Latest news with #NatureImmunology
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Not sure about the Covid-19 vaccine jab? Experts discover a new alternative that may work better
Over the last few weeks, COVID-19 cases have surged in Asia, particularly in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. India has recorded 257 COVID-19 cases as of Monday, May 19, as per the Union Health Ministry. The health authorities are vigilant, especially with the JN.1 variant , a sublineage of Omicron, spreading globally. Vaccination played a crucial role in preventing the virus during the pandemic. Now, researchers have discovered a promising alternative to traditional COVID-19 shots, one that may be safer, more effective, and better at stopping the virus where it first enters the body: the nose. How are nasal vaccines different from traditional ones A new study by the researchers from Yale University found that nasal vaccine boosters could offer safer and more targeted protection against respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, without the need for traditional immune-boosting additives. The findings are published in the journal Nature Immunology. Most vaccines and boosters are administered as injections directly into the muscle tissue, usually in the upper arm. But for respiratory diseases like COVID-19, protection right where the virus enters, the respiratory tract, could be crucial. The researchers found that nasal vaccine boosters can trigger strong immune defenses in the respiratory tract, even without the help of immune-boosting ingredients known as adjuvants. 'Our study shows how a simple viral protein antigen can boost respiratory tract immune responses against viruses,' said Akiko Iwasaki, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and senior author of the study. 'These data imply that viral proteins in nasal spray may be used as a safe way to promote antiviral immunity at the site of viral entry.' Mechanism of nasal vaccines To understand the mechanism of the nasal vaccines, the researchers first injected mice with a traditional mRNA COVID-19 shot, directly into the muscle. Later, they gave the mice a booster vaccine through the nose. The researchers wanted to see the effects of vaccine boosters that don't contain special ingredients known as adjuvants. This ingredient is used in some vaccines, to help stimulate a stronger, longer-lasting immune response. However, they can also have adverse effects, like inflammation and swelling of facial nerves. 'We call this vaccine strategy 'prime and spike', which is where the mice were intramuscularly primed with mRNA vaccines followed by a nasal boosting with unadjuvanted spike protein,' Dong-il Kwon, a postdoctoral fellow in Yale's Department of Immunobiology, said in a statement. The 'prime and spike' vaccine approach jumpstarts the immune response in the respiratory system, the first part of the body infected by COVID-19. 'Prime' refers to the process of administering a traditional intramuscular vaccine shot, while 'spike' refers to a follow-up vaccination delivered to the nose, usually in the form of a spray containing coronavirus-derived spike proteins. The scientists found that only the nasal booster triggered a strong local immune response. Other boosters, including intramuscular injection, didn't produce much IgA or activate immune cells in the lungs of the mice. When the researchers gave the mice a second nasal booster, their IgA levels increased even more in both the lungs and nasal passages. 'These findings help explain why nasal boosters do not require adjuvants to induce robust mucosal immunity at the respiratory mucosa and can be used to design safe and effective vaccines against respiratory virus pathogens,' Kwon added. Regular COVID-19 shots don't create much IgA in the nose and lungs. This is why people can still get infected or pass it on, even if they're vaccinated. However, this study found that nasal boosters can trigger strong, long-lasting immune protection where respiratory diseases like COVID-19 first attack. 'Understanding how this safe and simple nasal booster promotes protective mucosal immunity will make it easier to develop this approach for human use in the near future,' Iwasaki said. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
New study pinpoints blood biomarkers behind long COVID's lung damage
A recent study conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has identified specific blood biomarkers associated with long COVID , particularly in patients experiencing severe respiratory symptoms . Published in Nature Immunology, the study offers insights into the biological mechanisms underlying persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection. The research team discovered a distinct plasma biomarker signature linked to breathlessness and other respiratory issues in long COVID patients. This signature involves apoptotic inflammatory networks centered on proteins such as CCL3, CD40, IKBKG, IL-18, and IRAK1. These proteins are associated with pathways related to cell cycle progression, lung injury, and platelet activation, suggesting a complex interplay between immune response and respiratory function in long COVID. The identification of these biomarkers holds potential for improving the diagnosis and treatment of long COVID. By understanding the specific biological markers associated with persistent respiratory symptoms, healthcare providers may develop targeted therapies to alleviate these conditions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buenos Aires: AI guru Andrew Ng recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Aroun... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo All 265 participants in the study had been infected with COVID-19 during the initial phase of the pandemic—before vaccines were available. Researchers used cutting-edge tools to analyze thousands of proteins in their blood plasma and linked these findings to each patient's reported symptoms. In addition, they performed immunological tests using flow cytometry to gain deeper insights into the immune system's behavior. This study contributes to the growing body of evidence that long COVID involves distinct immunological changes detectable in the blood. Previous research has highlighted ongoing inflammation and immune dysregulation in long COVID patients, reinforcing the need for continued investigation into the condition's underlying mechanisms. The proteins were mainly found in patients with Long COVID and severe respiratory problems. This is a biomarker pattern that we know to be linked to inflammatory signal pathways involved in cell death and lung damage and that has also been observed in other patient groups with severe pulmonary disorders," Dr. Marcus Buggert, docent at the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet (Huddinge). Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Hans India
01-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Study finds long Covid biomarkers in blood linked to respiratory problems
A team of Swedish researchers has identified biomarkers in the blood associated with symptoms of long Covid, particularly severe respiratory disorders. Long Covid is a condition characterised by persistent symptoms including acute breathlessness and fatigue, after an infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The team from Karolinska Institutet discovered a set of proteins in the blood of people with long Covid. The findings may pave the way for future diagnosis and treatment. "The proteins were mainly found in patients with long Covid and severe respiratory problems," said Marcus Buggert, docent at the Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet. "This is a biomarker pattern that we know to be linked to inflammatory signal pathways involved in cell death and lung damage and that has also been observed in other patient groups with severe pulmonary disorders," he added. For the study, the team analysed blood samples from 265 patients in Sweden and the UK, who contracted Covid when no vaccine was yet available. Using advanced techniques, the researchers measured thousands of proteins in the blood plasma, which they related to the patient's symptoms. The results, published in the journal Nature Immunology, exposed the underlying biological processes that can cause certain patients to experience severe symptoms long after previous Covid-19. "By identifying the proteins that are elevated in affected patients, we're creating a platform from which to develop diagnostic tools and new targeted therapies," Dr. Buggert said. "This is especially important since there are no specific biomarkers and treatments for long Covid." The team next aims to study lung and gastrointestinal tissue to understand what underpins this pattern. This will likely enable them to locate the source of the identified proteins and find if there is any remaining inflammation or tissue damage in specific organs of patients with long Covid, they said.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Common Mushroom Fiber May Protect Against Flu, Study Finds
The humble mushroom is a fungi with plenty of potential. Previous research has shown mushrooms can reduce depression risk, improve brain cell growth, and guard against cancer – and a new study shows they may protect against influenza too. Researchers led by a team from McGill University in Canada found that the beta-glucan fibers found in all types of mushrooms could act as a sort of barrier to flu, limiting inflammation in the lungs of mice exposed to infection after a dose of beta-glucan. What's more, the mice given the fibers showed improved lung function and a lower risk of serious illness and death when hit with the flu. Human trials will tell us more, but this is already a promising avenue for researchers to explore. "Beta-glucan is found in the cell walls of all fungi, including some that live in and on our bodies as part of the human microbiome," says Maziar Divangahi, immunologist at McGill University. "It is tempting to hypothesize that the levels and composition of fungi in an individual could influence how their immune system responds to infections, in part because of beta-glucan." Beta-glucan is already known to boost immunity, but here the researchers wanted to test its capabilities in terms of disease tolerance – essentially reducing the impact of the viral attack on the body, rather than killing off the attacking pathogens, as conventional antiviral treatments do. What makes beta-glucan even more special is that it seems to reprogram immune cells to better cope against the flu. Treated mice had more immune cells called neutrophils, but they were behaving in a more controlled manner than normal. The researchers say that reprogramming was crucial, limiting the risk of neutrophils going into overdrive to fight off infection – and leading to the lung inflammation that so often causes complications and serious health issues (like pneumonia) after a flu infection. "Neutrophils are traditionally known for causing inflammation, but beta-glucan has the ability to shift their role to reduce it," says immunologist Kim Tran, from McGill University. The smarter, savvier neutrophils stuck around for up to a month as well, hinting that a treatment based on beta-glucan could offer long-lasting protection – though we're still in the very early stages of understanding its potential in this area. While we know the benefits of disease tolerance – and how it can save lives – there's a lot we don't know about how it works behind the scenes. This research adds a host of useful insights, and could well be applied to other similar respiratory diseases in future studies. "It is remarkable how beta-glucan can reprogram certain immune cells, such as neutrophils, to control excessive inflammation in the lung," says immunologist Nargis Khan, who is now at the University of Calgary in Canada. The research has been published in Nature Immunology. Ozempic Reduces Desire to Binge Alcohol, Suggests Amazing New Study Going Gluten Free Could Come at a Cost to Your Nutrition And Your Pocket A Global Oxygen Crisis Is Putting Millions of Lives at Risk
