Recommended reading from around the Web

From Two Complex Systems, a Unity Emerges

From Two Complex Systems, a Unity Emerges

by Ralph Steinman, M.D.

Immunology in the News | July 2008

Several recent advances show that neuroscience and immunology research are converging on a number of levels.

Scientists Search for Underwater Cures

by Jeffrey Kofman, Tamara Weitsman and Elena Sheppard

ABC News | July 29, 2008

Scientists search through the swamps of Texas by night, catching alligators with powerful immune systems in hopes of learning clues to fighting antibiotic-resistant infections.

Gut Check

by Jeff D. Leach

SFNet | July 28, 2008

During the recent salmonella scare, many people blamed the food. But perhaps fault should be shared with our own gut--those with compromised immune systems, infants and the elderly are more likely to have problems.

NIH Official: HIV Vaccine Research 'Swimming in the Dark'

by Nikhil Swaminathan

Scientific American | July 28, 2008

An HIV vaccine trial was canceled on July 17 after NIH official Anthony Fauci determined that smaller tests had failed to produce results that would warrant further work.

Immune Clue to Pregnancy Danger

BBC News | July 27, 2008

Preeclampsia, a hypertension disorder that affects pregnant woman and their unborn babies, has now been linked to the immune system. Early tests on mice have also shown promising results for new treatments.

People With GERD More Likely to Develop Asthma

by Duke University

HealthDay | July 25, 2008

Ninety percent of asthma patients also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Tests on mice show that the presence of stomach acid in the esophagus leads to changes in the immune system that contribute to asthma.

HIV Strikes Fast, Study Finds

by Zoe Elizabeth Buck

The News & Observer | July 25, 2008

HIV attacks within days of infection, a much shorter time line than previously thought. This means intervention is more difficult than had been predicted and casts a bleak forecast for defeating the virus.

La Jolla Institute Is Unlocking the Mysteries of the Immune System

by Maria Connor

La Jolla Light | July 24, 2008

At the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, scientists are bringing different perspectives to the immune system. The researchers recognize that many diseases, such as diabetes, are caused by problems in the immune system and hope that their research with help uncover new vaccinations.

See also

Protein that May Stimulate Production of T-cells Identified

by Mohit Joshi

TopNews | July 23, 2008

A protein that stimulates the creation of T-cells, white blood cells that bolster cell immunity, has been discovered by researchers. The protein could be used to boost immune response in people over 50.

Intestinal Gluten Receptor Is Gateway for Celiac Disease

by University of Maryland School of Medicine

HealthDay | July 21, 2008

Celiac disease, commonly referred to as wheat gluten allergy, is caused by a problem with intestinal wall absorption of the protein. Now that this mechanism is better understood, the possibility of finding similar effects in diseases such as multiple sclerosis may lead to new treatments for autoimmune disorders.

Autism Parents 'Infection Risk'

BBC News | July 19, 2008

Research suggests that caring for a child with autism or Down syndrome can weaken a parent's immune response to a vaccine against pneumonia, an effect possibly due to stress.

Asthma Oddity

by Nathan Seppa

Science News | July 15, 2008

Children infected with a common stomach bacterium are less likely to develop asthma than those with no exposure to the microbe, which according to one researcher may be suppressed in industrialized countries due to widespread use of antibiotics.