Mpox is the topic for this week’s VEC Vaccine Notes episode. Check out this clip for a reminder of when and where monkeypox virus was discovered — and who was the first person diagnosed with mpox.

Find out more about the disease and vaccine in the full episode.
https://lnkd.in/ebQu7f4h

Ring vaccination strategies- a tribute to legendary Dr. William Foege who recently passed away.

His pioneering work that led to the eradication of smallpox remains a model to look at, when considering ring vaccination strategies.

Ring vaccination, which means vaccination of contacts and contacts of contacts around infected cases, has been successfully used during the Ebola outbreak in 2014-2105 in the #CaSuffit! clinical trial in Guinea, emphasizing its suitability for fast-acting vaccines and localized transmission settings.

The Ebola vaccine #Ervebo has been approved based on the pivotal evidence from the #CaSuffit! clinical trial, a milestone in clinical trial and regulatory innovation.


If you are interested to know more about ring vaccination please have a look at this ESCMID - European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases #EVASG webinar:
Ring Vaccination in the Control of Emerging Pathogen Outbreaks: Basic Principles and Field Experiences,
to which I contributed together with Simone Benatti Guillaume Beraud Giulia Giordano David Van Laeken Muyembe Jean-Jacques Ruggero Giuliani

https://lnkd.in/egxkNjHw

Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines: From historical milestones to future strategies.
CPSs serve as highly effective antigens in polysaccharide-based vaccines. The advent of polysaccharide-protein conjugate vaccines has marked a major public health breakthrough, saving millions of lives by eliciting robust immunity and enabling herd protection.
https://lnkd.in/eV7cCwXg

🧬 Can tattoos influence vaccine trial outcomes?

A recent PNAS (Nov, 2025) study shows that tattoo ink migrates to lymph nodes, persists for months, and alters immune function. In mouse and human immune-cell models, ink-loaded macrophages showed chronic inflammation and impaired antigen presentation.

What’s striking is the vaccine effect:
• mRNA COVID-19 vaccine → lower antibody responses
• UV-inactivated influenza vaccine → equal or even enhanced responses

So tattoos don’t just “interfere” — they shift immune behavior in a vaccine-specific way.

This raises a practical trial-design question:

Should tattoo status (location, size, or timing) be recorded—or even controlled—for—in vaccine clinical trials?

Especially for mRNA and other cell-dependent platforms, this could be a previously overlooked source of variability.

I’m curious how clinical trialists, immunologists, and biostatisticians see this.
Would this warrant stratification, exclusion, or is it noise in the real world?

#ClinicalTrials #Vaccines #Immunology #mRNA #PNAS #TattooScience #NovotechLab

Original Reference:
https://lnkd.in/gnahq4BQ

Number of #CARTCell treatments in France. Rapidly growing.


Source : https://lnkd.in/dKAQP83N

Check out my latest #ScienceSpeaks blog at Infectious Diseases Society of America #IDSA. #Tick-borne diseases like #Lyme are rising and spreading to more places, so clinicians and the public need to stay alert. I break down what’s in the #vaccine pipeline, especially the progress of late-stage #Lyme vaccine development, and what that could mean for prevention in the near future. I also highlight what we can do right now, including practical prevention such as avoiding bites, prompt tick removal, and timely evaluation and treatment.

The key message is that while better tools are coming, reducing risk today still depends on awareness, prevention, and early action.

📑 See comments section for link.

🚀 Breakthrough in CAR T-cell therapy for solid tumors

Researchers at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center report a major advance in overcoming one of #cancer #immunotherapy’s biggest challenges: treating solid #tumors with #CARTcells.

▪️ Led by Renier Brentjens, MD, PhD (Deputy Director and Chair of Medicine at Roswell Park), the team demonstrates that IL-36γ–armored CAR #Tcells can eradicate solid tumors in preclinical models by reprogramming #neutrophils to mount a powerful innate and adaptive anti-tumor #immuneresponse.

▪️ The study - published in Cancer Cell - was led by Yihan Zuo, PhD (first author) with Scott Abrams, PhD (Jacobs Family Endowed Chair of Immunology). The work shows that IL-36γ CAR T cells not only attack tumor cells directly but also drive antigen spreading, overcome tumor heterogeneity, and bypass the need for lymphodepletion, preserving neutrophils as key immune allies.

🧬 This approach offers a promising path toward extending the transformative success of CAR T-cell therapy from hematologic malignancies to solid tumors, where curative options remain limited.

🗃️ See comments for reference.

Researchers at Texas Biologics, The University of Texas at Austin with international collaborators from the The University of Freiburg and Cardiff University / Prifysgol Caerdydd, have developed a novel engineered #antibody that prevents human #cytomegalovirus HMCV from hiding from the #immunesystem.

▪️ HCMV infects over 80% of the global population and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is the leading infectious cause of birth defects in the United States. Despite this, there is NO approved #vaccine, and current #antivirals can be toxic and prone to resistance.

▪️ Led by Prof. Jennifer Maynard with key contributions from Ahlam Qerqez and Prof. Jason McLellan, the team redesigned IgG1 #antibodies so they evade viral Fc receptors (vFcγRs) used by #HCMV to neutralize #immuneresponses while still activating natural killer (NK) cells to eliminate infected cells.

💡 Why this study is important: This work represents a paradigm shift in antiviral therapy - moving beyond targeting the #virus alone to empowering the immune system to clear infected cells. The approach could transform HCMV treatment for newborns, transplant recipients, cancer patients, and other immunocompromised populations, and may be applicable to other herpesviruses and pathogens with similar immune-evasion strategies.

🗃️ See comments section for reference.

Restoring youth to old immune cells: mRNA therapy turns back the clock

A twice-weekly cocktail of three messenger RNAs can rejuvenate the weary immune systems of aged mice and boost responses to vaccination and cancer treatments.

- Ageing has a profound effect on the immune system, including the T cell repertoire, leading to reduced immune resilience. Central to this decline in humans and most other mammals is the involution of the thymus.

- Efforts to counter immune ageing have primarily focused on reversing thymic involution and although these strategies have provided valuable insights into immune ageing, they have been limited by effect size, toxicity or clinical feasibility.

- Here, the authors describe an approach for reconstituting thymus-derived factors in the liver to address age-related immune decline.

- First they identified signalling pathways in the thymus and peripheral blood T cells that decline with age. Then they delivered mRNAs encoding these factors (DLL1, FLT3-L and IL-7) to the liver using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).

- Treatment with these mRNAs improved peptide vaccine responses and restored antitumour immunity in aged mice by increasing tumour-specific CD8+ infiltration and clonal diversity and synergizing with immune checkpoint blockade.

- These effects were reversible after dosing ceased and did not breach self-tolerance, in contrast to the inflammatory and autoimmune liabilities of recombinant cytokine treatment.

- These results highlight the potential of this approach to improve immune function and, more broadly, to use the liver as a transient ‘factory’ for replenishing factors that decline with age.

https://lnkd.in/eCijzNPH
https://lnkd.in/eujJmE2Z

#immunology #aging #immunity #science

T cell egress technolog (S1PR1 Expression in T Cells)
T cell egress technology manipulates the exit of T cells from lymph nodes (LNs) and tissues into the bloodstream, primarily by targeting the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1PR1) pathway.
Drugs like FTY720 (fingolimod) block this pathway to trap autoimmune T cells in LNs. Conversely, manipulating (S1PR1) or CCR7 can modulate the trafficking of CAR T-cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) for improved immunotherapy.

T cell egress is the highly regulated process by which mature T cells exit lymphoid organs (like lymph nodes) into the blood, driven primarily by the S1P1 receptor (S1PR1) gradient. S1PR1 on T cells binds to high concentrations of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the lymph/blood compared to low levels in the lymph node, triggering migration out.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1PR1) pathway is a critical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling mechanism that regulates immune cell trafficking (lymphocyte egress from lymphoid organs), vascular development, and endothelial barrier integrity.
T cell expression of (S1PR1) enables them to follow an S1P gradient out of lymph nodes.

Spinster homolog 2 (SPNS2)
a specialized transmembrane protein acting as the primary exporter of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) from cells into the blood and lymph. It regulates immune cell trafficking, vascular development, and, when inhibited, can modulate cancer metastasis and autoimmune diseases.
Role of SPNS2: The transporter SPNS2 is crucial, as it supplies S1P to the lymph, enabling the exit.

CCR7-CCL21 Axis: CCR7 acts as a "tissue exit receptor" that promotes the movement of effector T cells from inflamed sites into the lymphatics.
CXCR4/CXCL12 Inhibition: In tumors, the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis can limit T cell egress, allowing them to remain and fight cancer. Disrupting this axis can influence the retention vs. exit of CAR T-cells.

Clinical Applications 
Autoimmune Diseases: Trapping autoreactive T cells in lymph nodes using (S1PR1) modulators (e.g., multiple sclerosis treatment).
Cancer Immunotherapy (CAR T/TILs): Enhancing the retention of effector T cells within tumor tissues to improve tumor control.
Transplant Rejection: Controlling T cell migration to reduce the immune response against transplanted organs.

Current Research Directions 
Targeting SPNS2: Developing inhibitors for the SPNS2 transporter for more precise control over S1P signaling than broad (S1PR1) agonists.
Controlling Effector T Cell Trafficking: Investigating how to maintain high levels of tumor-specific T cells within tumors by inhibiting their premature egress.
Regulation of Memory T Cells: Understanding how Tissue-Resident Memory (T_RM) cells are kept in place, as opposed to recirculating T cells that use the S1P-dependent egress route. 

𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗔𝗡𝗗-𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝘆𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴

🧠 𝗔 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 🧠
Friday 20 February 2026

𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘺𝘵𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦-𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘈𝘕𝘋-𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘛𝘈𝘛 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛-𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘵𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨.

💡𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲
 • IL-2/21 and IL-10/2 Trikines fuse a cytokine with a receptor-binding module to recruit a third receptor chain in cis, forming tri-receptor complexes that reprogram intracellular STAT signaling within the same cell.
 • IL-2/21 Trikine enforces IL-2Rβ/γc and IL-21Rα co-engagement, generating pSTAT5 with IL-21-like pSTAT3, preserving stem-like CD8 T cells, limiting exhaustion, enhancing tumor control, and avoiding IL-2–driven NK toxicity.
 • IL-10/2 Trikine adds IL-2Rβ–STAT5 signaling to IL-10–driven STAT3, boosting tumor infiltration and, with PD-1 blockade, expanding cycling TILs to suppress refractory lung and pancreatic tumors.

🔥𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁
 • AND-gated Trikines could replace cytokine cocktails and cell engineering, delivering tunable STAT programs with reduced systemic toxicity to overcome immunosuppression in solid tumors.

❓𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀
 • Which receptor-density thresholds best predict Trikine responsiveness across exhausted, stem-like, and regulatory T-cell states?
 • Can modular Trikine architectures successfully decouple and exploit other pleiotropic profiles like STAT1/STAT4 pathways?
 • Will human-reactive Trikines mirror murine pharmacokinetics and sustain patient TIL stemness during clinical translation

𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀
Grayson E. Rodriguez, Yang Zhao et al
Science, February 2026
Corresponding author: K. Christopher Garcia

🔗 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴
𝘐𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦. 
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘓𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘐𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

End-stage organ failure requires the transplantation of a new organ. However, the number of patients awaiting donor organs exceeds the number of available organs. To address this organ shortage, solid organs, such as the kidneys, liver, heart and lungs, can be engineered based on decellularized human and non-human tissues. These decellularized scaffolds can then be recellularized with autologous or allogeneic cells and modified to ensure engraftment and function following transplantation. In this Review, we discuss the creation of decellularized neo-solid organs, including animal donor considerations, pre-decellularization processes, decellularization protocols, post-decellularization characterization, sterilization and storage conditions. We highlight various cell seeding and modification strategies and examine bioreactor culture conditions to grow functional solid organs. Finally, we outline mechanisms of transplant-recipient crosstalk and discuss challenges and opportunities for the clinical translation of engineered solid organs. New organs can be engineered based on decellularized human and animal tissues to address the global shortage of donor organs. This Review discusses design principles for the engineering of new organs using decellularized animal-derived tissues, including decellularization, functionalization and characterization protocols.

🦠rHVT IBD

🐔Protection of the "Immune Engine" (Bursa of Fabricius)-
The Bursa of Fabricius is the primary organ where a chicken’s B-lymphocytes (cells that produce antibodies) develop.Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD or Gumboro) targets and destroys these cells, leading to permanent immunosuppression.
The HVT-IBD Role: Because it uses a non-pathogenic HVT vector, the vaccine does not cause bursal atrophy or lesions.By preventing the IBD virus from damaging the bursa, the vaccine preserves the bird’s "immune engine," allowing it to produce antibodies effectively against all other diseases.

📊Overcoming the "Immunity Gap"-
One of the biggest challenges in young chicks is Maternally Derived Antibodies (MDA). In traditional vaccination, high levels of MDA can neutralize a live vaccine, leaving a "gap" where the chick is unprotected once maternal immunity fades but before vaccine immunity kicks in.[3]
The HVT-IBD Role: The HVT vector is not neutralized by IBD maternal antibodies.This allows the vaccine to be administered in the hatchery (either in ovo or at day-old), ensuring that active immunity begins to develop immediately.[1][5] This "closes the gap" and provides a seamless transition from maternal protection to vaccine-induced protection.

🐣💪Early and Lifelong Foundation-
The "immune foundation" must be established as early as possible to protect the bird during its most vulnerable stage.
Early Onset: Immunity against IBD typically begins as early as 12–14 days of age.[6]
Lifelong Duration: The HVT virus stays in the bird's system for life, continuously expressing the IBD antigen (VP2 protein). This provides a permanent immune memory without the need for repeated boosters in the field, which can be stressful and costly.

💉 Enabling "Vaccine Take" for Other Diseases-
A bird with a compromised immune foundation (due to subclinical IBD) will respond poorly to other essential vaccinations, such as those for Newcastle Disease (ND) or Infectious Bronchitis (IB). The HVT-IBD Role: By preventing immunosuppression, the HVT-IBD vaccine ensures that the bird’s immune system is "primed" and healthy enough to respond vigorously to subsequent vaccines.[5] This improves the overall "take" and efficacy of the entire vaccination program.

🪬Broad Spectrum Protection-
Field strains of IBDV are constantly evolving into variant and very virulent (vvIBDV) forms.The HVT-IBD Role: Recombinant HVT-IBD vaccines provide broad protection against a wide range of strains, including classic, variant, and very virulent strains.This ensures the immune foundation is robust enough to withstand diverse environmental challenges.

🥔Reduction of Viral Shedding-
By establishing a strong immunity early, vaccinated birds shed significantly less of the field virus into the environment. This reduces the "infection pressure" in the poultry house, protecting future flocks and further stabilizing the health foundation of the entire farm.

⚠️ Reduced childhood vaccination policies will likely cause spikes in preventable diseases AND may reduce uptake of recommended vaccines....

👉 Reduced coverage of Diphtheria toxoid vaccine has resulted in a resurgence in cases with a high case-fatality rate in young children and treatment relying on antitoxin (DAT) ☝ most countries lack stockpiles!

It's therefore incredibly topical and important to see this study now out in Emerging Infectious Diseases highlighting the current challenges in DAT production and procurement.
🔊 https://lnkd.in/eh3Y6jzZ

Market, Manufacturing, Procurement and Stockpiling challenges (akin to those of antivenoms), threaten global health security!

We highlight an urgent need for improved coordination, financing, and innovation in DAT supply.
⏩ A transition to monoclonal antibody therapies offers a best-in-class solution to many of these challenges........ But remains neglected!

Caroline Marshall Erin Sparrow Julien Potet World Health Organization Wellcome Trust

BAR T cells (B-cell Antibody Receptor T cells)

BAR T cells are engineered Regulatory T cells (Tregs) designed to treat autoimmune diseases by targeting specific antibody-producing B cells.

BAR T cells (B-cell Antibody Receptor T cells) are a type of engineered regulatory T cell (Treg) a specific receptor designed to recognize and target B-cell antigens,
notably in autoimmune diseases like hemophilia A. They function by suppressing B-cells that produce inhibitory antibodies, offering a therapeutic approach for treating harmful immune responses.

Targeting Mechanism: Similar to Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, BAR T cells are engineered to bind specific pathogenic B-cell receptors (BCRs) rather than tumor antigens, allowing for highly precise, targeted immunotherapy.
BAR T cells utilize specific antigen domains (e.g., FVIII C2 domain) to bind to and suppress B-cells, often reducing the production of unwanted autoantibodies.

Process
Researchers use B-cell antibody components to create a custom receptor that allows the T-cell to bind directly to a specific autoantibody on a B-cell, rather than requiring traditional MHC antigen presentation.
The engineered BAR T cells are grown in large numbers in a laboratory, ensuring a high concentration of cells that can specifically target the disease-causing B cells.
The expanded BAR T cells are infused back into the patient.

Mechanism of action
Unlike CAR T cells that kill target cells, BAR T cells act as "living drugs" that suppress the immune response.
Upon binding the target antigen, the engineered receptor activates the regulatory T cell, which then suppresses the targeted B-cell antibody formation and immune response.

Clinical Applications
Applications: Besides hemophilia, this technology is being investigated for managing various autoimmune diseases, allergies, and other conditions involving B-cell dysfunction.

This approach is advantageous because it provides a more specific and potent alternative to broad immunosuppression, potentially leading to long-term remission in autoimmune disease patients.

Disclaimer: The information above is for informational purposes based on research studies and does not constitute medical advice.

https://lnkd.in/guctEiAc.

🦟 #Dengue is one of the world’s fastest-spreading #mosquito-borne diseases, with half of the global population now at risk and #climatechange is accelerating transmission. While most research focuses on people who become sick, scientists have long wondered how some individuals clear #denguevirus #DENV without ever developing symptoms.

▪️ A new study in Science Translational Medicine led by Mahidol University (Thailand), the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK), and international partners provides the first single-cell immune atlas of asymptomatic dengue, revealing how the immune system defeats the virus without triggering illness.

▪️ Through a five-year household surveillance program in #Thailand, the team - including Assoc. Prof. Ponpan Matangkasombut, Dr. Waradon Sungnak, Dr. Tiraput Poonpanichakul, Dr. Natnicha Jiravejchakul, Prof. Sarah Teichmann FMedSci FRS, and Assoc. Prof. Varodom Charoensawan - captured extremely rare asymptomatic #infections and analyzed over 134,000 immune cells using cutting-edge single-cell RNA and immune receptor sequencing.

▪️ They found that people without symptoms showed distinct immune signatures involving CD8 #Tcells, natural killer cells, and #antibody-producing cells, while symptomatic #denguefever showed stronger inflammatory and antibody-driven processes associated with disease.

💡 Why is this research important? This work reveals how the #immunesystem can eliminate dengue without illness, provides an unprecedented dataset for global researchers, and offers a roadmap for designing safer, more effective dengue #vaccines that mimic naturally protective immune responses.

🗃️ See comments for reference.

mRNA vaccines (including those used against #COVID19) are exceptionally good at generating #antibody responses largely because they drive germinal center formation, the immune “training hubs” that produce high-quality #antibodies and long-lived memory.

In a Cell study, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine show that the two core components of mRNA vaccines work together as built-in immune stimulators:

✅ The #mRNA (even with chemical modifications) isn’t fully “invisible” - it triggers low but meaningful type I interferon signaling that helps steer helper #Tcells toward germinal-center–supporting functions.

✅ The lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) activate dendritic cells and help position them in lymph nodes to effectively instruct T cells and support #Bcell help.

✅ Led by Michela Locci, PhD (Associate Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania), the team also identifies IL-1 as a critical, independent signal shaping these responses.

Bottom line: understanding how #mRNA + LNPs cooperate to promote germinal centers and durable #immunememory can inform the design of next-generation mRNA #vaccines.

🗃️ See comments section for reference.

Over the past century, #vaccines have transformed #publichealth, most recently playing a critical role in combating the #COVID19 #pandemic. While prophylactic #cancer vaccines have successfully prevented malignancies caused by infectious agents, we are now seeing real clinical promise from therapeutic #cancervaccines designed to train the #immunesystem to eliminate established tumors.

Emerging data show encouraging outcomes:

▪️ Adjuvant setting: vaccines in #melanoma and #pancreaticcancer may reduce minimal residual disease and relapse
▪️Macrometastatic setting: in-situ vaccines have induced systemic tumor regressions in advanced #lungcancer, #breastcancer, and #lymphoma
▪️Advances are being driven by deeper understanding of tumor #immunology, incorporation of smarter vaccine components, integration of omics and #AI in vaccine design, and synergy with #immune #checkpointinhibitors

This work highlights the potential of next-generation cancer vaccines to improve outcomes and quality of life for patients worldwide. A fascinating and hopeful step forward for #cancerimmunotherapy.

Authors: Orrin Pail, MD • Matthew Lin, PhD • Theodora Anagnostou, MD • Brian Brown, PhD • Joshua Brody, MD.

Institutions: The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA, Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA, Icahn Genomics Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA, Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, USA

🗃️ See comments section for reference.