immune system
How Proteases Train T-Cells
Protein cutting enzymes only found in the thymus preferentially generate peptides that lead to the positive selection and subsequent differentiation of T-cells.
DNA-TLR9 Zipper Triggers Autoimmune Response
A zipper-like arrangement of DNA can bind strongly to the receptor TLR9 and trigger a strong immune response.
Early Clinical Trial Success For Rheumatoid Arthritis Vaccine
A small clinical trial has shown that a dendritic cell-based vaccine against citrullinated peptides could treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Seeing Past TB’s Sugar Coating
Using a glycan array, researchers have identified a protein secreted by the pancreas that plays a role in recognizing Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Samlonella Self-Acidifies To Survive Macrophages’ Acid Attack
The acidic environment of the macrophage vacuole not only fails to kill Salmonella but actually switches on bacterial survival genes.
Neutrophils Discriminate Between Infected & Sterile Injuries
A new technique to label neutrophils shows that they re-locate to the lymph nodes and activate adaptive immunity only if bacteria are present at the site of injury.
When B Cells Go Rogue
Inactivation of the death receptor FAS allows rogue B cells to escape antigen control and drive autoimmunity.
Found: Critical Regulator Of Unconventional Immune Cells
By studying patients lacking STAT3, researchers have identified the protein as essential for innate-like immune cells known as NKT and MAIT cells.
Sensing Tension In The Plasma Membrane
The membrane-bending protein FBP17 has been identified as a sensor of cell surface tension that can regulate cell migration through actin polyermization.
