The Immunology Podcast

Dr. Greg Delgoffe, an Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh studying metabolism and immunity in cancer, discusses the metabolism of immune cells in cancer and the effects of nutrients in the tumor microenvironment. Topics include the role of immunometabolism in autoimmunity, CD8 T cells killing MHC one negative tumor cells, and the Warburg effect in tumor metabolism.

Dr. Daniel Streicker, a Professor of Viral Ecology, discusses vampire bats as reservoirs for rabies and approaches to vaccination for preventing transmission. Topics include: sleep disturbance in cardiac disease, influenza vaccine responses, multipronged T cells, γδ T cells in solid tumors, collaboration in immunology, vampire bats and rabies transmission, and fieldwork experiences in South America.

Dr. Jamie Spangler, an Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins, dives into the innovative world of protein engineering. She discusses designing cytokine mimetics that can serve as therapeutic agents, revolutionizing immune disease treatment. The conversation also covers groundbreaking cancer research, highlighting immune changes in gastric adenocarcinoma. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cells in conditions like Parkinson's and the intricate links between mast cells and allergic responses are explored. Tune in for insights that could reshape future medical approaches!

Guests: Dr. Laura Raff is Associate Director, Sales, Immunology and Dr. Ami Ashar-Patel is a Senior Account Manager, Immunology at STEMCELL Technologies. Dr. Raff has a PhD in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Southern California and Dr. Ashar-Patel has a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. They talk about their career transitions from academia to industry and how they support scientists’ research endeavors in their current roles. Featured Products and Resources: Register for IUIS 2023! Learn about career opportunities in biotechnology and hear advice for making the move to industry. The Immunology Science Round Up Multiplexed Screening of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors – Scientists screened 1,041 human-associated metabolites against and uncovered previously unreported endogenous, exogenous, and microbial G-protein-coupled receptor agonists. New Oral Polio Vaccines – Genetically engineered polio vaccine candidates reduce the likelihood of Sabin strains regaining fitness and neurovirulence. Fecal Transplants and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition – Fecal microbiota transfer from healthy donors promotes resolution of refractory immune checkpoint-inhibitor mediated colitis in patients with cancer. Macrophages in the Nervous System – Resident macrophages of the muscularis externa refine the enteric nervous system early in life. Images courtesy of STEMCELL Technologies Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Alessandro Sette is a Center Head, Division Head, and Professor at the La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology. His lab focuses on understanding the immune response, measuring immune activity, and developing disease intervention strategies against cancer, autoimmunity, allergy, and infectious diseases. He talks about bringing a biotech mindset back to academia, cross-reactive T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2, and compiling an immune-epitope database. Featured Products and Resources: Register for the 18th IUIS International Congress of Immunology, to be held in Cape Town from 27 November-2 December 2023. Read interviews with immunologists. The Immunology Science Round Up Gut T Cells and Cancer Metastasis – A subset of CD8+ T cells from colon tumors improves control of liver tumors in a preclinical model of colorectal carcinoma. α2-adrenergic Receptors and Immunotherapy – α2-Adrenergic receptor agonists have very strong anti-tumor activity when used as monotherapies in multiple immunocompetent tumor models. Bacteria in Immune Checkpoint Blockade – Antibiotic-induced changes in gut microbiota resulted in relocation of immunosuppressive T cells from the gut to tumors. Base Editing CAR T Cells – Researchers investigated the safety of base-edited CAR T cells in three children with relapsed leukemia. Image courtesy of Dr. Alessandro Sette Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2023, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2023, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, in Washington, DC. We spoke with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting, including their reasons for attending, what they were most looking forward to, and the most memorable research presented. Featured Products and Resources: Register for the International Union of Immunological Societies 2023 Congress in Cape Town, South Africa from November 27 to December 2. Prepare for your next conference. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Bana Jabri is the Sarah and Harold Lincoln Thompson Professor in the Department of Medicine and the Research Director of the Celiac Disease Center at the University of Chicago. Her research focuses on innate and mucosal immunity, particularly in celiac disease, autoimmune disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease. She talks about the mechanisms of celiac disease and new treatment options. She also discusses how the microbiome can affect immune responses in cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Download free immunology wallcharts. The Immunology Science Round Up Capsules to Study the Intestinal Environment – Scientists developed an ingestible device that collects samples from multiple regions of the human intestinal tract during digestion. T Cell Receptor Affinity – Repetitive pathogen exposure leads to the dominant outgrowth of T cell clones with high T cell receptor affinity to the relevant pathogen-associated antigens. Gut Bacterial Evolution Between Species – Analyses of metagenome-resolved genomes from humans and primate species reveal significant co-diversification of bacterial gut symbionts. A Pancreatic Cancer Vaccine – Researchers synthesized mRNA neoantigen vaccines in real time from surgically resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma tumors. Image courtesy of Dr. Bana Jabri Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2023, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2023, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Washington, DC, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason talk about sessions on mucosal immunity, emerging pathogens, and having a successful postdoctoral experience. Highlights include Dr. Isaac Chiu‘s talk on pain and mucus production in the gut, Dr. James Crowe‘s talk on monoclonal antibody discovery, and Dr. Amy Hartman’s talk on Rift Valley fever virus. Featured Products and Resources: Read interviews with immunologists. Watch videos on career development from the NIH Office of Intramural Training & Education. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Dive into the intriguing world of immunology, where researchers unveil the role of micelles in drug delivery. Discover how helminth infections may influence susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2. Highlights include investigations on TLR7 and immune cell behavior in juvenile arthritis and newborns. The discussion also explores microbiome effects on immune signaling and groundbreaking cytokine therapies for cancer. Finally, learn about innovative techniques in targeted immunotherapy and the pivotal role of regulatory T cells in minimizing allograft rejection.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, a leading immunologist renowned for his COVID-19 response, shares insights on the pandemic's lessons. Dr. Doug Green, an authority on T cell activation, discusses critical dynamics of T cell behavior. The conversation dives into immune challenges posed by aging and obesity, along with innovative strategies for enhanced cancer vaccines. Listeners can expect to gain a deeper understanding of T cell function and the importance of genetics in immune responses. Exciting advancements in immunology are also unveiled!