Tag: 10/10/25

Categories : Allergies VaccinesTags : Leave a comment

New mRNA Vaccine Could Prevent Seasonal and Food Allergies

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Photo by Corleto on Unsplash

A new mRNA vaccine stopped allergens from causing dangerous immune reactions and life-threatening inflammation in mice, according to researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Cincinnati Children’s. The vaccine, outlined in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, may one day be tested and tailored to a variety of seasonal and food allergies.

“This is a potential breakthrough for millions of people worldwide who suffer from life-threatening allergies,” said Nobel laureate Drew Weissman, MD, PhD, Professor in Vaccine Research at Penn and co-lead of the study with Cincinnati Children’s Marc E. Rothenberg, MD, PhD.

Weissman, Penn colleagues Jilian Melamed, PhD, an assistant professor of Infectious Diseases, Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh, PhD, an assistant professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and the Cincinnati Children’s researchers led by Marc E. Rothenberg, MD, PhD, director of the division of Allergy and Immunology, modelled this new vaccine on the design of the COVID-19 mRNA lipid nanoparticle (LNP) vaccines.

This time, however, scientists tweaked the mRNA to instruct cells to produce proteins that resemble certain allergens. By presenting these proteins in a controlled way, the vaccine didn’t cause allergic reactions but did instruct the immune system to respond more appropriately in the future. And, when mice were later exposed to the respective allergens, the vaccines worked.

When mice with specific allergies were exposed to the allergens, none of the mice vaccinated with the respective allergy vaccine had an allergic reaction. Vaccinated mice had fewer allergy-related white blood cells, made fewer inflammation-causing proteins, and their lungs produced less mucus. Their airways were also protected against narrowing, which often happens during asthma, and they made special antibodies that protected against allergic reactions.

A platform with broad potential

Unlike traditional allergy shots, which involve repeated administration of purified allergens over months or years, the mRNA-based approach offers a more flexible solution. Because the mRNA can be tailored to encode proteins from different allergens, the platform could be adapted to treat a wide range of allergic conditions—from seasonal pollen allergies to food sensitivities and asthma. Additionally, many severe food allergies do not have vaccines to protect against severe allergic reactions.

“People with food allergies that can cause anaphylactic shock are rightfully fearful in social situations, eating out in public, sharing food, and engaging in other fun activities where there are food and allergens around,” said Weissman. “Allowing people to partake in foods they were never able to eat would be incredibly rewarding, but I’ll even be happy if we can one day introduce a vaccine that allows parents to breathe just a little easier when sending their kids to class birthday parties.”

The study represents a proof-of-concept that mRNA vaccines can be used not only to prevent infectious diseases but also to adjust immune responses in chronic conditions like allergies and even celiac disease. Researchers say the next steps include testing the vaccine’s safety in humans, determining how many allergens can be included in a single dose, and evaluating how long protection lasts.

“We saw mRNA vaccines save lives during the pandemic, and as the most-tested type of vaccine in history, we know it’s the safest and most effective vaccine ever created,” said Weissman. “We are deeply committed to continuing to uncover the potential of this technology.”

Source: Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Categories : AgeingTags : Leave a comment

Age-related Macular Degeneration Reversed in Mice with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid

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Retina showing reticular pseudodrusen. Although they can infrequently appear in individuals with no other apparent pathology, their highest rates of occurrence are in association with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for which they hold clinical significance by being highly correlated with end-stage disease sub-types, choroidal neovascularisation and geographic atrophy. Credit: National Eye Institute

In a new study, UC Irvine researchers explore a possible therapy for addressing “aging” in the eye and for preventing diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

“We show the potential for reversing age-related vision loss,” says Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk, PhD, an associate professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics and the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences. The study was a collaboration between researchers from UC Irvine, the Polish Academy of Sciences, and the Health and Medical University in Potsdam, Germany.

They outline their findings in a paper published in Science Translational Medicine.

Understanding the “Aging” Gene

The work is a follow-up to an earlier study on Elongation of Very Long Chain Fatty Acids Protein 2 (ELOVL2), an established biomarker of age. “We showed that we have lower vision when this ELOVL2 enzyme isn’t active,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, also a faculty member in the Robert M. Brunson Center for Translational Vision Research at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. In that work, the researchers found that enhancing ELOVL2 gene expression in aging mice boosted levels of the omega−3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in the eye and improved vision.

The more recent study sought to identify a way to bypass the need for the ELOVL2 enzyme.

As we age, changes in lipid metabolism lead to a decline in very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) in the retina, which in turn affects our vision and can lead to AMD. The ELOVL2 gene is a key enzyme in the production of VLC-PUFAs as well as DHA.

Injecting aged mice with the polyunsaturated fatty acid improved visual function. “It’s a proof-of-concept for turning lipid injection into a possible therapy,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk. “What is important is that we didn’t see the same effect with DHA.” Others have also questioned the ability of DHA to slow AMD progression.

“Our work really confirms the fact that DHA alone cannot do the work, but we have this other fatty acid that is seemingly working and improving vision in aged animals,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk. “We have also shown on a molecular level that it actually reverses the aging features.”

Furthermore, the researchers found genetic variants in the ELOVL2 enzyme that correlate with faster progression of AMD. “Now we actually have a genetic connection to the disease and its aging aspect,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, “so we could potentially identify people at higher risk for vision loss progression.” This could lead to not only therapeutic treatment options but also targeted interventions for prevention.

These findings have only further solidified Skowronska-Krawczyk’s view of the importance of the ELOVL2 enzyme. “I am pretty convinced it’s one of the top aging genes that we should look at when we think about anti-aging therapies.”

Looking Beyond the Retina

In a collaboration with researchers from UC San Diego, Skowronska-Krawczyk has also started to explore the role of lipid metabolism in immune system aging. That study found that the lack of ELOVL2 enzyme induces accelerated aging of immune cells, suggesting that systemic lipid supplementation could potentially counteract the effects of age on the immune system. It also suggested that lipid metabolism might play a role in blood cancers.

“Our first study explored a potential therapy to address vision loss,” says Skowronska-Krawczyk, “but with the information we’ve since learned about immune aging, we are hopeful the supplementation therapy will boost the immune system as well.”

Source: University of California – Irvine

Categories : PaediatricsTags : Leave a comment

Immune Benefits from Key Lipids from up to Six Months of Breastfeeding

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Photo by Wendy Wei

Breastfeeding until at least six months helps babies to fight off infections and reduces chronic inflammation, according to a new study. And better understanding the way specific nutrients in breast milk impact the immune system will improve health outcomes for all infants including those not breastfed.

The study, led by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) and the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (Baker Institute), discovered more clues as to why infants who were breastfed to at least six months of age had fewer infections and less chronic inflammation. Preventing these infections could reduce the rates of many childhood conditions, such as allergies, diabetes and asthma.

Published in BMC Medicine, the researchers identified several types of lipids (essential nutrients) in blood samples from breastfed babies that help reduce inflammation, which may reflect the unique nutritional composition of breastmilk.

MCRI’s Dr Toby Mansell said plasmalogens, a unique type of lipid abundant in breastmilk, appeared key to lowering inflammation. 

“Plasmalogens are only found in breastmilk and are generally absent in formula milk, so a better understanding of how plasmalogens and other lipids unique to breastmilk protect against chronic inflammation will help pave the way for new treatments for infants who don’t receive breastmilk,” he said.

The study involved almost 900 infants from the Barwon Infant Study, a collaboration between MCRI, Barwon Health and Deakin University.

The study explored about 800 different lipids and other metabolic markers in babies up until 12 months of age. It found breastfeeding was associated with broad effects on different classes of lipids and metabolic markers.

Baker Institute’s Dr Satvika Burugupalli said the findings would lead to a new understanding of how breastfeeding and specific components of breast milk could benefit infants.

“Breast milk performs a central role in supporting a newborn’s immune system,” she said. “It’s loaded with essential nutrients, including lipids, as well as antibodies and white blood cells.

“This study has identified key biological pathways for how breastfeeding improves immune health and reduces inflammation that can lead to many childhood conditions, such as allergies and asthma, and the risk of adult cardiovascular disease and diabetes.” 

Researchers from the University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Barwon Health, Northwestern University and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health also contributed to the study.

Source: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Categories : Ageing Ethics and LawTags : Leave a comment

Does Prior Incarceration Contribute to Poor Health Later in Life?

On By ModernMedia
Photo by Rodnae Productions on Pexels

A recent analysis reveals that older adults with prior incarceration report worse physical and mental health than their peers, even if they were incarcerated in the distant past. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

Among the 1318 US adults aged 50 years and older who responded to the Family History of Incarceration Survey, 21% had been incarcerated. Formerly incarcerated older adults were more likely to be men, non-Hispanic Black or “other” race/ethnicity, meet criteria for disability, be unmarried, and have lower income and education compared with those never incarcerated.

After adjusting for potentially confounding factors like demographics and socioeconomics, prior incarceration was associated with an approximately 90% higher odds of reporting “fair” or “poor” physical health. Length of time since incarceration did not moderate the association, meaning that even those incarcerated more than 10 years ago had equally poor self-reported health. The association with mental health was explained in part by income and employment.

The findings suggest that clinicians could consider screening for incarceration history and connecting formerly incarcerated patients to services and organisations that serve this community.

“Mass incarceration began in 1973, so older adults have spent most of their adult lives in this era and millions have been incarcerated in the past. It is critical to understand how incarceration – even in the distant past – may affect the health of older adults and what we can do to improve their health,” said corresponding author Louisa W. Holaday, MD, MHS, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

Source: Wiley

Categories : Lab Tests and ImagingTags : Leave a comment

Rapid Diagnostics Test Can Detect Asymptomatic Malaria Cases

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Researchers have adapted a rapid diagnostic technology that is able to identify undetected cases of malaria, helping tackle the spread of disease.

A diagram showing how the Dragonfly technology works (Credit: ProtonDx)

A team of scientists from Imperial College London, the MRC Unit The Gambia, the Clinical Research Unit of Nanoro in Burkina Faso, ProtonDx Ltd, and the NIHR Global Health Research Group have developed and validated a low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic that can rapidly detect low levels of malaria from a finger prick.

The test, called Dragonfly, relies on technology originally created at Imperial and its spinout ProtonDx. The technology allows users to diagnose malaria with high accuracy, without the need for extensive laboratory equipment or infrastructure. Results can be delivered in as little as 45 minutes, and the test is sensitive enough to detect even the lowest levels of malaria parasites in the blood – meaning that people without symptoms of malaria can still be identified.

Malaria is one of the leading causes of preventable deaths worldwide, with around 95% of all deaths occurring in Africa. Asymptomatic infections are a major driver of ongoing transmission, as individuals who carry the disease without showing symptoms do not seek medical treatment. Mosquitos feeding on blood from people without malaria symptoms can still deliver the malaria parasite to other people when they take their next blood meal. The new technology offers hope for combatting this potential spread of infection, by offering a way to identify previously undetectable malaria cases rapidly and on the ground in countries which are most affected by malaria.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, have significant global health implications as this field-deployable molecular diagnostic method offers a sensitive, scalable solution to support test-and-treat strategies for malaria elimination across Africa.

Professor Aubrey Cunnington, from Imperial’s Department of Infectious Disease and Co-Lead of the NIHR Global Health Research Group with Professor Halidou Tinto (from IRSS, Burkina Faso), said: “This is the first time that a diagnostic test for use outside of a laboratory setting has proven sensitive enough to detect low level malaria parasite infections in people who don’t have any symptoms.

“These people are the main source of malaria transmission, and in countries trying to eliminate malaria, there has long been interest in trying to detect these asymptomatically infected people with a screening test performed in their communities, and then giving treatment to those who are positive.

“Until now, no test has been able to detect enough of these infected people to make this a viable proposition, but the Dragonfly test now makes this possible.”

Detecting the undetectable

By collaboratively working as part of the NIHR Global Health Research Group, scientists were able to develop and test this new technology with the help of researchers in the regions affected most by malaria.

Almost 700 blood samples were collected from the community in The Gambia and Burkina Faso to assess the Dragonfly test’s accuracy against gold standard PCR testing and other common methods of testing, including expert microscopy and rapid diagnostic test (e.g., lateral flow immunoassay).

It was found that the Dragonfly tool could detect >95% of all malaria parasite infections, including 95% detection of those where the numbers of parasites were too low to be detected by looking at blood under a microscope.

Although Dragonfly is currently used as a research-used-only device, important progress is being made to understand the potential cost of a final manufactured version – especially when deployed at scale – a critical factor for effective deployment in sub-Saharan Africa. The team is already working closely with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to explore opportunities with local manufacturers in the region, ensuring that production and scale-up can be rooted in local capacity. Future studies will also need to assess the robustness of the tool in community settings which are less connected to laboratory facilities.

Dr Jesus Rodriguez-Manzano, last author and technology development lead, from the Department of Infectious Disease, said “This research would not have been possible without the collaborative nature and all the organisations who took part in this study. The technology delivered through this work represents a game changer for malaria control efforts.”

The testing equipment

In the Dragonfly testing process, a capillary blood sample obtained from a simple finger prick is processed in around 10 minutes, without the need for specialised laboratory equipment, to extract high-purity nucleic acids from malaria parasites. The prepared sample is then placed into a detection panel, which is inserted into a portable heater.

After a 30-minute incubation at a constant temperature, results can be read visually using a colour chart: a pink reaction indicates a negative result, while a yellow reaction confirms malaria infection.

The Dragonfly can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost of other platforms, is compact enough to fit into a backpack, and can operate on batteries, an important feature for bringing the tool directly to communities without requiring additional specialised equipment. Testing can be carried out by most people without extensive training, meaning that healthcare providers or scientists do not need to be present for its use.

Source: Imperial College London