Immune evasion is a biological process by which pathogens, tumor cells, or other aberrant cells avoid detection, recognition, or elimination by the host immune system, thereby promoting persistence and proliferation. Mechanisms include antigenic variation, downregulation or loss of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, expression of immune checkpoint ligands (e.g., PD-L1), secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines, induction of regulatory T cells or myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and shielding of antigens within biofilms or physical barriers. This process critically influences infection chronicity, tumor progression, vaccine efficacy, and the outcome of host–pathogen or host–tumor coevolution.
Australian researchers have developed a powerful new way to target deadly, drug-resistant bacteria by designing antibodies that recognize a sugar found only on bacterial cells—an advance that could underpin a new generation ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Feb 4, 2026
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59
Viruses attack nearly every living organism on Earth. To do so, they rely on highly specialized proteins that recognize and bind to receptors on the surface of target cells, a molecular arms race that drives constant evolution. ...
Evolution
Feb 2, 2026
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19
Bacteria in the human gut can directly deliver proteins into human cells, actively shaping immune responses. A consortium led by researchers at Helmholtz Munich, with participation from Ludwig Maximilians University (LMU), ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 26, 2026
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774
Colorectal cancer, the abnormal growth of cancerous cells in the large intestine or the rectum, is one of the most common types of cancers worldwide. Available treatments for this type of cancer include chemotherapy, radiation ...
Cereals have natural resistance to pathogenic fungi, but powdery mildew, for example, can overcome this resistance. A team at the University of Zurich has now discovered a new mechanism that enables powdery mildew to outsmart ...
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 12, 2026
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23
Planthoppers and leafhoppers not only feed on rice plants but also act as highly efficient vectors for plant viruses, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. Notably, their persistent ability to evade natural enemies ...
Ecology
Jan 7, 2026
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24
Immune checkpoint molecules play a crucial role in keeping the immune system in balance and preventing an attack on the body's own cells. Cancer cells can use these checkpoints to hide from the immune system, making them ...
Bio & Medicine
Jan 5, 2026
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27
A National Taiwan University study reveals how intracellular bacteria co-opt mitochondrial transporters to evade immune defenses, suggesting that blocking this pathway could sensitize drug-resistant pathogens to host immunity.
Cell & Microbiology
Jan 5, 2026
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67
Viruses and their hosts—whether bacteria, animals, or humans—are locked in a constant evolutionary arms race. Cells evolve defenses against viral infection, viruses evolve ways around those defenses, and the cycle continues.
Cell & Microbiology
Dec 2, 2025
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19
Throughout evolution, pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, have developed sophisticated defense strategies to survive and multiply in the hostile environment of their hosts. These mechanisms increase ...
Cell & Microbiology
Nov 14, 2025
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