Innovative cancer treatment effective in combating fungal infection in vitro and in mice
An innovative cell-based treatment for cancer has been found promising for the control of infections caused by fungi. A study published in the journal
Cytotherapy reports that the use of CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) T-cells programmed to recognize
Cryptococcus spp. fungi was effective in combating infection in vitro and in mice.
C. gattii and
C. neoformans are present in soil with dead organic matter and places contaminated by the droppings of pigeons and other birds. They cause systemic mycoses in the human organism. They can infect the lungs and central nervous system, causing meningitis or meningoencephalitis. The symptoms vary according to the site of the infection, which can be fatal. Transmission occurs by inhalation of the fungi.
An international team of bioethicists and scientists, led by a researcher at Case Western Reserve University, contends it may be justified to go beyond the standing 14-day limit that restricts how long researchers can study human embryos in a dish.
Identification of neutralizing IFNL3 autoantibodies in severe COVID-19 cases
Scientists believe that an unbiased analysis of antibody binding sites would provide significant insights into health and disease states. In this regard, many researchers have utilized programmable phage display libraries to detect novel autoantibodies. Phage display libraries have been used to characterize anti-viral immunity and profile allergen-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies.
Even though protein microarrays are extremely useful for protein research, the high per-assay cost and numerous technical artifacts make them less user-friendly. Technologies such as Nucleic Acid Programmable Protein Array (NAPPA) and single-molecule PCR-linked in vitro expression (SIMPLEX) are effective but not cost-effective.
In a recent research paper currently available on the bioRxiv preprint server, a diverse group of researchers has examined the immunogenicity of antibodies against the variant B.1.1.7 of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) initially found in the United Kingdom – and revealed diminished recognition and neutralization of either parental strains or the South African variant.
Researchers found a small molecule that inhibits different virus proteins and significantly reduces infection in cells. Combined with the antiviral remdesivir, its potency increases significantly, suggesting it may be a potential antiviral candidate for the treatment of COVID-19.