The Immunology Podcast

Guest: Dr. Amanda Lund is an Associate Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. She discusses how the lymphatic vasculature serves as a critical and dynamic interface between tissues and the immune system, challenging the traditional view of lymphatics as passive conduits. She highlights how lymphatic vessels actively regulate immune responses by controlling fluid flow, antigen transport, and cell migration during infection and cancer, and explores their emerging roles in shaping immunity and tissue biology. Featured Products and Resources: Download the free cell separation e-book from STEMCELL Technologies. Learn how to isolate highly pure immune cells and efficiently process human samples. The Immunology Science Round Up MHC I Shapes CD4 Immunity– MHC class I unexpectedly regulates CD4+ T cell cytotoxicity by protecting target cells from ferroptosis. Re-Emergence of Oropouche Virus – Scientists have mapped the resurgence and long-term burden of Oropouche virus, revealing widespread infection across Latin America. Scalable In Vivo T Cell Engineering – A new in vivo CRISPR-based system enables precise, stable generation of CAR T cells. Gut–Brain Axis in Autoimmunity – Intestinal epithelial cells initiate autoimmune neuroinflammation via TH17 cell responses that migrate to the central nervous system. Image courtesy of Dr. Amanda Lund. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mansour Haeryfar is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Western University. The Haeryfar Lab is dedicated to advancing our understanding of both conventional and innate-like invariant T cell responses in health and disease. Their research focuses on mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, with particular emphasis on exploring their therapeutic potential across a range of conditions. Featured Products and Resources: Explore scientific resources for your immunology research. Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Science Round Up Immune Imprinting Limits Flu Protection – Early flu infections imprint the immune system, biasing later responses and reducing effectiveness against new strains. Maternal Immunity Protects Newborns – Newborns with E. coli sepsis lack protective maternal antibodies, and maternal priming can provide protection. Building the Anti-Carbohydrate Repertoire – Anti-carbohydrate antibodies develop after birth into a diverse, antigen-shaped B cell repertoire. Engineering Better CAR T Responses – CAR T resistance to checkpoint therapy can be overcome by restoring c-Jun alongside PD-L1 blockade. Image courtesy of Dr. Mansour Haeryfar. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Daniel Peeper is a Professor in Functional Oncogenomics at VU University Amsterdam, heading the Department of Molecular Oncology & Immunology and chairing the Research Faculty Council Board at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. His lab employs function-based, genome-wide screens and other advanced technologies to develop concepts for rational combinatorial cancer treatment, targeting both cancer and immune cells more effectively. Featured Products and Resources: Obtain highly purified cells in a single step with the Easy 250 EasySep Magnet. Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Science Round Up Genomic Insights into EBV – Researchers used genome sequencing data to identify genetic and lifestyle factors linked to control of persistent Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and its association with autoimmune diseases. Cholinergic Control of B Cells – Acetylcholine signaling in germinal center B cells helps regulate their selection and differentiation to shape high-affinity antibody responses. Targeting Persistent HIV Clones – Persistent HIV reservoir T cell clones resist immune clearance but remain vulnerable to sustained cytotoxic T cell pressure. T Cell Engagers in Autoimmunity – CD19×CD3 and BCMA×CD3 T cell engagers improved disease outcomes in patients with treatment-refractory antisynthetase syndrome and systemic sclerosis. Image courtesy of Daniel Peeper Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ido Amit is a Principal Investigator and the Eden and Steven Romick Professorial Chair at the Weizmann Institute of Science. His lab is at the forefront of developing and applying cutting-edge single-cell genomics technologies alongside advanced computational approaches. By integrating these innovative tools in both animal models and human studies, his team uncovers the immune regulatory mechanisms and pathways that shape health and disease. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in human immunology news. Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Science Round Up Modified RNA Prevents Autoimmunity – Researchers show that modified RNA from our own cells naturally blocks TLR7 and TLR8, preventing harmful immune activation. Oncolytic Virus Boosts T Cells – In glioblastoma patients, a single virus treatment helped the immune system attack the tumor. Rewiring the Immune System During Food Scarcity – When food is scarce, stress hormones rebalance the immune system to fight infection while conserving glucose and preserving immune memory. Regulating Bystander T Cells – IL-4 can dial down how strongly memory CD8+ T cells respond to infection without direct antigen stimulation. Image courtesy of Dr. Ido Amit Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Sharon Lewin is the Director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, where her team studies HIV. She talks about the current landscape in HIV research and treatments, and how new therapies could target latent viral reservoirs. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Make the Easy Choice. Try EasySep to Win! The Immunology Science Round Up Immunosurveillance in the Skin: A neuro-epithelial axis can tune regional immunosurveillance against melanoma. B Cells in Aging: B cells contributed to the age-related reduction of naive CD4 T cells. The Gut–Brain Axis in Parkinson’s: Muscularis macrophages, housekeepers of intestinal homeostasis, modulate α-synuclein pathology and neurodegeneration in models of Parkinson’s disease. How IL-2 Signaling Regulates Inflammation: IL-2 signaling promotes the generation of IL-10pos age-associated B cells, with implications for autoimmunity and inflammation. Image courtesy of Dr. Sharon Lewin Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Rafi Ahmed is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Director of the Emory Vaccine Center at Emory University. He talks about his early work on memory T cells and its applications in autoimmune diseases and cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Request Your Free EasySep Sample and Enter for a Chance to Win Prizes Worth Up to $3,000. The Immunology Round Up CAR T Therapy for Hemolytic Anemia: CD19 CAR T cells resulted in sustained remission in patients with multirefractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia. (3:05) How Epstein-Barr Virus and Genetics Drive Multiple Sclerosis: A new study provides a new mechanistic link for how the environmental and genetic risk factors may contribute jointly to multiple sclerosis. (8:30) Autoantigens in Multiple Sclerosis: EBNA1 CD4+ T cells can target the multiple sclerosis autoantigen anoctamin-2, establishing a link between Epstein-Barr infection and neuroinflammation. (18:45) Microbiota-Induced T Cell Plasticity: Molecular mimicry between a gut commensal and a tumor antigen can boost the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy and restrain tumor growth. (26:00) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Ulrich von Andrian is the Mallinckrodt Professor of Immunopathology at Harvard Medical School and President of the American Association of Immunologists (AAI). Dr. Shekhar Pasare is Professor and Director of the Division of Immunobiology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. He is also the Program Committee Chair for the AAI’s annual meetings. They discuss the upcoming IMMUNOLOGY2026 meeting taking place April 15-19 in Boston. They cover highlights of the program including the Presidential Symposium, special sessions, and opportunities for trainees. (42:30) Featured Products and Resources: Submit a late-breaking abstract for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Wallchart: T Cell Nomenclature: From Subsets to Modules The Immunology Science Round Up Psoriatic Arthritis – A two-step process involving skin-derived myeloid precursors and joint-resident fibroblasts orchestrates the spread of inflammation from the skin to the joints. (6:15) Chemotherapy and Cardiac-Resident Macrophages – DNA-damaging chemotherapy can reshape cardiac macrophage ontogeny. (13:50) Dendritic Cell Cross-Presentation – Neoantigen cross-presentation by Type 1 conventional dendritic cells can determine the immune visibility of the tumor mutational landscape. (26:00) T Cell Cross-Reactivity – Co-receptor switching generates super selective T cells that reduce the risk of lethal off-target cross-reactivity. (32:20) Images courtesy of Drs. Ulrich von Andrian and Shekhar Pasare Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jayne Danska is a Senior Scientist, Genetics and Genome Biology at the Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute. She is also Associate Chief of Research, Faculty Development and Diversity, and Professor at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the microbiome in type 1 diabetes. She discusses insights from longitudinal human studies and mouse models. (40:00) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Wallchart: T Cell Nomenclature: From Subsets to Modules The Immunology Round Up Vaccination for Anaphylaxis – A vaccine against IgE protected against anaphylaxis in a mouse model. (2:53) How RSV Can Lead to Asthma – Researchers identified maternal allergy and neonatal RSV infection as converging Fc receptor-dependent risk factors for asthma. (9:50) Antigen Presentation for MAIT Cell Immunity – Macrophages are key for MR1 antigen presentation and MAIT cell immunity. (20:30) HIV Remission after Stem Cell Transplantation – After an allogeneic stem cell transplant, a patient discontinued antiretroviral therapy and sustained HIV remission for over six years. (27:00) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Ana Anderson is currently the Albert H. Coons Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Senior Scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Core Faculty Member of the Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation. She talks about her research on immune regulation in cancer and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. (38:33) Featured Products and Resources: Submit your abstract now for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Round Up CAR Tregs for Atherosclerosis: Anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein CAR Tregs reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in mouse models. (2:20) Tumor-Reactive T Cells: Tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells can be isolated and expanded from clinical samples. (14:24) Harnessing Myeloid and Lymphoid Synergy for Immunotherapy: Myeloid-targeted immunocytokines and natural killer/T cell enhancers show potential for treating solid cancers. (18:50) Subcutaneous Fat Affects Intestinal Aging: Subcutaneous white adipose tissue dysfunction triggers aging-like intestinal dysfunctions in mouse models. (32:40) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. George Robinson is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London, where his lab focuses on juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. He discusses current approaches to diagnosis and treatment, as well as the role of sex differences in autoimmunity. (31:20) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Download a free wallchart on regulatory T cells. The Immunology Round Up Long-Term Allergies: Allergy-associated IgE plasma cells exhibit limited accrual in the bone marrow, and instead reside in other tissues for extended periods. (3:40) Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy: Peanut oral immunotherapy reshapes T cell responses, suppressing allergy-associated type 2 helper T cells and boosting cytotoxic type 1 helper T cells, offering clues to long-term tolerance. (9:00) Neuroprotective Microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease: The protective function of microglia is governed by the transcription factor PU.1, which becomes downregulated following microglial contact with amyloid plaques. (18:09) Autoimmunity in ALS: Researchers showed that ALS is associated with recognition of the C9orf72 antigen and mapped the specific epitopes that are recognized. (23:20) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Camila Coelho is a Principal Investigator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where her lab studies emerging pathogens. She talks about her lab’s work on mpox and other viruses, her approach to mentorship, and how her MBA education helps her in science. (36:00) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in infectious disease news. Learn how to isolate highly pure immune cells with a free, on-demand course. The Immunology Round Up Epigenetic Programming of T Cells – Researchers developed an all-RNA platform for efficient, durable and multiplexed epigenetic programming in primary human T cells. (3:57) Converting Conventional T Cells to Tregs – Using a combination of cytokines and pharmacological approaches, conventional effector T cells can be converted into functional and stable Tregs. (9:40) A Host–Pathogen Arms Race – E. coli uses the effector NleL to suppress epithelial extrusion, which aids in bacterial spread. (23:06) Lactation and Lowered Breast Cancer Risk – Parity induces an accumulation of CD8+ T cells in breast tissue, which reduced tumor growth and increased immune cell infiltration in a mouse model. (28:13) Image courtesy of Dr. Camila Coelho Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Professor Matteo Iannacone is Director of the Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, Professor of Pathology, and Head of the Dynamics of Immune Responses laboratory at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. His work centers on understanding the generation of dysfunctional adaptive immune cells in chronic hepatitis B virus infection and developing new strategies to reprogram them into functional cells endowed with potent antiviral activity. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in human immunology news Isolate highly purified immune cells from virtually any sample source with EasySep The Immunology Science Round Up The Cells That Keep Immunity in Check – Brenda reviews Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi’s seminal study demonstrating that a population of T cells expressing the IL-2 receptor α chain acts to maintain self-tolerance by suppressing other T cells. The Gene That Controls Immune Balance – Brenda reviews Dr. Mary Brunkow and Dr. Fred Ramsdell’s work identifying FOXP3 as the gene disrupted in a fatal lymphoproliferation syndrome in the “scurfy” mouse, pointing to FOXP3 as a master regulator of regulatory T cells. Zap70 and the Treg Cell Repertoire – Age-dependent Zap70 expression regulates negative selection and thymic Treg cell development. T Cell Exhaustion Driven by Protein Stress – Researchers show that proteotoxic stress, induced by protein aggregation, is not merely a consequence, but a driver of the exhausted T cell state. Image courtesy of Professor Matteo Iannacone. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Robin Orozco is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas, where her lab studies how specific allelic variants affect immune responses. She talks about what we can learn from mouse models and the role of PTPN22 in antiviral immunity. (36:48) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. EasySep 8-Minute Human Cell Isolation Kits The Immunology Round Up Skin Infections and Food Allergy – Scientists unraveled mechanisms by which S. aureus skin colonization can aggravate food allergy in atopic dermatitis. (3:10) Cytotoxic T Cell Dynamics – Nuclear polarization represents a key step during cytotoxic T cell-mediated killing. (11:55) CRISPR-Boosted CAR T Therapies – Researchers discovered, validated, and biologically characterized CRISPR-boosted CAR T cells that outperform standard CAR T cells. (18:36) CAR T Cells in Myeloma – New findings reveal differing effects of gene perturbation on CAR T cells and highlight a promising target to generate highly effective CAR T cells for multiple myeloma. (26:40) Image courtesy of Dr. Robin Orozco Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Harikesh Wong is an Assistant Professor at the Ragon Institute and MIT, where his lab studies the design principles of the immune system. He talks about how Tregs constrain conventional T cell responses during infection, and advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to study immune responses. (38:11) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Learn how to isolate highly pure immune cells and efficiently process human samples with a free, on-demand course on human immune cell isolation. The Immunology Science Round Up Immunometabolism in HIV – Immunometabolic defects in colon-resident CD8+ T cells in people with HIV lead to intestinal epithelial apoptosis and disruption of intestinal barrier integrity. (2:50) T Cell Dysfunction in Tumors – Mitochondria or telomeric reactive oxygen species induce DNA damage responses driving T cell dysfunction. (9:15) Microglia-Astrocyte Crosstalk – Microglia-derived Wnts drive astrocytes to reduce their association with synapses. (22:00) Monocyte-Derived Macrophages in Tumors – Researchers identified myeloid progenitor programs that fuel pro-tumorigenic monocyte-derived macrophages. (28:45) Image courtesy of Dr. Harikesh Wong Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Eric Vivier is a Professor of Immunology at Aix-Marseille Université and the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy. He is also an awardee of the European Research Council and a member of the French Society of Immunology. In this special episode recorded at the IUIS 2025 Congress in Vienna, Dr. Vivier highlights the critical importance of investing in science, explores the responsibility of governments and other organizations in funding research, and reflects on the role science plays in society. Featured Products and Resources: Register for an on-demand course on human immune cell isolation Download a free wallchart summarizing the development, phenotypes, and functions of regulatory T cells The Immunology Science Round Up Strengthening CAR NK Cell Therapies – Scientists have found that natural killer (NK) cells become better at killing cancer cells after removal of key gene targets. (3:00) Maternal Stress Triggers Infant Eczema – Offspring of stressed pregnant dams have dysregulated mast cells and skin-projecting neurons and quickly develop eczema in response to harmless mechanical friction. (8:55) Suppressing Necroptosis-Induced Colitis – Researchers show that XBP1 and caspase-8 synergize to prevent colon inflammation. (17:07) Reprograming T Cells through Cytokine Receptor Expansion – Scientists have leveraged synthetic cytokine receptor engineering to successfully rewire T cell fate decisions and amplify anti-cancer immunity. (24:25) Image courtesy of Eric Vivier Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In August 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria. We chat with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting. They discuss the most memorable research presented and their experiences in Austria. Featured Products and Resources: Prepare for your next conference. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Zwi Berneman is Emeritus Professor of Hematology at the University of Antwerp, and previously Head of the Division of Hematology at the Antwerp University Hospital. His basic and clinical research is focused on vaccination with immunogenic dendritic cells in cancer and with tolerogenic dendritic cells in multiple sclerosis. He talks about the history and development of dendritic cell vaccines and the work needed to make them more widely available to patients. Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback on the podcast. The STEMdiff Monocyte Kit generates millions of monocytes that are ready for downstream assays, or further development into macrophages or dendritic cells. Image courtesy of Dr. Zwi Berneman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the final of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on AI applications and CAR T therapy progress. Featured Products and Resources: ImmunoCult Mouse T Cell Activator Kit Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the fourth of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Jason and Brenda discuss sessions on cancer immunotherapy and neuroimmunology. Featured Products and Resources: Say goodbye to manual labor and hello to efficiency with RoboSep—your ultimate solution for automated cell isolation. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the third of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on CD4+ T cells in Hepatitis B infections and how amoebas make their way to the brain. They also cover research on the effects of antibiotics on immunotherapy, and what we can learn about allergies by comparing pet shop and lab mice. Featured Products and Resources: Improve your T cell therapy development with ImmunoCult-XF Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the second of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason cover research on Lynch syndrome, dendritic cells, and the epigenome of regulatory T cells. Featured Products and Resources: Simply and efficiently isolate untouched, viable human NK cells from PBMCs or leukapheresis samples with EasySep. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the first of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on colon cancer organoids and stable induced regulatory T cells. They also cover presentations from the IUIS Rising Star Awardees and Dr. Yasmine Belkaid’s talk on maternal physiology. Featured Products and Resources: With no columns, minimal steps, and high-purity results, EasySep is the easy choice for simplified cell isolation. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Daniel Goodman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where his lab researches high-throughput approaches to engineer the immune system. He talks about new technologies for immune cell engineering, and methods for screening and developing CAR T therapies. (47:30) Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback on the podcast and enter to win a Bluetooth speaker! Register now for IUIS 2025! The Immunology Science Round Up Respiratory Infections and Breast Cancer – A study in mice shows that respiratory viruses can cause the proliferation of dormant disseminated cancer cells. (5:00) Early-Life HIV Antibodies – AAV-vectored delivery of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies led to long-term protection in infant rhesus macaques. (11:55) Obesity and Immunity – Researchers compared the effects of high-fat diets derived from animal and plant fat sources on tumor growth in obese mice. (22:25) Lithium Deficiency in Alzheimer’s Disease – Scientists showed that endogenous lithium contributes to cognitive preservation during aging. (32:37) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tamara Tilburgs is an Assistant Professor in the University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics, where her research focuses on immune tolerance during pregnancy. She talks about the immune paradox in trophoblast cells and how placental inflammation can lead to pregnancy complications. She also discusses CD8+ T cell responses at the maternal-fetal interface. (43:03) Featured Products and Resources: Plan your transportation for the IUIS 2025 Congress in Vienna! EasySep 8-Minute Human Cell Isolation Kits The Immunology Round Up Non-Antibiotics and Enteropathogens – Non-antibiotic drugs from a wide range of therapeutic classes can alter the ability of gut commensals to resist invasion by enteropathogens. (1:38) Medications and the Gut Microbiome – An analysis of prescription medications shows that several non-antibiotic drugs, such as the heart medication digoxin, can increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections. (7:20) Sex Dimorphism in Immune Responses – Fine-tuning of type 2 immune responses may explain why females are more susceptible to allergies. (15:00) Transposable Elements in Tregs – Researchers identified DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression programs that govern the tissue adaptation of human skin Treg cells. (28:10) Image courtesy of Dr. Tamara Tilburgs Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Johnathan Canton is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, where his lab uses advanced microscopy techniques to study dendritic cells, macrophages, and innate immunity. He talks about his career journey from studying tropical parasites to investigating phagocytes. He also discusses using advanced microscopy techniques, studying the mechanisms of dendritic cell cross-presentation, and running a farm in Belize. (35:55) Featured Products and Resources: Check out the program for IUIS 2025! The STEMdiff Monocyte Kit generates millions of monocytes that are ready for downstream assays, or further development into macrophages or dendritic cells. The Immunology Round Up Armored CAR T Cells – A CRISPR knock-in strategy can engineer CAR T cells that secrete proinflammatory cytokines directly within a tumor without causing toxicity. (2:15) Immune Invasion in Lung Cancer – Organoid immune co-cultures enable identifying immune evasion at subclonal resolution. (7:55) Chromatin Remodeling in Chronic Inflammation – Researchers identified a mechanism that separates the chronic and acute inflammation responses. (19:00) Reversing CD8⁺ T Cell Dysfunction – Scientists identified IL-27 as a tractable immunotherapeutic target in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. (25:40) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mahima Swamy is a Program Leader at the University of Dundee, where her lab studies immune homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium. She talks about intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and the role of LRRK2 in Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Science Round Up Fungal Meningitis in Mammals – Researchers examined Cryptococcus neoformans phenotypes and identified factors that drive mammalian virulence. γδ T cell Receptor Activation – Using cryoelectron microscopy, researchers identified an MHC-independent antigen presentation mechanism distinct from αβ T cells. Fungal Pulmonary Fibrosis – The Dectin-1-Raf1 axis is a key regulator of pulmonary fibrosis and a promising therapeutic target for fibrotic diseases. Early-Life Fructose Exposure – High-fructose treatment of mouse and human microglia suppresses phagocytosis capacity. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Rizwan Romee is a Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, where his research focuses on genetically manipulating NK cells to enhance their anti-tumor function. He talks about advances and challenges in engineering NK cells for cancer therapy. He also discusses using E. coli to deliver immune-activating cytokines to tumors. (37:31) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Science Round Up The Y Chromosome in Cancer – Loss of the Y chromosome in tumor and T cells worsens survival. (5:00) Boosting CD8 T Cell Responses – Cytokine-adjuvanted mRNA-lipid nanoparticles can enhance immune response to vaccination. (11:40) Bacterial Antitumor Immunotherapy – Intratumoral Listeria monocytogenes can either enhance or inhibit tumor progression. (21:30) NK Cell Signaling – CAR activation and IL-15 signaling rapidly induce CREM upregulation in NK cells. (28:20) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Arthur Mortha is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on innate lymphoid cells and their interactions with microbes. He talks about ILCs and how the gut microbiome can affect respiratory disease. (37:44) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Round Up Serotonin and Antitumor Immunity – Serotonin transporter acts as an immune checkpoint restricting CD8 T cell antitumor immunity. (3:35) T Cells in the Brain – CD4 T cells reside in the brain at steady state and are concentrated in the subfornical organ. (8:40) Bat Antiviral Immunity – A new organoid platform reveals key features of bat epithelial antiviral immunity that may inform therapeutic strategies. (22:30) Acetylcholine in the Thymus – Cholinergic signaling regulates immune cell development through thymic negative selection. (27:00) Image courtesy of Dr. Arthur Mortha Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists, in Honolulu. We chat with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting. They discuss their reasons for attending, the most memorable research, and their experiences in Hawaiʻi. Featured Products and Resources: IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna! Prepare for your next conference. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

This special episode was recorded in front of a live audience at IMMUNOLOGY2025 in Honolulu. In this conversation, hosted by Dr. Nicole Quinn, Brenda and Jason share what they’ve learned from recording over 100 episodes of the Immunology Podcast. They talk about how the field has evolved during the past four years, the importance of making science and scientists accessible, and predictions for emerging areas of research. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a custom lab coat, personalized with your name! Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the final of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on lymphatic immunophysiology and how opioids drive immunosuppression in cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Download a free conference toolkit! Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, where we recorded daily episodes highlighting key developments from the previous 24 hours. This is the fourth of five special episodes from the meeting. In this episode, Brenda and Jason discuss how macrophages contribute to lung tissue repair and influence hormone activity, as well as the mechanisms linking MHC-II abnormalities to autoimmune disease pathogenesis. Featured Products and Resources: Register: On-Demand Human Immune Cell Isolation Course Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the third of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from sessions on mucosal immunology and the role of T cells in lactogenesis. They also talk about γδ CAR T cells and veterinary immunology — from sharks to elephants. Featured Products and Resources: Free mouse immune cell wallchart Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the second of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from sessions on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte and T-cell receptor therapies, unconventional functions of Tregs, and advances in single-cell RNA sequencing. Featured Products and Resources: Register: On-Demand Human T Cell Expansion Course Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In May 2025, we attended IMMUNOLOGY2025, the annual meeting of the American Association of Immunologists in Honolulu, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the previous 24 hours. Here is the first of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss highlights from talks including immune responses to bacterial infections, p53 reactivation for cancer therapy, and the mechanisms that lead to celiac disease. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Henrique Veiga-Fernandes is a Full Investigator and Group Leader at the Champalimaud Foundation. He talks about interactions between the nervous and immune systems and how ILC2s regulate blood glucose levels. (43:00) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. The Immunology Science Round Up Acetylcholine Receptor in Autoimmunity – Researchers used cryoelectron microscopy to determine the high-resolution structures of the human adult AChR in different functional states. (5:20) Skin Damage and Immune Responses – Acute and chronic inflammation in the skin of mice can initiate humoral immune responses to bystander antigens in the gut. (12:35) Gut Microbes and Th17 Cells – A. faecalis outer membrane vesicles promote intestinal Th17 cell generation. (23:15) Sex Differences in Pain Sensing – Depleting Tregs cells localized to the meninges of the central nervous system increased the responses of female, but not male, mice to mechanical pain stimuli. (32:00) Image courtesy of Dr. Henrique Veiga-Fernandes Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Monika Wolkers is a Group Leader at the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation and an Associate Professor at the University of Amsterdam. Her research focuses on RNA-binding proteins and how they affect T cell function. She talks about γδ T cells in immunotherapy, targeting pediatric tumors, and how a sabbatical led her to study RNA-binding proteins. (46:50) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. The Immunology Science Round Up Macrophages in Liver Regeneration – Glutamate supports liver regeneration by stabilizing HIF1α in bone-marrow-derived macrophages. (4:33) A High-Salt Diet and Depression – A high-salt diet induces depression-like behavior symptoms in mice. (15:30) A New Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic – The lasso peptide antibiotic lariocidin inhibits the bacterial ribosome. (29:10) Boosting Antigen Cross-Presentation with STING – Researchers developed a new vaccine technology that stimulates CD8+ T cells and shows promise in mouse models of cancer and SARS-CoV-2 infection. (36:45) Image courtesy of Dr. Monika Wolkers Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Stephen Jameson is the President of the American Association of Immunologists, and LMP Professor and Harry Kay Chairman’s Fund Professor in Experimental Pathology at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Dr. Bonnie Dittel is the Dr. Gilbert C. White II Endowed Faculty Chair at Versiti Blood Research Institute and Editor-in-Chief of ImmunoHorizons. In this episode, they talk about the upcoming IMMUNOLOGY2025 meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 3-7, 2025. They discuss the highlights of the program, including the President’s Symposium and special sessions for new members. (36:07) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. The Immunology Science Round Up H5N1 Antibody Responses – Older adults have partial immunity to H5N1 due to exposure to similar influenza strains earlier in life. (4:00) Macrophages in Kidney Disease – Macrophage RGMb promotes kidney disease by increasing macrophage infiltration. (8:50) Spatial Transcriptomics of Liver Cancer – A new spatial immune scoring system predicts the risk of recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma. (18:20) Neutrophils in the Skin – A population of neutrophils build extracellular matrix rings around wounds. (25:10) Image courtesy of Drs. Stephen Jameson and Bonnie Dittel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Peter Doherty is Laureate Professor at the University of Melbourne. He and Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel, the co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, discovered how T cells recognize their target antigens in combination with major histocompatibility complex proteins. Beyond this, Dr. Doherty has made significant contributions to studying viral immunity, with a strong focus on how the immune system responds to influenza and other respiratory viruses. In this episode, he talks about beginning his career as a veterinarian studying sheep and his seminal discoveries on the mechanisms of T cell antigen recognition. He also discusses his ventures into science communication. (38:08) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. The Immunology Science Round Up Microbes on the International Space Station – Researchers generated a 3D map of the microbes and metabolites on surfaces of the International Space Station. (3:40) T Cell Specificity During Infection – Self-peptide-specific Treg cells promote self-nonself discrimination during infection. (9:15) Skin Pathogens in Nursing Homes – Scientists investigated the genomic epidemiology of the multidrug-resistant Candida auris in a nursing home. (23:40) Metabolic Recycling – Phagocytosed bacteria can serve as an alternative nutrient source for macrophages. (29:14) Image courtesy of Dr. Peter Doherty Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Luke O’Neill is a Professor and Chair of Biochemistry at Trinity College Dublin, where his research group is focused on exploring the molecular basis of inflammation. His lab endeavors to provide a better understanding of the metabolic regulation of immune cell function and the innate immune system, with the aim of developing novel therapies to treat inflammatory diseases. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. The Immunology Science Round Up A Phage Counter-Defense – An orphan antitoxin counter-defense element has been discovered in phages that can overcome a bacterial toxin-antitoxin phage defense system. (5:40) Pathogenic Memory T Cells – Researchers uncover a pathogenic subset of CD8+ memory T-cells that promote tissue inflammation. (14:05) The Role of Macrophages in Graft-Versus-Host Disease – Scientists show that IL-34 reprograms macrophages to mitigate gastrointestinal complications in GVHD. (23:41) A New Treatment Path for Nerve Damage – Research suggests that macrophages may play a protective role in preventing neuropathy from developing. (30:19)   Image courtesy of Dr. Luke O’Neill Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Wilfried Ellmeier is a Co-Chair of the Scientific Planning Committee at the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) and Professor of Immunobiology and Head of the Institute of Immunology at the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Laurence Zitvogel is a Keynote Speaker at IUIS 2025 and a Professor and Group Leader at Gustave Roussy. Dr. Dan Littman is also a Keynote Speaker at IUIS 2025 and Professor of Cell Biology and Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Professor of Molecular Immunology at NYU Langone. This episode features a discussion on the upcoming IUIS 2025 Congress taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria. They talk about what to expect at the meeting, highlights from this year’s program, and where to explore in Vienna. (42:25) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IMMUNOLOGY2025, taking place May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii. IUIS 2025 is taking place August 17-22 in Vienna, Austria! The Immunology Science Round Up An African Microbiome Atlas – A cross-sectional gut microbiome study sampled 1,801 women from Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. (3:33) Understanding Transplant Rejection – Inducing tolerance to immunodominant indirect CD4+ T cells prolongs graft survival. (7:38) SARS-CoV-2 Evolution – A modeling approach predicts SARS-CoV-2 variant dynamics on the basis of immunity and cross-neutralization. (25:00) Tregs in the Meninges – Meningeal Tregs are a multifaceted safeguard of brain homeostasis at steady state. (31:01) Images courtesy of Drs. Wilfried Ellmeier, Laurence Zitvogel, and Dan Littman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Erica Saphire is President and CEO of La Jolla Institute. Her research explains, at the molecular level, how and viruses are pathogenic and provides the roadmap for medical defense. She talks about the capabilities of cryo-electron microscopy and how it can help illuminate the mechanisms of measles viral fusion. She also discusses her role leading La Jolla Institute. (36:45) Featured Products and Resources: IMMUNOLOGY2025 is happening May 3-7 in Honolulu, Hawaii! Submit your abstract for IUIS 2025 by February 11th! The Immunology Science Round Up ILC2s in Pancreatic Cancer – IL-33 induced tertiary lymphoid structures in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. (4:35) Precursors of Exhausted T Cells – Precursor T cells with at least two distinct phenotypes are preemptively generated regardless of infection outcome. (9:10) T Cells in Chronic Infections – A population of stem-like CD8+ T cells can adapt their differentiation trajectory to either an acute or chronic viral infection. (10:45) ILC2 Migration in the Gut – Researchers identified a role for immune cells in regulating blood glucose levels in mice. (29:13) Image courtesy of Dr. Erica Saphire Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe