Immunotherapy Weekly

Hepatitis E Diagnosis - ELISA for hepatitis E detects antibodies to genotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4

Herpesvirus Vaccine - Virus expressing HSV-2 glycoproteins protects against HSV-2 challenge

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine - Dendritic cells and Langerhans cells both cross-prime T cells

Imaging - Biopharmaceutical company receives milestone payment from Mallinckrodt Imaging

Immunology - Cells engineered to secrete soluble CD70 boost antitumor immunity

Immunology - Exaggerated suppression of lymphocytes could cause antitumor immunity to fail

Immunology - Interferon receptor regulation enhances the efficacy of cancer therapy

Immunology - Interferon-gamma signals slow progression in hepatitis C-infected patients

Immunology - T cells play major immune system role and are attractive drug target

Immunosuppression - Rapid steroid withdrawal is appropriate for HCV-positive kidney recipients

Infectious Disease - Data suggest group C rotavirus infection transmitted from animals to human

Infectious Disease - Greater risk of systemic infection with epidemic L. monocytogenes strains

Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Promotion of Entocort, a locally acting glucocorticosteroid, begins in Germany

Influenza Outbreak - H2 influenza virus internal protein genes transmitted interregionally

Influenza Vaccine - Immune responses to intranasal influenza vaccine determined

Influenza Vaccine - Immunostimulant patch enhances immune responses to influenza virus vaccine

Influenza Virus - NA and PB1 genes of H1N2 influenza A virus from pig is of human origin

Interferon - Four resistance factors identified in interferon inhibitory activity

Legal Issues - Immunodiagnostics company receives subpoena

Leishmania - Toll-like receptor 4 contributes to efficient control of Leishmania growth

Leishmaniasis Vaccine -  Quillaja saponaria sapogenins protect against visceral leishmaniasis

Liver Cancer - Hepatocellular carcinomas likely to increase in HIV/HBV coinfected patients

Lupus - Agreement reached with FDA regarding phase IV trial design for lupus therapy

Lymphoma Vaccine - Novel diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cancer testis antigen identified

Malaria - Artesunate plus amodiaquine effective for treatment of uncomplicated malaria

Malaria Vaccine -  Plasmodium antigen region elicits antibodies reactive with placental isolate

Malaria Vaccine - Small peptide induces complete protection against malaria

Malaria Vaccine - Splenic dendritic cell subsets prime and boost CD8 T cells

Meningococcal Vaccine -  N. meningitidis vesicles and lipo-oligosaccharide protect against septic shock

Meningococcal Vaccine - Meningococcal conjugate vaccine loses effectiveness after 1 year

Metabolic Syndrome - New metabolic syndrome research to begin in South Dakota

Metastasis - Radioimmunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy extend survival in cancer models

Microencapsulation - Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)-based nanoparticulate system characterized

Microencapsulation - Subcutaneous immunization allows uptake of diphtheria vaccine

Moraxella Vaccine - Outer membrane proteins of Moraxella catarrhalis characterized

Mucosal Immunization - Salivary gland genetic vaccine improves systemic immune responses

Multiple Sclerosis - Potential therapeutic options for multiple sclerosis reviewed

Mycobacterium -  M. ulcerans-like infection in frogs may be potential human pathogen

Myelodysplastic Syndrome - Cytokine induces maturation of dendritic cells in myelodysplastic syndrome

Myeloma - Novel cell line may aid research

Newborn Health - Results published on biomarker for diagnosing preterm birth-associated infection

Obesity - Biotechnology company announces start of Phase I trial for obesity

Osteoarthritis - In vivo framework helps with interpretation and evaluation of osteoarthritis

Osteoporosis - First patients given AMG 162 in phase III studies for bone loss

Periodontal Disease - Genetics may determine gum disease in humans

Personnel - Cell-therapy company announces executive appointments

Personnel - Riaz Bandali joins board of electroporation company

Plague Vaccine - Vaccine expressing Yersinia pestis antigen protects against plague

Pneumococcal Vaccine - Colony blot assay useful for detection of multiple pneumococcal serotypes

Poxvirus Vaccine - Understanding of poxvirus pathogenesis advanced by deleting viral genes

Prion Disease - Experts work to identify mystery disease

Prion Disease - Woman dies of mad cow-type disease in Seattle

Prostate Cancer - MICs shed light on prostate cancer

Prostate Cancer - Quantitative RAR beta 2 hypermethylation is a promising prostate cancer marker

Proteomics - Life sciences company introduces three new protein purification kits

Proteomics - Paramyxovirus SV5 fusion protein activation involves CT signaling to ectodomain

Psoriasis - Pharmaceutical, research companies partner to develop psoriasis treatment

Renal Allograft - Malignancy reported in sirolimus-treated renal transplant recipients

Respiratory Medicine - Journal reports trial results of FACTIVE versus common antibiotics

Respiratory Syncytial Virus - DNA delivery systems against respiratory syncytial virus infection compared

Rheumatoid Arthritis - FDA approves HUMIRA to improve physical function in RA patients

Rheumatoid Arthritis - FDA approves use of Mobic tablets for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Promotion agreement announced for Kineret rheumatoid arthritis therapy

Rheumatoid Arthritis - Treatment of caput ulnae syndrome is described

SARS - Children appear less susceptible to SARS coronavirus than adults

SARS - Dialysis patients with SARS often require longer hospitalization

SARS Coronavirus - Antibody response of SARS patients targets the viral nucleocapsid

SARS Vaccine - Structural proteins of SARS coronavirus contribute to protective immunity

Smallpox Vaccine - Basics of smallpox reviewed

Smallpox Vaccine - Smallpox vaccine reactions and contraindications reviewed

Stem Cell Research - Activation of MAP kinase pathway by c-Kit is PI-3 kinase dependent in stem cells

Stem Cell Research - Adult mesenchymal stem cells used as a target for neoplastic transformation

Stem Cell Research - Cord blood banking company surpasses 100th unit for stem cell transplant

Stem Cell Research - Dendritic cell homeostasis may be disrupted at onset of GVHD

Stem Cell Research - Gene expression of T cell lineage development in thymus analyzed

Stem Cell Research - Msx2/necdin required for smooth muscle differentiation in mesoangioblast SCs

Stem Cell Research - Stem cells have a role in myocardial regeneration

Stem Cell Transplantation - Age 50 or older independent risk factor for HSCT treatment-related mortality

Stem Cell Transplantation - Cytogenetics independent predictor of relapse/treatment failure in AML

Stem Cell Transplantation - Data still inconclusive using stem cells to repair the heart

Stem Cell Transplantation - Diverse clinical applications using advantages of allogeneic PBL SCT

Stem Cell Transplantation - Efficacy of and indications for SCT for spinal cord repair still uncertain

Stem Cell Transplantation - Hepatocytes obtained after graft reduction may be used for liver transplant

Stem Cell Transplantation - High-dose chemotherapy with ASCT beneficial for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas

Stem Cell Transplantation - Mesenchymal SCs help repair kidney and improve function in acute renal failure

Stem Cell Transplantation - Method for widespread application of adoptive transfer of virus-specific T cells

Stem Cell Transplantation - Rare localized relapse in bone marrow of extremities after ASCT for ALL reported

Sterilization Technology - Cleaners effective for inactivating prions to be introduced in Great Britain

Streptococcus Vaccine - Plasmid encoding pac gene of Streptococcus prevents dental caries

Streptococcus Vaccine - Vaccines of Streptococcus polysaccharides and T cell epitope developed

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Gene associated with lupus identified

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - New study aimed at preventing heart disease in pediatric lupus patients

Tetanus - BLA submitted to FDA for Adacel vaccine

Tissue Engineering - Novel composite hydrogels promising for soft tissue engineering applications

Transplant Medicine - Organ transplant recipients have severe neurologic symptoms caused by West Nile

Tuberculosis Vaccine - Mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan and related lipoglycans reviewed

Type 1 Diabetes - Early exposure to (pro)insulin may be important for disease pathology

Ulcerative Colitis - Researchers find that expression of COX-2, NOS2 may play role in colitis

Vaccine Adjuvant - Adjuvant improves protection induced by vaccine against N. meningitidis

Vaccine Adjuvant - European union regulations for vaccine adjuvants and delivery systems listed

Vaccine Adjuvant - ISCOMATRIX adjuvant induces potent humoral and cellular immune responses

Vaccine Adjuvant - Immunobiology of Tomatine adjuvant reviewed

Vaccine Adjuvant - Poly-beta amino ester-containing microparticles enhance vaccine activity

Vaccine Adjuvant - Relations between lipopeptide adjuvants and Toll-like receptor explored

Vaccine Adjuvant - Vaccine adjuvants play vital role in vaccine efficacy

Vaccine Delivery - Drug delivery systems reviewed

Vaccine Delivery - Oral delivery system containing A/Panama influenza hemagglutinin optimized

Vaccine Delivery - Pluronic F127-based systemic vaccine delivery systems reviewed

Vaccine Delivery - Transcutaneously deliverable adjuvants modulate immune responses

Vaccine Efficacy - DNA vaccine potency in rhesus macaques enhanced by electroporation

Vaccine Efficacy - Efficacy of plasmid vaccines correlates with long-term antigen production

Vaccine Safety - Adjuvant hydrocarbon oil components of vaccines may induce autoimmunity

Vaccine Safety - Live viral vaccines safe in patients with partial DiGeorge syndrome

Vaccinia Vaccine - Vaccinia virus inhibition of PKR involves N-terminal domains of E3L

Vaccinia Virus - Sequence-independent acylation of vaccinia virus inclusion protein reported

Virology - Protective gene may enhance vaccine responses

Virology Vaccine - Lentiviral transduction of dendritic cells confers antiviral immunity

West Nile Virus - West Nile virus outbreak in Sudan causes encephalitis in children

Wound Care - Matrix metalloproteinase activity is fundamental to proper wound healing