The autophagy-related protein beclin 2 can help break down the key oncogenic viral protein associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, a most common cancer in people with HIV.
Immunity Genes in Women Act Differently from Men's: Stanford University
The immune system genes that switch on and off differently from person to person are more likely to be associated with autoimmune diseases.
The immune system genes that switch on and off differently from person to person are more likely to be associated with autoimmune diseases.
‘The autophagy-related protein beclin 2 is involved in a novel immune pathway that suppresses viral infection and viral oncogenesis.
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"More than 20 percent of human cancers - as well as a number of other diseases - are linked to chronic viral infections," said first author Dr. Xiaonan Dong, an Instructor in Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern's Center for Autophagy Research. The Center is led by Dr. Beth Levine, also Professor of Internal Medicine and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator at UT Southwestern. This study revealed that the autophagy-related protein beclin 2 - also discovered by Dr. Levine's team - can help break down the key oncogenic viral protein associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, a type of cancer most commonly found in people with HIV infection or transplant-related suppression of their immune systems.
Autophagy is a cellular "housekeeping" process in which the body's cells destroy damaged proteins and organelles. Researchers in Dr. Levine's lab study the genes involved in this cellular recycling process and their roles in cancer, aging, infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study revealed that, in addition to mediating autophagy, beclin 2 is also involved in a novel immune pathway that suppresses viral infection and virus-caused cancer.
Sleep At The Same Time Everyday To Maintain Immunity Levels: Washington State University
The sleep disrupted animals had blunted immune responses or an overactive response, which lowered their ability to fight illness and more likely to get sick.
The sleep disrupted animals had blunted immune responses or an overactive response, which lowered their ability to fight illness and more likely to get sick.
More specifically, researchers found that increased beclin 2 expression accelerated degradation of viral GPCR and decreased pro-tumorigenic signaling, whereas decreased beclin 2 expression led to sustained levels of viral GPCR and enhanced pro-tumorigenic signaling. This response is part of an endolysolomal trafficking process in which microbes and their constituent proteins are delivered to enzyme-filled cellular components called lysosomes.
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A First in Front Line Immunity Research Explored By Scientists
New insight into the early stages of our immune response, providing novel pathways to develop treatments for diseases from multiple sclerosis to cancer was gained by Monash University researchers.
New insight into the early stages of our immune response, providing novel pathways to develop treatments for diseases from multiple sclerosis to cancer was gained by Monash University researchers.
"These findings deepen understanding of the mechanisms that our immune system uses to protect against cancer and potentially against other serious diseases caused by pathogenic viral proteins," said Dr. Levine, who holds the Charles Cameron Sprague Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science. "They may contribute to the identification and development of novel therapeutic targets and antiviral therapies."
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Robust Antibiotic Found With Self-Immunity Gene on Plasmid in Staph Strain
In the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain 115, a robust, broad spectrum antibiotic and a gene that confers immunity to that antibiotic are found.
In the bacterium Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain 115, a robust, broad spectrum antibiotic and a gene that confers immunity to that antibiotic are found.
Source-Newswise
