nature immunology
Scientists find the ‘master switch’ for key immune cells in inflammatory diseases
Scientists have identified a protein that acts as a “master switch” in certain white blood cells, determining whether they promote or inhibit inflammation. The study, published in the journal Nature Immunology, could help researchers look for new tr…
Scripps Research scientists redefine the role of plasma cells in the immune system
La Jolla, CA — November 29, 2010 – For Immediate Release — A team of scientists from The Scripps Research Institute have uncovered a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in the body’s response to eliminate pathogens, such as bacteria and viru…
Search and Destroy: Newly Identified Gut Protein Kills Bacteria
Researchers have discovered a new antibiotic protein that appears to kill certain types of bacteria in the intestine. Their results are published Jan. 27 in the online version of the journal Nature Immunology and are slated for print publication in March. “These findings were completely unexpected,” said the study’s lead scientist. “We initially thought that this protein might be involved in blood vessel formation. What we discovered, though, is that it’s a potent killer of bacteria.”