the growth of the Immunology Drug market.

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Immunology Drug Market: Drivers and Restraints

The increase in the prevalence rate of the different type of cancer and rheumatoid cancer, rising government initiatives, increasing funding from the various government and non-government organization is driving the immunology drug market. Patients with poor prognosis are expected to drive the growth of the immunology drugtrial evidence reveals that after preparing the immune system to fight against cancer immunology, drug effects last for a long time even after the reduction of the tumor. High costs of immunology drug and lack of awareness could be the possible restraints for the immunology drug market. Also, the introduction of generic drugs in some regions and slower pipeline development are the challenges for the immunology drug market.

Immunology Drug Market: Segmentation

Immunology drug market is segmented by drug class and the end users.

To the date most clinically and effective drugs in monoclonal antibodies are Humira (adalimumab) and Remicade (infliximab).

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Immunology Drug Market: Overview

Development of some new drugs with success rate is expected to offer the good opportunity for immunology drug market. Wide-ranging scope of Immuno-oncology agents in different cancer treatments would provide the maximum share to immunology drug market in the forecast period. pharmaceutical companies and R&D are showing increased interest in this field and is expected to offer better potential for immunology drug market. Companies involved in partnership and R&D for efficient technologies are some of the latest trends that have been observed in immunology drug market. Currently, most of the immunology drugs are in clinical trial and are expected to rise the immunology market after clearance or success of these products from clinical trials.

Immunology Drug Market: Region-wise Outlook

North America has the largest share globally in immunology drug market because of the availability of better reimbursement policies, high potential to invest the huge amount of money in the development of immunology drug and the advancement in the technologies. Europe is the second largest region regarding value because of the easy accessibility to the immunology drug, and also the affordability for the cost of treatment is high. Increase in awareness, rising economy, increasing government initiatives and large patient pool in Asia-Pacific regions also demonstrates the higher growth in Immunology Drug Market.

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Immunology Drug Market: Key Market Participants

Some of the major players in Immunology drug market are

The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.

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Global Immunology Drug Market to Witness Heightened Growth During the Period 2017 2025 - Lake Shore Gazette

Immunology

Qu Biologics Initiates Phase 2 Study to Assess Activation of Anti-cancer Immune Response in Colon Cancer – Up News Info

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 18, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Qu Biologics Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSIs), a novel platform of immunotherapies designed to restore innate immune function, is pleased to announce approval from the Israeli Ministry of Health to proceed with their clinical trial of QBECO SSI in patients with colorectal cancer. The study, Assessment of QBECO SSI on Immunological Parameters in the Tumor Microenvironment and Systemically in Patients with Colorectal Cancer will enroll patients at the Sheba Medical Center with Principal Investigator Dr. Gal Markel.

Professor Markel, a medical oncologist, is an internationally recognized expert in translational tumor immunology and clinical immuno-oncology. Professor Markel is Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology and Immunology at the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University and Director of the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology. We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Qu Biologics, and their innovative technology, which has the potential to induce immunological impact in colon cancer patients, stated Professor Markel.

The study is designed to assess the effect of QBECO SSI treatment on immune function in the tumor and systemically in patients newly diagnosed with colon cancer. Colorectal cancer suppresses the patients immune response. This immune suppression is recognized to have a detrimental effect on prognosis. In the study, participants will receive QBECO SSI treatment from the time of colon cancer diagnosis to the time the tumor is surgically removed 3-5 week later. Preclinical studies using cancer models in mice have demonstrated that Qus SSIs substantially enhance immune function both in the tumor and systemically, resulting in tumor reduction and improved survival. Hal Gunn, CEO of Qu Biologics, stated, We are very pleased to be able to work with Dr. Markel, the Ella Lemelbaum Institute for Immuno-Oncology, and the Sheba Medical Centre on this important clinical study. The perioperative period presents a window of opportunity to activate immune function in this patient population to overcome cancer-induced immune suppression and improve prognosis. If positive, the results could have transformative potential in colon cancer therapy. Qus Director of Scientific Innovation, immunologist Dr. Shirin Kalyan, added, It has long been recognized that activating innate anti-cancer mechanisms in this manner could lead to tumor regression. We just have not had the right treatment approaches to elicit this response safely and consistently before. We are hopeful that Qus SSIs can provide this. The results of this study are anticipated in Q2 2021.

Qu has published the basis of their innate immune therapy as well as the mechanism by which it activates anti-cancer immunity.

Qu Biologics and Dr. Markel would like to thank the Samueli Foundation for its generous support of this important study that made this research possible.

For more information about Qu Biologics and the science behind SSIs, please visit http://www.qubiologics.com.

About Qu BiologicsQu Biologics is a clinical stage biotechnology company developing Site Specific Immunomodulators (SSI), a novel class of immunotherapies designed to stimulate an innate immune response in targeted organs to reverse the chronic inflammation underlying many important diseases including inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, inflammatory lung disease and arthritis. Qu has completed three Phase 2 studies in Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis and lung cancer.

Backed by a prestigious group of scientific advisors and board members, Qu Biologics is led by a management team that includes co-founder and CEO Dr. Hal Gunn, a physician and expert on the bodys immune response to chronic disease; and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Simon Sutcliffe, former CEO of the BC Cancer Agency and a distinguished clinician, scientist and leader in cancer control in Canada and internationally.

For more information regarding this press release, contact:

Hal Gunn, MDCEOQu Biologics Inc.Phone: 604.734.1450 Email: [emailprotected]

Qu Biologics Inc. cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based upon current expectations and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of release of the relevant information, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, Qu Biologics forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties inherent in Qu Biologics business including, without limitation, statements about: the progress and timing of its clinical trials; difficulties or delays in development, testing, obtaining regulatory approval, producing and marketing its products; unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of its products that could delay or prevent product development or commercialization; the scope and validity of patent protection for its products; competition from other pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies; and its ability to obtain additional financing to support its operations. Qu Biologics does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required by law.

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Qu Biologics Initiates Phase 2 Study to Assess Activation of Anti-cancer Immune Response in Colon Cancer - Up News Info

Immunology

How Effective Are Neck Gaiters in Stopping COVID-19 Spread? – Healthline

Neck gaiters can provide a comfortable and stylish way for people to cover their faces during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But that doesnt mean they are effectively protecting against the spread of the novel coronavirus.

In a new study from Duke University in North Carolina, researchers concluded that fleece neck gaiters made from a polyester and spandex blend arent effective in blocking coronavirus droplets.

These respiratory droplets are transmitted when we talk, cough, sing, sneeze, and yawn, say experts.

Since they didnt test other types, the researchers say we shouldnt apply these findings to all neck gaiters on the market.

Experts agree.

There is nothing wrong with neck gaiters being used as face coverings, said Dr. Mitchell H. Grayson, the director of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Ohio.

Grayson is also a tenured professor at The Ohio State University School of Medicine in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, as well as a fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

The problem is the material of which they are made, he told Healthline.

I wear a neck gaiter, but its not made out of polyester, said Ravina Kullar, PharmD, MPH, FIDSA, a leading expert in infectious diseases.

Its made out of cotton and its triple layered as well. So thats the material that would be effective, Kullar told Healthline.

She added that whichever face covering you choose, it should fit your nose and be snug under your chin.

For Grayson, an important issue is making sure you cant see daylight through the mask when you hold it up to light.

I recommend a material that does not have a large enough space between the fibers to allow virus particles to easily pass through, he said.

If you do see daylight, then it is likely that the mask will not perform well in preventing viral spread.

He added, In most cases, a cloth (cotton) mask with several layers is fine, as are surgical/procedure masks, if you can get them.

Grayson also noted that N95 masks with valves arent acceptable. These masks only protect the wearer, and the virus will be expelled through the valve.

However, he said he doesnt believe that all valve-containing masks are a problem. Again, it comes down to the specifics of each type.

There are some cotton masks with multiple cotton layers (and even a removable P2.5 filter) that have a valve attached to the outside layer of fabric, Grayson said.

In most of these Ive seen the valve doesnt actually work (if you exhale strongly while wearing the mask, the air doesnt go out the valve, it just comes out around the mask), he added.

Since any air that would come out of the valve would have gone through all of the layers of fabric, the likelihood of the virus escaping through the valve is minimal (beyond what would normally escape through the fabric).

But in general, Grayson advises avoiding valve-containing masks.

Kullar said its clear some people are forgetting that we are still in a health crisis.

But the coronavirus doesnt care about pandemic fatigue.

There have been so many reports that people have had mass gatherings, and have not had [safety] measures in place, and there have been outbreaks, she said. Do not have mass gatherings.

Kullar defines a mass gathering as any more than 10 people.

And keep that physical distance, she added.

Kullar noted a recent study from the University of Florida showed virus particles can travel as far as 7 to 16 feet.

This is beyond the 6 feet of physical distancing currently recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And with wind, the particles might travel, and it might cause the particles to travel toward you, and it might also cause the particles to potentially be spread a lot farther than in the indoor setting, said Kullar.

This means safety precautions are necessary even in outdoor settings.

Grayson mentioned the same study, adding that whenever he is outdoors, he either avoids physical interactions within 20 feet or wears a face covering.

This may be overkill, and 6 feet is probably sufficient. But there is some data suggesting the ability for droplets to travel farther, so Im extra cautious, he said.

I view this as being kind to others. If there is a chance my droplets might be inhaled by them, I will wear a mask to lessen that chance, Grayson added.

Finally, Kullar says you need to wash your face coverings daily with warm water and soap or put them in the washer and dryer.

Also, how you are removing and putting on the mask is just as important, says Kullar. You need to make sure you wash your hands before you do that and make sure you know its clean hands youre removing it with.

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How Effective Are Neck Gaiters in Stopping COVID-19 Spread? - Healthline

Immunology

HiFiBiO Therapeutics Collaborates with Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium in the Fight Against COVID-19 – Business Wire

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HiFiBiO Therapeutics, a multinational biotherapeutics company focused on the development of novel antibodies for immunomodulation, today announced a collaboration with the Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium (CoVIC), a global, academic-industry, non-profit research alliance headquartered at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). CoVIC was established to accelerate discovery, optimization, and delivery of life-saving antibody-based therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2. It has received support from the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, which was launched in March 2020 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and Mastercard with additional funding from a range of donors.

Using a combination of its proteomics and proprietary single-cell profiling technology, HiFiBiO has developed multiple SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies with the potential for both therapeutic and prophylactic applications. With an aligned commitment to deliver accessible therapies to vulnerable individuals globally, the company has submitted 10 distinct antibodies in the format of mono- or bispecific antibodies to CoVIC for in vitro and in vivo testing. HiFiBiO will gain a first look into the performance of its antibodies compared to dozens of other submitted antibodies and synergies among them for combinational therapies.

CoVIC is committed to accelerating the product development pipeline to provide immunotherapeutics that protect vulnerable individuals from severe COVID-19 across the globe, especially in regions where health care resources are severely limited, said Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, Professor at LJIs Center for Infectious Diseases and Vaccine Research and Director of CoVIC. We are excited to partner with HiFiBiO to include its antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in the CoVIC panel that will be analyzed side-by-side in multiple tests to identify optimal immunotherapeutics for COVID-19 patients.

We look forward to working with CoVIC to further assess the potential of our neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, said Liang Schweizer, PhD, President and CEO of HiFiBiO Therapeutics. This collaboration is another strong validation of our Drug Intelligent Science platform and our ongoing commitment to working with leading research and academic institutions, as well as pharmaceutical and biotech companies to identify and engineer highly potent and durable antibodies that can address unmet medical needs of patients around the world.

Additionally, HiFiBiO Therapeutics is preparing an Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the US Food and Drug Administration for HFB30132A, a novel SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The highly differentiated antibody has been rapidly identified, engineered, and evaluated in all key preclinical studies, where it has demonstrated outstanding efficacy, exposure, and safety profile. A planned Phase I single-IV administration ascending dose study will assess the safety and tolerability of HFB30132A in healthy volunteers later this summer.

About HiFiBiO Therapeutics

HiFiBiO Therapeutics is transforming the field of immunotherapy by combining proprietary single-cell profiling technologies with advanced data intelligence and deep knowledge of immune system biology. This approach enables the development of novel antibody therapies that are paired with biomarkers to predict patient response. HiFiBiO Therapeutics is working actively to address unmet medical needs around the world through its own innovative pipeline programs and open-innovation partnerships with world-renowned industry and academic researchers. The companys strong global footprint features cutting-edge laboratories on three continents, in Cambridge, Mass., Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. To learn more, please visit http://www.hifibio.com.

HiFiBiO Therapeutics and the HiFiBiO Therapeutics logo are trademarks of HiFiBiO and its affiliates.

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HiFiBiO Therapeutics Collaborates with Coronavirus Immunotherapy Consortium in the Fight Against COVID-19 - Business Wire

Immunology

Behavioral and Emotional Challenges for Autistic Children Linked to Mother’s Immunity in Pregnancy – Technology Networks

Children with autism born to mothers who had immune conditions during their pregnancy are more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems, a UC Davis Health study has found. The study examined maternal immune history as a predictor of symptoms in children with autism.

We tested the ability of maternal immune history to predict ASD symptoms and the possible role that the sex of the offspring plays, said Paul Ashwood, professor of microbiology and immunology and faculty member at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

Published Aug. 14 in Translational Psychiatry, the study found that offspring sex may interact with maternal immune conditions to influence outcomes, particularly in terms of a childs cognition.

Maternal immune conditions are caused by a dysfunction of the mothers immune system. They include allergies, asthma, autoimmune diseases, autoinflammatory syndromes and immunological deficiency syndromes. Previous studies have shown that maternal immune conditions are more prevalent in mothers of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

The researchers enrolled 363 mothers and their children (252 males and 111 females) from the Autism Phenome Project (APP) and Girls with Autism Imaging of Neurodevelopment (GAIN) study at the UC Davis MIND Institute. The median age of the children was three years.

The researchers measured the childrens autism severity and assessed a set of behavioral and emotional problems such as aggression and anxiety. They also measured the childrens development and cognitive functioning.

The study found that around 27% of the mothers had immune conditions during their pregnancy. Of these mothers, 64% reported a history of asthma, the most common immune condition. Other frequent conditions included Hashimotos thyroiditis (hypothyroidism), Raynauds disease (blood circulation disease), alopecia (hair loss), psoriasis (skin disease) and rheumatoid arthritis (joint tissue inflammation).

The study also found that maternal immune conditions are associated with increased behavioral and emotional problems but not reduced cognitive functioning in children with autism.

Does the sex of the offspring interact with the influence of maternal immune conditions on autism symptoms?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASD is four times more common among boys than among girls.

Our study explored whether offspring sex interacts with the presence of maternal immune conditions to influence behavioral outcomes in children with autism, said Ashwood. Maternal immune conditions may be one environmental factor which contributes to the higher male prevalence seen in ASD.

The study found that a history of maternal immune conditions was more common in male children with ASD (31%) compared to female (18%). Specifically, asthma was twice as common in mothers of male children with ASD than in mothers of female children with ASD.

The study also showed that in cases of ASD where maternal immune conditions are present, female offspring are less likely to be susceptible to adverse cognitive outcomes in response to maternal inflammation than male offspring.

This critical finding links offspring sex and maternal immune conditions to autism, said Ashwood. It provides more evidence that male offspring are at higher risk of adverse outcomes due to maternal immunity activation compared to female offspring.

Future studies would include identifying the type, severity and gestational timing of immune conditions, and then examining offspring outcomes over time.

ReferencePatel, S., Dale, R.C., Rose, D. et al. Maternal immune conditions are increased in males with autism spectrum disorders and are associated with behavioural and emotional but not cognitive co-morbidity. Transl Psychiatry 10, 286 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-020-00976-2

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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Behavioral and Emotional Challenges for Autistic Children Linked to Mother's Immunity in Pregnancy - Technology Networks

Immunology

COVID-19 Symptoms at the Onset Differ From Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies – PR Web

This study tells us that the individuals with seasonal allergies are very familiar with their symptoms and when prompted, were able to distinguish between them and similar COVID-19 symptoms. - Fabio Ferreli, MD

MILWAUKEE (PRWEB) August 17, 2020

According to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice (JACI: In Practice), symptoms of Allergic Rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC) differ from nasal and ocular symptoms at the onset of COVID-19. The ability to distinguish between the two will make it easier for those with seasonal allergies to correctly interpret symptoms of both diseases.

Both nasal and ocular symptoms are included as potential signs of COVID-19, which has caused confusion for people suffering from ARC. Patients with documented ARC who were diagnosed with COVID-19 in March 2020 at an academic hospital in Italy were included in the study. A total of 22 patients met inclusion criteria.

Sinonasal and ocular symptoms that were reported in the two weeks before a COVID-19 diagnosis were studied using the Mini Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniRQLQ). The questionnaire evaluated 14 signs and symptoms on a scale from 0 (not troubled) to 6 (extremely troubled), with score totals ranging from zero to 84 once all question responses were combined. MiniRQLQ was then used to assess patients with ARC by asking them to report their last allergic symptom period before the COVID-19 outbreak. They were asked to compare COVID-19 symptoms and ARC symptoms by defining them as identical, similar, different, or completely different.

The median MiniRQLQ score was 39.5 for the criteria of last allergic symptom period before the COVID-19 outbreak and 15 for the onset of COVID-19. Symptoms of ARC compared to symptoms of COVID-19 at the onset were defined as completely different by 68.2% of patients, different by 13.6%, and similar by 18.2% of patients. None of the patients reported the symptoms as identical.

This study tells us that the individuals with seasonal allergies are very familiar with their symptoms and when prompted, were able to distinguish between them and similar COVID-19 symptoms, said first author Fabio Ferreli, MD. While we realize our study had a rather small sample size, we hope this will reassure allergy sufferers who are attempting to distinguish between COVID-19 and their seasonal allergies.

You can learn more about allergic rhinitis on the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website, aaaai.org.

The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic and immunologic diseases. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 7,100 members in the United States, Canada and 72 other countries. The AAAAIs Find an Allergist/Immunologist service is a trusted resource to help you find a specialist close to home.

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COVID-19 Symptoms at the Onset Differ From Symptoms of Seasonal Allergies - PR Web

Immunology

Why Young and Female Patients Dont Respond as Well to Cancer Immunotherapy – Newswise

Newswise Cancer immunotherapy empowering a patients own immune system to clear away tumors on its own holds great promise for some patients. But for other patients, immunotherapy just doesnt work.

Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have found evidence that helps explain why patients who are young and/or female have especially low response rates to some types of cancer immunotherapy.

Their findings suggest that since the typically robust immune systems of young and female patients are better at getting rid of tumor cells, the cells left behind are not as readily visible to the immune system to begin with, rendering some types of immunotherapy ineffective.

The study is published August 17, 2020, in Nature Communications.

Now that we know why some patients dont respond as well to immunotherapy, we can begin developing more informed approaches to treatment decisions for instance, developing predictive algorithms to determine a persons likely response before initiating immunotherapies that may have a high probability of not working or working poorly for them, said senior author Hannah Carter, PhD, associate professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine.

Cancerous or infected cells wave molecular flags that tell the immune system to clear them away before the problem gets out of control. The flag poles molecules of the Major Histocompatibility Complexes (MHC) are displayed at the surface of most cells in the body. MHCs hold up antigen flags bits of just about everything from inside the cells and display them to immune cell surveyors that are constantly checking for damaged or infected cells. Since tumor cells carry a lot of mutations, they show up frequently among these flags, allowing the immune system to detect and eliminate them.

But some tumor cells evade the immune system by also throwing up a stop sign molecule that keeps the immune system from recognizing the MHC flags. And heres where immune checkpoint inhibitors come in: This type of cancer immunotherapy uses antibodies to make the tumor cell once again visible to the patients immune system.

So why would a persons age or sex influence how well immune checkpoint inhibitors work?

Sex and age differences have long been observed when it comes to immune response. For example, females have twice the antibody response to flu vaccines and are far more susceptible to autoimmune diseases. Similarly, human immune systems tend to weaken as we age. But if females and younger people have stronger immune responses in most cases, you might expect cancer immunotherapy to work better for them, not worse.

To get to the bottom of this conundrum, Carters team looked at genomic information for nearly 10,000 patients with cancer available from the National Institutes of Healths The Cancer Genome Atlas, and another 342 patients with other tumor types available from the International Cancer Genome Consortium database and published studies. They found no age or sex-related differences in MHC function.

What they did find was that, compared to older and male patients with cancer, younger and female patients tend to accumulate more cancer-causing genetic mutations of the sort that MHCs cant present to the immune system as efficiently. Carter said this is likely because robust immune systems of the young and female are better at getting rid of cells displaying well-presented mutant self-antigens, leaving behind tumor cells that rely more heavily on the poorly presented mutations. This selective pressure is known as immuno-editing.

So if a tumor cell doesnt present highly visible, mutated self antigens to begin with, checkpoint inhibitor drugs cant help reveal them to the immune system, she said.

This shows an important thing, that the interplay between the cancer genome and the adaptive arm of the immune system is not a static one, said co-author Maurizio Zanetti, MD, professor of medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine and head of the Laboratory of Immunology at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Two simple but important variables, age and sex, influence this interplay. The study also emphasizes the master role of the MHC in dictating the outcome of this interplay, reaffirming its central role in the evolution of disease, cancer included, at the level of the individual and population.

Carter cautions that their findings for younger patients dont necessarily apply to children since, genetically speaking, pediatric tumors are very different from adult tumors. In addition, she noted that, like most genomics databases, those used in this study contain data primarily from people of Caucasian descent, and more diversity is needed to confirm that the findings can be generalized to all populations.

Cancer isnt just one disease, and so the way we treat it cant be one-size-fits-all, she said. All checkpoint inhibitors can do is remove the generic block that tumors put up to hide from the immune system. The more we learn about how interactions between tumors and immune systems might vary, the better positioned we are to tailor treatments to each persons situation.

Co-authors of the study also include: Andrea Castro, Rachel Marty Pyke, Xinlian Zhang, Wesley Kurt Thompson, Ludmil B. Alexandrov, Maurizio Zanetti, UC San Diego; and Chi-Ping Day, National Institutes of Health.

The study was funded, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (grants T15LM011271, DP5-OD017937, RO1CA220009, P41GM103504, 5R01CA155010-02, 5R01HL103532-03, 2P50CA101942-11A1, R50RCA211482A, R35CA197633, P01CA168585, 5P50CA168536, GM08042, 1RO1CA155010-02, 5R01HL103532-03, R21CA216772-01A1, T32HL007627, P50CA165962, P01CA163205, K08CA188615), National Science Foundation (graduate fellowship 2015205295), Mark Foundation for Cancer Research (grant 18-022-ELA), CIFAR Fellowship, Blavatnik Family Foundation, Broad Institute SPARC Program, BroadIgnite, BroadNext10, Francis and Adele Kittredge Family Immuno-Oncology and Melanoma Research Fund, Faircloth Family Research Fund, DFCI Center for Cancer Immunotherapy, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, American Association for Cancer Research, Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center, Society for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Frederick Adler Chair Fund, One Ball Matt Memorial Golf Tournament, Queen Wilhelmina Cancer Research Award, STARR Foundation, Ludwig Trust, Stand Up To Cancer-Cancer Research Institute Cancer Immunology Translational Cancer Research Grant, Stand Up To Cancer-American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Dream Team Translational Research Grant (grant SU2C-AACR-DT17-15), Ben and Catherine Ivy Foundation, Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program, Benoziyo Endowment Fund for the Advancement of Science, DFCI Center for Cancer Immunotherapy Research fellowship, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and American Cancer Society (grant PF-17-042-01LIB).

Disclosure: Co-author Rachel Marty Pyke is an employee and holds stock in Personalis.

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Why Young and Female Patients Dont Respond as Well to Cancer Immunotherapy - Newswise

Immunology

Common cold could generate similar immune responses and antibodies to fight Covid-19 infection – iNews

An article in Science recently generated a lot of interest by providing a possible explanation of why Covid-19 can be deadly to some yet go virtually unnoticed in others.

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California showed that infection with common cold coronaviruses can generate an immune response that resembles key pieces of the immune response generated by SARS-CoV-2 the virus that causes Covid-19. This raises the possibility that previous infection with one of the milder coronaviruses could make Covid-19 less severe. But how likely is this? And how does this relate to what we already know about coronaviruses?

Stephen Kissler, University of Cambridge

A few weeks ago, a different article sat at the centre of the SARS-CoV-2 immunity debate. This one showed that the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 may decline over time.

The findings raised concern that SARS-CoV-2 could infect a person many times and that a vaccine might not generate lasting protection. But the article focused on just one arm of the immune response, the B cells, which produce antibodies that help to clear an infection.

T cells are also key to the immune response against viruses. They play a variety of roles, among them helping B cells to mature into disease-fighting machines. The article by Jose Mateus and colleagues at La Jolla Institute for Immunology is important because it shows that people keep T cells from the milder coronaviruses long enough to potentially interact with a new challenge by SARS-CoV-2 and that those T cells might even recognise SARS-CoV-2 and help to clear the infection.

For epidemiologists, the evidence of waning immunity and cross-immunity didnt come as a surprise. A study from 1990 showed that soldiers infected with one of the milder coronaviruses didnt retain immunity for much longer than a year. Also, the boom-bust cycle that the milder coronaviruses undergo from year to year can be explained by a mix of waning immunity and cross-immunity.

The milder coronaviruses can generate similar antibodies to the ones that are generated by the coronaviruses that cause Sars and Mers. These antibodies are so similar that they nearly tricked a British Columbia care facility into thinking they had an outbreak of Sars after the Sars epidemic had been declared over. In fact, the outbreak was caused by OC43, one of the coronaviruses that causes the common cold.

Nevertheless, infections that generate structurally similar antibodies dont necessarily provide cross-protection in a medically meaningful way.

Evidence for cross-protection between all but the most closely related coronaviruses is scant.

It is difficult to say whether the milder coronaviruses protect against SARS-CoV-2 partly because we have done so little surveillance on them. Ideally, we would be able to look at historical data to identify which communities experienced major outbreaks of each milder coronavirus strain over the past few years and then see if there is a link with less severe Covid-19 cases.

Challenge studies, in which a person is intentionally infected with a milder coronavirus strain and then exposed to SARS-CoV-2, could also address the question but are dangerous and ethically fraught. For now, all we can say is that the possibility that the common coronaviruses might protect against SARS-CoV-2 remains just that a possibility. Indeed, Mateus and colleagues describe this theory as highly speculative.

Stephen Kissler, Postdoctoral Researcher, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Cambridge

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Common cold could generate similar immune responses and antibodies to fight Covid-19 infection - iNews

Immunology

The immunology of renal cell carcinoma. – UroToday

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and comprises several subtypes with unique characteristics. The most common subtype (~70% of cases) is clear-cell RCC. RCC is considered to be an immunogenic tumour but is known to mediate immune dysfunction in large part by eliciting the infiltration of immune-inhibitory cells, such asregulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, into the tumour microenvironment. Several possible mechanisms have been proposed to explain how these multiple tumour-infiltrating cell types block the development of an effective anti-tumour immune response, including inhibition of the activity of effector T cells and of antigen presenting cells via upregulation of suppressive factors such as checkpoint molecules. Targeting immune suppression using checkpoint inhibition has resulted in clinical responses in some patients with RCC and combinatorial approaches involving checkpoint blockade are now standard of care in patients with advanced RCC. However, a substantial proportion of patients do not benefit from checkpoint blockade. The identification of reliable biomarkers of response to checkpoint blockade is crucial to facilitate improvements in the clinical efficacy of these therapies. In addition, there is a need for the development of other immune-based strategies that address the shortcomings of checkpoint blockade, such as adoptive cell therapies.

Nature reviews. Nephrology. 2020 Jul 30 [Epub ahead of print]

C Marcela Daz-Montero, Brian I Rini, James H Finke

Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. ., Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA., Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA. .

PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32733094

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The immunology of renal cell carcinoma. - UroToday

Immunology

What medical residents are paidand what they really think about their bosses – The Daily Briefing

Residents in allergy and immunology, hematology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and specialized surgery reported the highest salaries this year, while those in family medicine reported the lowest, according to Medscape's "Residents Salary & Debt Report 2020."

Advisory Board's take: Why it's so important to get physician compensation right

For the report, researchers surveyed 1,659 medical residents across more than 30 specialties from April 3 to June 1.

According to the report, the respondents reported an average annual salary of $63,400 this year, up about 3% from an average of $61,200 last year. About 70% of the respondents reported having at least $50,000 in medical school debt, with almost one quarter reporting having more than $300,000 in medical school debt. Meanwhile, 23% of respondents reported having no medical school debt.

According to the report, the residents with the highest salaries reported working in allergy and immunology, hematology, plastic surgery, rheumatology, and specialized surgery, with an average annual salary of $69,500. In comparison, the residents with the lowest salaries reported working in family medicine, with an average annual salary of $58,500.

Overall, 43% of respondents said they thought their compensation was fair, including 42% of male residents (who reported an average salary of $63,700) and 45% of female residents (who reported an average salary of $63,000)down from 47% and 49% of male and female respondents in 2019, respectfully. This was the sixth consecutive year that more female residents reported being happy with their compensation when compared with male residents, according to the report.

Among the 57% of residents who said they were dissatisfied with their compensation, 81% said the compensation doesn't adequately reflect the number of hours they work, and 77% said the compensation isn't comparable to pay received by other medical staff, such as PAs and nurses.

Respondents also weighed in on their relationships with attending physicians.

Eighty-one percent of the respondents said they were very/somewhat satisfied with attending physicians' treatment of residents and 88% said their relationships with attending physicians were very good or good. Most respondents expressed positive views on their relationships with nurses and PAs, as well.

However, one resident said Covid-19 has caused a lot of attending physicians to stay home "while residents [worked] beyond and above responsibilities." As such, there was "no mentorship and almost no education," the respondent added.

But overall, 89% of respondents said they thought their degree of supervision by attending physicians was appropriate, while 7% said they thought they received too little supervision and 4% thought they received too much.

About 77% of respondents said the most rewarding part of being a resident is the opportunity to gain clinical knowledge and experience. Many respondents also cited performing well in their jobs and the gratitude of and relationships with patients as rewarding parts of their jobs.

When asked about the biggest challenge faced in residency, 27% of respondents in years one to four of residency and 32% in years five to eight named work-life balance. Respondents also cited a fear of failure and debt, among other things, as challenges faced during residency.

In addition, Covid-19 posed new challenges for some residents this year, according to the report. About 30% of the respondents said their training left them unprepared to handle Covid-19, while 40% said their training had prepared them and 31% said they were unsure. One respondent even said she thinks the entire U.S. health care system was unprepared to handle Covid-19, according to the report (Martin, "Residents Salary & Debt Report 2020," Medscape, 8/7).

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What medical residents are paidand what they really think about their bosses - The Daily Briefing