Ancient embedded elements in our DNA from generations past can activate a powerful immune response to kill cancer cells like an infection. The work builds on Princess Margaret Senior Scientist Dr. De Carvalho’s previous ground-breaking discovery known as viral mimicry— the ability to cause cancer cells to behave as though they have been infected, thereby […]
Scientists show jet lag conditions impair immune response in mice
Imagine you’ve just arrived in Paris. Your body thinks it should be midnight—a restorative time when your cells typically proofread DNA, organize and store energy, and perform other essential chores—but, instead, the sun is up and you’re awake. On a molecular level, your cells are stressed, trying to catch up to new environmental conditions. Shiftwork […]
Why males may have a worse response to COVID-19
If you ask most women about how their male relatives, partners and friends respond to being sick, they’ll often tell you with an accompanying eye roll, “He’s such a baby.” “He’s extra whiny.” Or “he exaggerates so much.” But there may be a biological explanation for this behavior. Dubbed the “man flu,” this phenomenon has […]
Investigational COVID-19 vaccine well-tolerated, generates immune response in older adults
A Phase 1 trial of an investigational mRNA vaccine to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection has shown that the vaccine is well-tolerated and generates a strong immune response in older adults. A report published today in the New England Journal of Medicine describes the findings from the study, which was supported by the National Institute of Allergy […]
As rich nations struggle, Africa’s virus response is praised
At a lecture to peers this month, John Nkengasong showed images that once dogged Africa, with a magazine cover declaring it “The Hopeless Continent.” Then he quoted Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah: “It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity.” […]
Scientists discover key element of strong antibody response to COVID-19
A team led by scientists at Scripps Research has discovered a common molecular feature found in many of the human antibodies that neutralize SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The scientists, whose study appears July 13 in Science, reviewed data on nearly 300 anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that their labs and others have found in convalescent COVID-19 […]
Pfizer's coronavirus shot shows promise by triggering immune response
Experimental coronavirus vaccine from Pfizer triggered levels of antibodies up to THREE TIMES greater than those seen in recovered patients, early data shows Researchers randomly gave 45 healthy volunteers either a low dose, a medium dose or a high dose of a coronavirus vaccine, or a placebo Those who received the vaccine were given two shots, except […]
Coordinated response needed to fight coronavirus pandemic
Just like you can’t treat a termite infestation by fumigating only one room in a house, you can’t control the coronavirus pandemic by targeting interventions to a specific region or country, says Stanford scholar Matthew Jackson. Instead, managing the crisis requires a comprehensive and coordinated response between states within the U.S. and across countries and […]