immune response Archives

Pulmonary tuberculosis: Biomarker discovery in the quest for new therapies

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Dr Esmeralda Juárez and her team research tuberculosis disease mechanisms through biomarker discoveries.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) presents a significant health burden worldwide with treatments remaining suboptimal. In the pursuit of new or adjunctive therapies, Esmeralda Juárez and researchers at the Department of Research in Microbiology at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico City investigate the lungs’ immune-response mechanisms to TB infection. By sampling the breath of TB patients using a non-invasive […]

Reducing risks, improving outcomes: The benefits of Patient Blood Management

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Prof Kietaibl promotes patient-centred decision-making.

While blood transfusions are generally very safe and have saved millions of lives, they carry a small risk of serious side effects. These risks can be lessened through the use of Patient Blood Management (PBM), a series of interventions that seek to minimise blood loss, prevent anaemia and reduce the need for a transfusion before, during and after major surgery. […]

Pathogenic microorganisms targeted by complex cellular communications

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When the human body is challenged by infection, the defences of the immune system are called into action. Dr Malini Sen of the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology is leading research into the role of a protein called Wnt5a in defending against invading pathogenic microorganisms. Wnt5a is found in macrophages, large white blood cells that form one of the first lines of defence […]