Immunology Archives

Common link — a glucose-guzzling immune cell — involved in coronary artery disease and rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease share a common culprit: an important type of immune cell, called a macrophage, that has gone haywire. Stanford investigators have zeroed in on a molecular defect in macrophages' metabolic process that drives both disorders.

Why does CAR-T cancer therapy give this Stanford oncologist hope? Watch this video

According to Stanford pediatric oncologist Crystal Mackall, a pediatric oncologist with Stanford Children's Health, immunotherapy with CAR T cells is more precise, more specific and just as potent a treatment for leukemia as chemotherapy.

Coordinately altered protein/receptor combo could eliminate side effects of promising anti-cancer therapy

A promising anti-cancer therapy works great at first, but then loses its punch. A clever workaround may provide high-octane efficacy, without side effects.

Researcher’s crazy contraptions can simplify scientific complexities, distill research findings

Many infectious diseases are marked by cyclical ups and downs. Stanford's David Schneider takes a creative approach to making sense of them.

Exercise elevates blood signature difference between people with, without chronic fatigue syndrome

A new study suggests that a blood test following exercise may be a good way to differentiate between people who have ME/CFS and people who don't.

To debug your gut (and maybe your brain, too), make nice to the bugs that live inside it

Each of us is carrying about 100 trillion microbes in our gut. They're tiny and squirmy, but if you could line them all up end …

Microbiome explorations stoke researcher’s passion

Start talking with physician-scientist Ami Bhatt, MD, PhD, about the microbiome -- the vast community of bacteria, fungi, and life that live on the body …

A blood test that monitors for post-lung-transplant rejection and infection

A team under the direction of Stanford bioengineer Steve Quake, PhD, has shown that a noninvasive blood test can accurately diagnose lung-transplant rejection. The test also …

A Stanford dietician talks food sensitivities

Ever wondered what the difference between a food allergy and a food sensitivity is? Neha Shah, MPH, RD, CNSC, a registered dietician at the Stanford …

Researchers tackle unusual challenge in polio eradication

Polio is a tricky foe. One of the biggest hurdles in the World Health Organization's polio eradication campaign is that the virus causes no symptoms …

Drugs for bugs: Industry seeks small molecules to target, tweak and tune up our gut microbes

My first encounter with microbiologist Justin Sonnenburg, PhD, came when I was researching "Caution: Do Not Debug," an article I wrote five years ago for …

Peanut products and babies: Now okay?

Updated 2-25-15: Allergy expert Sharon Chinthrajah, MD, discussed the study and its implications on KQED's Forum today: *** 2-24-15: Any parent of young children is …

A discussion of vaccines, “the single most life-saving innovation ever in the history of medicine”

In a recent, in-depth interview with KCBS Radio, now available online, Stanford immunologist Mark Davis, PhD, called vaccines “the single most life-saving medical innovation ever …

With a Gates Foundation grant, Stanford launches major effort to expedite vaccine discovery

The vaccine field got a major boost today with the announcement that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will invest $50 million in a new …

Is honey the new antibiotic?

...Well, not quite. But recent research shows that honey does have infection-fighting properties surprisingly similar to the common antibiotic ampicillin. And even more importantly, honey …

A look at our disappearing microbes

Could obesity, asthma, allergies, diabetes, and certain forms of cancer all share a common epidemiological origin? NYU microbiologist Martin Blaser, MD, thinks so – he …