Mucosal Immunity

A New Model of EBV Infection Using Tonsil Organoids –

A study published in PNAS and led by researchers at University of California Irvine, shows an alternative in vitro model using human tonsil organoids to study Epstein Barr Virus infection and to investigate key aspects of EBV immunity and pathogenesis.

The model utilizes tonsils from healthy individuals. After dissociation, and filtration, cell suspensions can be cryopreserved to minimize variation and facilitate processing. After thawing, tonsil cells can be infected with EBV-GFP viruses to generate EBV-infected tonsil organoids.

The approach allows researchers to investigate the changes in  EBV-infected B cell biology and immunity under a physiological environment, and to evaluate antiviral responses and therapeutic strategies.

https://lnkd.in/gFAnruR4

#EBV #immunology #immunity #Epsteinbarrvirus #health #globalhealth #publichealth #medicine #biotechnology #pharmaceuticals #FDA #WHO #CDC #ECDC #NIH #NIAID

Our new study with our PhD student Franck Zekre a great pediatrician and in collaboration with a smart company in US Vaxcyte. We developed a new vaccine againt P gingivalis to prevent inflammatory dosorders

On accepte sans broncher une montre qui compte nos pas et notre sommeil.

Mais le meilleur indicateur digestif du quotidien, on le jette encore d’un coup de chasse d’eau.

TOTO a lancé en août 2025 ses cuvettes Neorest qui scannent les selles en chute. À côté du jet d’eau, un capteur optique, même principe qu’un lecteur de code-barres en caisse, s’ouvre dès qu’on s’assoit. Une LED éclaire, un passage suffit : forme, couleur, volume.

Sept formes tirées de l’échelle Bristol que les médecins utilisent déjà, des grumeaux durs au liquide. Trois couleurs. Trois volumes. Tout part tout seul dans l’appli : calendrier, tendances, conseils du type « mange plus de légumes » ou « dors sept heures ». Jusqu’à six personnes par maison. Autour de 3 300 à 3 650 dollars.

Avant, 76 % des gens jetaient un œil. Seulement 6 % notaient quoi que ce soit. Les concepts existaient depuis le CES 2021, Panasonic avait déjà des capteurs en maison de retraite. Ce qui coinçait : se souvenir, oser regarder, taper l’info. Là, le suivi devient aussi passif que de s’asseoir.

Ça m’agace un peu qu’on trouve ça bizarre. On colle des capteurs partout sur le corps, et le moment le plus riche en signal digestif reste tabou. Le système reste purement optique. Mais il comble enfin le trou entre l’observation vague et un vrai suivi quotidien. (Hâte de voir les commentaires)

D’ici deux ou trois ans, ignorer ce flux paraîtra aussi étrange que de ne pas se peser à l’hôpital.

La prévention avance vraiment quand elle regarde là où on préférait détourner les yeux. | 20 comments on LinkedIn

Patients with recurrent respiratory tract infections receiving Broncho-Vaxom, a bacterial lysate-based therapy, had lower rates of infection at 12 months after vs. before treatment, according to preliminary results.

These data on Broncho-Vaxom (OM-85, OM Pharma) were presented at the 2026 European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology - EAACI Annual Congress.

Read more on Healio ⬇️
https://lnkd.in/gaPVktbR

Mucosal immunity and vaccine development.

Abstract
The mucosal system, which includes the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts, serves as a primary entry point for pathogens, with a unique immune microenvironment and specialized defense mechanisms. In recent years, especially following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been increasing recognition of the importance of mucosal immunity, motivated by an enhanced comprehension of its fundamental mechanisms. Currently, strategies based on mucosal delivery systems to administer antigens and induce strong mucosal protective immunity have become a key focus in the development of mucosal vaccines. Compared with conventional intramuscular delivery, mucosal vaccination can simultaneously elicit a robust local mucosal response, effectively block pathogen entry into the local mucosa, and generate systemic immune responses to prevent symptomatic infections and severe disease. In addition, mucosal delivery offers advantages such as ease of administration and low invasiveness, making it a more widely acceptable approach to vaccination. In the present study, we conducted a systematic review of the mechanisms of mucosal immunity, the technological platforms for mucosal vaccines, and proposed a perspective on the challenges and future directions for the development of next-generation mucosal vaccines, with the goal of enhancing public knowledge and awareness regarding mucosal immunity and its possible effects on global health.

Ingo Fricke

https://lnkd.in/equJEmmW

Only 43% of parents and pregnant women have heard of the scientific concept of the “first 1,000 days of life”.

Yet this period is a key window for baby microbiota development.

Missed our big 2026 International Microbiota Observatory reveal?
Everything you need to know about baby microbiota and the first 1,000 days is in this infographic.

Based on data from our 2026 survey, conducted by Ipsos France across 11 countries, it highlights what parents and pregnant women know, where knowledge gaps remain, and how healthcare professional guidance can support clearer understanding from the very beginning of life.

The Biocodex Microbiota Institute is here to support science-backed dialogue around microbiota at every key stage.

📩 Download the infographic and share it with fellow practitioners to help bring baby microbiota education into more care conversations.

Among tissue-resident immune cells, γδ T cells have a unique role in local immune surveillance. Under homeostatic conditions, they control tissue integrity and maintain the epithelial barrier. In contrast to conventional αβ T cells, γδ T cells sense stress-induced cellular alterations and, therefore, can recognize transformed cells independently of MHC (HLA in humans) molecules. In colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, γδ T cells constitute an important part of the antitumour immune response. However, there is evidence that γδ T cells can also promote tumorigenesis. In this Review, we present basic features of γδ T cells and their distribution and function in the context of the local immune response. We discuss the ligands and antigens recognized by circulating and tissue-resident human γδ T cells, as well as the functional diversity of γδ T cell subsets within tumour-infiltrating T cells in colorectal and liver cancer. Given their potent cytotoxic activity and HLA-independent mode of action, there is increasing interest in harnessing γδ T cells for application in cancer immunotherapy. We therefore discuss the current status and future challenges of using γδ T cells as an innovative immunotherapeutic strategy for gastrointestinal and liver cancer. γδ T cells are an important component of local immune surveillance. This Review discusses their role in colorectal cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma development and provides a detailed overview of their therapeutic potential.

High-frequency influenza-specific CD8+ T cells with a tissue-resident phenotype that recognize conserved viral epitopes and have a functional phenotype distinct from cells found in blood were found in the lower airways during viral clearance. Read more: https://ow.ly/o2Kg50ZhTgW.

Learn all about the role of B cells beyond antibodies. Explore the emerging roles of B cells in gastrointestinal inflammation and disease in this review from Deanna Santer, Marina Costa Fujishima, Jing (Maggie) Ouyang, and Thomas Murooka: https://lnkd.in/gTXjgj9u

🧬 Immunology Insights | Episode 29

Every vaccine you have ever received by injection did something specific: it protected your blood.

It may not have protected the surface the pathogen actually walks through to get there.

That gap is the reason a vaccinated person can still carry and transmit a virus even while being fully protected from severe disease. It comes down to one distinction most people never learn: the immune system at your body's entry points is a different system from the one circulating in your blood.

Your gut, lungs, nasal passages, and reproductive tract are where nearly every pathogen first makes contact. So the body maintains a dedicated mucosal immune system stationed exactly there. Its main weapon is secretory IgA (sIgA) - and here is the fact that surprises most people, including most biology graduates: sIgA is the most abundantly produced antibody in the entire human body. Not IgG. Not the antibody every vaccine textbook centres on. IgA.

This system has its own infrastructure. Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), Peyer's patches in the gut wall, and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) sitting directly within the epithelial barrier - all positioned to intercept pathogens before they ever reach the bloodstream.

This is why injectable vaccines can be a partial answer. They train the blood-based immune system very effectively. But they often fail to establish strong mucosal immunity, because the injection site and the mucosal surface are, immunologically speaking, separate territories. The pathogen can still enter, replicate briefly at the surface, and pass to another person, even in someone whose blood is fully protected.

It is why the next generation of vaccine design is moving toward nasal and oral delivery - trying to train immunity exactly where the pathogen arrives, not just where the needle does.

Mucosal immunity does not get the attention IgG and blood-based immunity get. But it is standing guard at every single point where the outside world touches you.

I'm Sangeetha - Biotechnology Masters graduate (Gold Medalist) with a research background in biofilms, now building my foundation towards a PhD in Immunology in Melbourne.

Learning in public, one episode at a time.

📖 If injectable vaccines struggle to build mucosal immunity, what do you think is the biggest barrier to making nasal or oral vaccines mainstream - science, manufacturing, or public trust? 👇

Happy immunology!🔬🥼

#MucosalImmunity #IgA #MALT #Vaccines #ImmunologyInsights #GutImmunity

If we want more effective vaccines against respiratory pathogens, we need more reliable ways to measure immunity where infection begins: in the airways.

We are very pleased to share that the Conference Report: Airway Mucosal Sampling and Immune Analysis, was recently published in Vaccine. This article captures the key discussions and recommendations that emerged from a workshop convened by Novo Nordisk Foundation and Wellcome Trust last year, held in connection with NIVI’s Harnessing Airway Immunity For Next-Gen Vaccines Cluster Conference.

Check out the full article here 👉: https://lnkd.in/dFzKHjHR

The report highlights several key challenges currently limiting progress towards developing airway targeting vaccines, including:
• A lack of standardized approaches for airway sampling and immune analysis
• Limited cross-study comparability and assay validation
• The need for better understanding of mucosal correlates of protection
• Regulatory and implementation barriers to incorporating mucosal endpoints into vaccine development

A major outcome of the workshop was the development of a recommendation framework aimed to strengthen coordination across research groups, improve standardization, build evidence for mucosal immune markers of protection, and ultimately support the next generation of respiratory vaccines.

At NIVI, we are proud to have contributed to these discussions and to be helping build the scientific foundations needed to advance mucosal vaccine development.

A big thank you to all workshop participants, collaborators, and those that helped shape this report and the roadmap it presents for the field.

With Joshua Rosenheim, Jens-Ulrik Stæhr Jensen, Deborah King, Henrik Kløverpris, Shane Crotty, Marianne H., Cecilia Lindestam Arlehamn, Hocine W. Mankouri, Rasmus Mortensen, Morten Ruhwald, MD, PhD, Tian Yun Wang, Helene Bæk Juel

Novo Nordisk Foundation Initiative for Vaccines and Immunity (NIVI), Department of Immunology and Microbiology (ISIM), University of Copenhagen Novo Nordisk Foundation Science Cluster

🧬 Constitutive IFN-ε Shapes Baseline Antiviral Readiness Across Mucosal Epithelia
 
How do mucosal surfaces stay protected against viruses before an infection even starts?

A study in mBio (Casazza et al.) explores how Interferon epsilon (IFN-ε) acts as a unique homeostatic guardian, maintaining a persistent antiviral state across epithelial barriers without needing pathogen induction.
 
To map these innate immune pathways and verify cell health, the team relied on specific targeted tools:

• PRR Activation & Baseline Expression: By stimulating cells with Poly(I:C) LMW (TLR3), 2'3'-cGAMP (STING), and LPS-EK (TLR4), authors demonstrated that unlike classic interferons, IFN-ε expression is not induced by PAMP signaling, confirming its unique role as a constitutive, baseline guardian.

• Cytotoxicity & Release Mechanism: Using the LDH-Blue™ Cytotoxicity Assay, membrane integrity was quantified alongside IFN-ε levels, revealing that IFN-ε is retained intracellularly and released as a DAMP upon cellular damage or lysis.
 
IFN-ε provides essential basal protection to mucosal barriers (such as the female reproductive tract and intestine), acting as an intracellular sentinel that alerts surrounding tissue upon cellular injury or turnover.
 
📖 Read the full paper in mBio: https://lnkd.in/ezYErJ3X
 
#Immunology #InnateImmunity #Interferon #MucosalImmunity #PRR #CellSignaling #InvivoGen

Mucosal immune response in biology, disease prevention and treatment; "The mucosal immune system, as the most extensive peripheral immune network, serves as the frontline defense against a myriad of microbial and dietary antigens. It is crucial in preventing pathogen invasion and establishing immune tolerance. A comprehensive understanding of mucosal immunity is essential for developing treatments that can effectively target diseases at their entry points, thereby minimizing the overall impact on the body. Despite its importance, our knowledge of mucosal immunity remains incomplete, necessitating further research. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has underscored the critical role of mucosal immunity in disease prevention and treatment. This systematic review focuses on the dynamic interactions between mucosa-associated lymphoid structures and related diseases. We delve into the basic structures and functions of these lymphoid tissues during disease processes and explore the intricate regulatory networks and mechanisms involved. Additionally, we summarize novel therapies and clinical research advances in the prevention of mucosal immunity-related diseases. The review also addresses the challenges in developing mucosal vaccines, which aim to induce specific immune responses while maintaining tolerance to non-pathogenic microbes. Innovative therapies, such as nanoparticle vaccines and inhalable antibodies, show promise in enhancing mucosal immunity and offer potential for improved disease prevention and treatment."; 08 January 2025; Xiaoxue Zhou, et al.; Nature, Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy : https://lnkd.in/gwDRDPSb

Congratulations to Mauro and Maria on this outstanding demonstration of how the IgA-class BCR differentially shapes B cell memory and plasma cell differentiation in gut and lung, to make pathogens unforgotten!!!

Mucosal immunity as a vaccine-induced correlate of protection against influenza

𝟭𝟲. 𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 ... 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘀?
A brilliant study from the University of Arkansas and Mississippi dropped a truth bomb: 70% of maternal antibodies never make it to the chicks!
IgY (the “mother’s shield”) is the only immunoglobulin efficiently transferred to chicks.
What about the others? IgA and IgM mostly stay behind in the egg. Less than 1% reaches the chick’s bloodstream.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿: by day 14, those maternal antibodies are gone. If your vaccination schedule doesn’t consider this... you’re leaving your chicks naked on the battlefield.

📈 Genetic line 1 had higher antibodies against Newcastle; line 2, more against IBV. But both agreed on one thing: maternal immunity fades fast, and active immunity takes time to show up.

✏️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀:
✔️ IgY is your best ally: 30% gets transferred to the chick
✔️ IgM is the first one produced by the chick (day 3)
✔️ IgA shows up around day 7
✔️ Chick-made IgY appears only around day 21
🎯 So, are you still vaccinating without syncing with the chick’s real immune timeline?

💥 It’s time to rethink our strategy. Knowing when and how to vaccinate isn't just technical it’s survival.

📌 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿:
🎗️Designing effective breeder vaccination programs.
🎗️Vaccinating chicks without interference from maternal antibodies.
🎗️Understanding why some chicks are protected... and others aren't.

📚 𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻: Hamal et al. (2006), University of Arkansas & Mississippi State University
Yes, it’s a 2006 papercut like fine wine, 🍷 its value only gets better with time.

📌 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲:
If any part of this post feels unclear or too technical, I invite you to first check out my previous post:
“Introduction to the Avian Immune System”, published yesterday.

It’ll give you the foundation you need to better understand this content.
🔍 Are you aligning your vaccination strategy with the chick’s biological clock?

💬 Drop your thoughts below or share your experience, have you ever looked at it this way?

#PoultryScience #MaternalImmunity #Broilers #Breeders #Immunology #VaccinationStrategy #AvianHealth #NDV #IBV

Honored to have co-authored an invited News & Views in @Nature Cell Biology with Dr. Nardhy Gomez-Lopez.

I’m very grateful to Dr. Nardhy Gomez-Lopez for her guidance, mentorship, and for giving me this great opportunity to contribute to this work.
I would also like to thank HAJIME INO for his valuable contributions!

I'm excited to see how this field continues to evolve!

Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gJTr6FrZ