News tagged with immune defences

Study presents new insight into plant immunity

Researchers have identified an important cog in the molecular machinery of plant immunity - a discovery that could help crop breeders produce disease-resistant varieties to help ensure future food security. There may also ...

Biology / Biotechnology

created Oct 02, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists discover 'traitor' human DNA helps viruses cause cancer

(PhysOrg.com) -- University College London scientists have discovered that stretches of human DNA act as a traitor to the body?s defences by helping viruses infect people and trigger cancer-causing diseases. ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Apr 26, 2010 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (7) | comments 2 | with audio podcast

Hungry immune guardians are snappier

German researchers have discovered an elementary mechanism which regulates vital immune functions in healthy people. In situations of hunger which mean stress for the body's cells, the body releases more antimicrobial ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jan 20, 2010 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New discovery about the formation of new brain cells

The generation of new nerve cells in the brain is regulated by a peptide known as C3a, which directly affects the stem cells' maturation into nerve cells and is also important for the migration of new nerve cells through ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Nov 23, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Toxins from diseased brain cells make diseases of the brain even worse

Sometimes our immune defence attacks our own cells. When this happens in the brain we see neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. But if the the immune defence is inhibited, the results ...

Chemistry / Biochemistry

created Feb 22, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

'Dirty' wild mice may be more relevant immunology model

Like humans, mice that live in their natural habitat encounter bacteria and other pathogens that exercise their immune system, yet the lab mice typically used in immunology studies are raised in isolation from most diseases. ...

Biology / Ecology

created Sep 08, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 1

Malaria parasites use camouflage to trick immune defences of pregnant women

Copenhagen University Hospital and the University of Copenhagen have discovered why malaria parasites are able to hide from the immune defences of expectant mothers, allowing the parasite to attack the placenta. The discovery ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jul 11, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Gastric ulcer bacteria turn immune defense inwards

Despite a strong response from our immune defence, the body is unable to rid itself of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. One reason for this is that this bacterium encourages elements of the immune response to remain in tis ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Jan 25, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Tufted bacteria cause infection in premature babies

Bacteria that normally reside on the skin of healthy people can cause serious infections in premature babies. A group of researchers at the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institutet have now found an explanation for ...

Medicine & Health / Medical research

created Apr 29, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

The host makes all the difference

For some people it is a certainty: as soon as the annual flu season gets underway, they are sure to go down with it. It is little comfort to know that there are other people who are apparently resistant to flu or overcome ...

Biology / Cell & Microbiology

created Mar 26, 2009 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 0

Fruit flies sick from mating

Mating can be exhausting. When fruit flies mate, the females' genes are activated to roughly the same extent as when an immune reaction starts. This is shown in a study at Uppsala University that is now appearing ...

Biology /

created Feb 19, 2009 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Mapping immune genes in salmon

Morten F. Lukacs' doctoral research at The Norwegian School of Veterinary Science has identified and mapped a group of immune genes that are the key to warding off infectious agents such as viruses and bacteria ...

Biology / Ecology

created Oct 03, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Virus infections may be contributing factor in onset of gluten intolerance

Recent research findings indicate a possible connection between virus infections, the immune system and the onset of gluten intolerance, also known as coeliac disease. A research project in the Academy of Finland's Research ...

Medicine & Health / Genetics

created Mar 05, 2010 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0