The Immunology Podcast

Guest: Dr. Anil Bhushan is a Professor at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and Co-Founder of Deciduous Therapeutics, an aging therapeutics company developing a novel class of immune-modulatory therapies. His lab focuses on understanding how the immune system senses and tunes its response to senescent cells in disease and aging, and was one of the first to show the role of clearing senescent cells in models of type 1 diabetes. Featured Products and Resources: Stay current with STEMCELL Science News Explore the STEMCELL Immunology Learning Center The Immunology Science Round Up Natural Resistance to SARS-CoV-2 – While some individuals express a prenylated version of the OAS1 gene that inhibits SARS-CoV-2, researchers found that others express a version that does not detect SARS-CoV-2. A New Target for Cancer Immunotherapy – Using in vivo CRISPR screens, scientists identified new immune targets regulating the tumor microenvironment, and revealed that knocking out the E3 ubiquitin ligase Cop1 in cancer cells enhances anti-tumor immunity. Cognate Recognition of Microbial Antigens – Researchers speculate that dominant proinflammatory T cell clones might provide a therapeutic target in human inflammatory bowel disease. Immune Escape in Colorectal Cancer – Using new models of colorectal cancer with defined neoantigens, scientists described a mechanism of early T cell dysfunction in immunotherapy refractory tumors and strategies to overcome it. Image courtesy of Dr. Anil Bhushan Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes.< Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Michael Burton is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas in Dallas. His lab studies the complex interactions between the immune and nervous systems that lead to pain, depression, and sickness. Featured Products and Resources: STEMCELL Technologies is hiring! Use EasySepTM to isolate highly purified immune cells in as little as 8 minutes. The Immunology Science Round Up Nanoparticle Vaccines for SARS-CoV-2 Variants – Researchers showed that a receptor-binding domain nanoparticle vaccine generated neutralizing antibodies against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and related animal coronaviruses. An Early Wave of Memory B Cells – Scientists studied the cell fate decisions that take place upon B cell activation. Combining Cancer Vaccines and T Cell Transfer – Combining a cancer vaccine with adoptive autologous T cell transfer led to improved immune responses in multiple myeloma patients. Preserving T Cell Stemness – An IL-2 partial agonist can promote CD8+ T cell expansion without driving differentiation. Image courtesy of Dr. Michael Burton Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Frances Lund is the Charles H. McCauley Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Her lab showed that B cells not only make antibodies, but also produce cytokines that modulate the microenvironment. She currently studies the many roles of B cells, how to target B cells gone bad, and nasal vaccines for respiratory illnesses. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in infectious disease research. Explore scientific resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Technologies immunology learning center. The Immunology Science Round Up A COVID-19 Vaccine Targeting CD40 – Researchers fused a CD40 monoclonal antibody to a SARS-CoV-2 protein, which stimulated dendritic cells and boosted the immune response of monkeys already exposed to the virus. A T Cell Cancer Vaccine – Scientists generated a therapeutic cancer vaccine by genetically modifying T cells to deliver antigens and adjuvant signals to lymphoid tissues. Dendritic Cells in Intestinal Immunity – Intestinal dendritic cells have local specializations that depend on the microenvironment. Stress and the Immune System – Psychological stress primes monocytes to an inflammatory state. Image courtesy of Dr. Frances Lund Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone is the CEO and President of Sonoma Biotherapeutics, a San Francisco and Seattle-based company leveraging the properties of regulatory T cells to create living cell therapies that restore the immune system back to its balanced, fully functioning state. He discusses the company’s research and mission to create therapies that are long-lasting, highly efficacious, and have the potential to slow or prevent autoimmune disease progression and prolong healthy life. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in cell therapy research. Explore tools and resources for your immunology research at ECI 2021 The Immunology Science Round Up Linking Neutrophil Death and Lupus – Researchers showed that neutrophils from either lupus-prone mice or patients with systemic lupus erythematosus undergo ferroptosis. Alterations in Red Blood Cells Contribute to Lupus – Scientists found that lupus may be triggered by a defective process in the development of red blood cells. TCF-1 Regulates Distinct Treg Cell Functions – Researchers discovered how the transcription factor TCF-1 in Tregs modulates polyps formation in colon cancer. mRNA Vaccines Produce Strong Immune Response – Scientists showed that mRNA vaccines that protect against COVID-19 produce a robust T cell response. Image by Steve Babuljak, courtesy of Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Christopher Klebanoff is a Principal Investigator and Attending Physician at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. His research focuses on cell-based cancer immunotherapies, T cell receptors, and the therapeutic targeting of shared cancer neoantigens. Using single-cell sequencing, biophysical measurements of T cell receptor affinity, genetic engineering, and structural immunobiology, the Klebanoff lab aims to adapt adoptive T cell transfer for advanced solid tumors. Featured Products and Resources: Human Immunology News CAR T Cell Wallchart The Immunology Science Round Up Dual Targeting of Tregs – A CTLA-4 antibody combined with a signal regulatory protein modulates both “eat me” and “do not eat me” signals to deplete regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment. A Cell-Free Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies – Researchers developed a multiplex assay to assess neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in convalescent plasma. T Cells and Oral Vaccines in Environmental Enteric Dysfunction – Scientists developed a mouse model for environmental enteric dysfunction and found impaired CD4+ T cell responses in the small intestine, which reduced oral vaccine efficacy. Vertical Transfer of Maternal Immune Cells – Maternal microchimeric cells promote fetal immune development and are linked to a lower number of respiratory infections in early life. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Christopher Klebanoff Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. James Crowe is the Director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center. Their group uses a very broad array of techniques including molecular and cellular biology, state-of-the-art imaging and flow cytometry, bioinformatics, and bioengineering approaches to attack the scientific problems that are of interest to them: major human pathogens. Featured Products and Resources: Immunology of Infectious Disease News Immunology Learning Center The Immunology Science Round Up COVID-19 Vaccine Effectiveness against the Delta Variant – The Pfizer and Astrazeneca vaccines are highly protective against the delta variant of COVID-19 after two doses. Immune Cell Mechanisms in Colitis – Researchers identified an inverse correlation between inflammatory bowel disease severity and Cox2 expression, uncovering an active immune pathway that may be targeted to reduce inflammation. T Cell Specificity in Melanoma – Scientists took an in-depth look at the relationship between T cell receptors and T cell phenotypes in patient-derived melanoma cell lines. Overcoming PD-1 Blockade Resistance in Lung Cancer – Researchers studied the transcriptional programs of neoantigen-specific tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in PD-1 treated lung cancers. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. James Crowe Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Marc Jenkins is a Regents and Distinguished McKnight University Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and the Director of the Center for Immunology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Jenkins discovered that CD4+ T cells require CD28 as well as TCR to produce IL-2. His lab investigates CD4+ T and B cell activation in vivo by directly tracking antigen-specific cells. Featured Products and Resources: STEMDiffTM Monocyte Kit CAR T Wallchart The Immunology Science Round Up A Pathway to Regulate T Follicular Helper Cells – Scientists identified a metabolic control pathway that regulates T follicular helper cells and humoral immunity. HIV Treatment and the Microbiome – Researchers found that in HIV patients treated with combined antiretroviral therapy, the composition of the microbiome fluctuates and affects the reconstitution of CD4 T cells. Blocking RSV Replication – A drug that hardens viral inclusion bodies inhibited respiratory syncytial virus replication in mice. COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Blood Clots – Adenoviral vector vaccines can induce platelet activation that can contribute to thrombosis by producing antibodies that bind to platelet factor 4. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Marc Jenkins Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Robyn Hall is a Research Scientist and Team Leader at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. She is a veterinary virologist whose research focuses on innovative and applied solutions for improving rabbit biocontrol using rabbit caliciviruses. Featured Products and Resources: Immunology of Infectious Disease News Cell Separation E-Book The Immunology Science Round Up Coordinating an Antimicrobial Response in Leprosy – In addition to immune cells, cell types such as fibroblasts and keratinocytes can produce antimicrobial molecules in leprosy granulomas. Modifying RNA Splicing to Enhance Immune Recognition – Scientists used drugs that modulate splicing to induce cancer cells to produce abnormal proteins, fostering recognition by immune cells. Remodeling the Lymphoid Landscape – Researchers characterized three distinct subsets of lymphoid stromal cells in tonsil tissue and studied their reprogramming in follicular lymphoma. A One-Two Punch of Immunotherapies – Researchers found that cancer patients who do not respond well to checkpoint inhibition may respond better to drugs that deplete T follicular regulatory cells prior to anti-PD1 therapy. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Robyn Hall Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Isaac Chiu is an Assistant Professor of Immunology at Harvard Medical School, studying the role of the nervous system in mediating inflammation and host defense. Dr. Tiphaine Voisin is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard Medical School, specializing in somato-sensation and neuro-immunology. They recently published a paper in PNAS on the role of the CysLT2R receptor in acute and chronic itch. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest dermal research with Dermal Cell News. Explore resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Immunology Learning Center. The Immunology Science Round Up Helper T Cell Subsets Defined by Site of Priming – Researchers showed that the site of T cell priming dictates effector phenotype and homing to remote organs. COVID-19 Linked to Inflammation of the Brain – Scientists found that COVID-19 can spark a severe immune response in the central nervous system, affecting immune cells in the vascular system and brain. From Microbes to Intestinal Innate Immunity – Microbe-derived acetate induces chromatin remodeling in intestinal cells, regulating host metabolism and innate immunity. A Robust Response against COVID-19 Variants – A new study shows that the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine protects against all of the SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Isaac Chiu and Tiphaine Voisin Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes.< Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Daniela Thommen is a Group Leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. Her lab is interested in understanding how human cancers immunologically respond to treatment, and how such responses relate to the immunological makeup of a tumor. Featured Products and Resources: Keep current with the latest in human immunology research. Explore immunology webinars, videos, and technical resources. The Immunology Science Round Up Immunity against COVID-19 Variants of Concern – T cell-mediated immunity against SARS-CoV-2 is not affected by the mutations in the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 variants. Atypical B Cells in Chronic Infectious Diseases – Researchers used single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze atypical B cells in malaria, HIV, and autoimmune diseases, and found similar transcriptional profiles. Immune Development in Mucosal Tissues – Scientists showed that embryonic macrophages prepare the colon for colonization by invariant natural killer T cells in the days after birth. A Vaccine for Trypanosomes – Researchers used a genome-led approach to identify a vaccine candidate for Trypanosoma vivax, a deadly parasite that can infect humans and livestock. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Daniela Thommen Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Judy Lieberman is a Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and holds an Endowed Chair in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Caroline Junqueira is an Investigator at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation and a visiting scientist at Harvard Medical School. Their recent research focuses on the role of γδ T cells in malaria. Featured Products and Resources: Explore scientific resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Technologies immunology learning center. Download the cell separation e-book, a practical guide on everything you need to know about cell isolation techniques. The Immunology Science Round Up How Viruses Cause Pyroptosis – Bcl-2 members MCL-1 and BCL-xL sense translation inhibition during viral infection, leading to Gasdermin E-dependent pyroptosis. Aging the Immune System – Researchers selectively deleted Ercc1, which encodes a crucial DNA repair protein, to increase senescence in the immune systems of mice, leading to systemic aging. Thymic Development of Microbiota-Specific T Cells – Scientists showed that intestinal colonization in early life leads to the trafficking of microbial antigens from the intestine to the thymus by intestinal dendritic cells, which then induce the expansion of microbiota-specific T cells. Antibody-Dependent Inflammation in COVID-19 – Researchers found that in patients with severe COVID-19, high titers and low fucosylation of anti-spike IgG leads to excessive inflammatory responses by alveolar macrophages. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Judy Lieberman and Caroline Junqueira Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes.< Subscribe

Guests: Dr. Carl June is the Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania, Director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at the Perelman School of Medicine, and Director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy. Dr. Philipp Rommel is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the June lab. Together, they are interested in lymphocyte biology, with a major translational focus on ex vivo T cell engineering for cancer and HIV cell-based therapies. Featured Products and Resources: Free Wallchart: Production of CAR T Cells Isolate Cells in as Little as 8 Minutes with EasySepTM. The Immunology Science Round Up Pooled CRISPR Screening Identifies m6A RNA as a Regulator of Macrophage Activation – Scientists identified METTL3-mediated m6A modification in innate immune responses suggesting the m6A machinery could be a target for immunotherapy. Natural Killer Receptors Fine-Tune T Cells – Researchers identified a role for natural killer cell receptor signaling in regulating self/non-self discrimination by HLA-E–restricted T cells. Notch4 Signaling in Viral Infections – Notch4 expression on Treg cells suppressed the induction of amphiregulin and promoted severe lung inflammation in viral infections. Synthetic Notch CAR T Cells Targeting Solid Tumors in Mice – Scientists developed synthetic Notch CAR T cells targeting solid tumor antigens and used them to treat mouse models of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and glioblastoma. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Carl June and Philipp Rommel Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Bernardo Franklin is a Professor at the University of Bonn. His lab studies the role of innate immunity in sterile inflammation and in infectious diseases. More recently, their research has focused on blood platelets and their effects on innate immunity, systemic inflammation and cancer. Featured Products and Resources: Isolate Cells in as Little as 8 Minutes with EasySepTM. Free E-Book: Everything You Need to Know about Cell Isolation The Immunology Science Round Up T Cell Mediated Cross-Reactivity between Seasonal Coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2 – Researchers found that CD8+ T cells specific for an immunodominant SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid epitope cross-react with selective seasonal coronaviruses. COVID-19 Recovered Individuals May Only Require a Single mRNA Vaccine Dose – In individuals who have already recovered from COVID-19, a single mRNA vaccine dose was sufficient to achieve peak antibody and memory B cell responses. Forcing Cancer Out of “Stealth Mode” – DNA methyl transferase inhibitors alter the surface proteome and mediate cytoskeletal reorganization, priming γδ T cells to kill lung cancer cells. Maternal Treg Cells Can Reverse Behavioral Abnormalities in Adult Mouse Offspring – Behavioral abnormalities caused by maternal immune activation could be rescued by transferring pathogen-activated maternal Treg cells. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Bernardo Franklin Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guests: Drs. Mindy, Amy, and Kristen Engevik are sisters and immunologists. Dr. Mindy Engevik is an Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her lab studies microbial-host crosstalk with an emphasis on microbe-mucus interactions. Dr. Amy Engevik is also an Assistant Professor at the Medical University of South Carolina. Her lab focuses on the role of Myosin Vb in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders and liver cholestasis. Dr. Kristen Engevik is a postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine. Her research aims to elucidate the molecular consequences of purinergic signaling in gastrointestinal physiology and rotavirus pathophysiology, with the ultimate goal of providing further insight to improve vaccines against rotavirus. Featured Products and Resources: Download the free cell separation e-book, a practical guide on everything you need to know about cell isolation techniques. Explore scientific resources for your immunology research at the STEMCELL Technologies Immunology Learning Center. The Immunology Science Round Up Chronic Immune Response in Severe COVID-19 Does Not Target SARS-CoV-2 – Researchers found that in patients with severe COVID-19, TGF-β is a key regulator of the chronic immune response, and in prolonged cases, this response is no longer directed at SARS-CoV-2. Regulatory T Cells in Tumors and Tissues – Scientists performed single-cell chromatin accessibility profiling of tissue-resident and circulatory regulatory T (Treg) cells, and showed that several surface proteins that were thought to be tumor-specific were also expressed in Treg cells in normal tissue. Mapping the Immune Landscape in Glioblastomas – Researchers used single-cell profiling to study the glioblastoma immune landscape and found that microglia-derived tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) dominated in newly diagnosed tumors, but were outnumbered by monocyte-derived TAMs following recurrence. T Cells Persist in Melanoma Patients Who Respond Well to Immunotherapy – In metastatic melanoma survivors with exceptional responses to immunotherapy, scientists found T cell clonotypes from tumors in skin and blood up to nine years later. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Drs. Mindy, Amy, and Kristen Engevik Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Filipe Pereira is an Associate Professor at the Lund Stem Cell Center at Lund University. The Pereira lab studies how hematopoietic cell fate is specified, maintained, and eventually modified or reversed. Inspired by the fields of stem cell biology, immunology, and cancer, they use an interdisciplinary approach to mechanistically understand hematopoietic and immune cell identities and translate their findings into novel gene and cell therapies. Featured Products and Resources: Generate Millions of Monocytes from hPSCs with the STEMdiff Monocyte Kit Differentiate Monocytes into Dendritic Cells with the ImmunoCult Dendritic Cell Culture Kit The Immunology Science Round Up Resident T Cells Stay at Home – Researchers examined how immunity is integrated within adult mouse tissues and observed durable maintenance of resident memory T cells up to 450 days after infection. Bacteria-Derived Peptides Found inside Tumors – Scientists identified a peptide repertoire derived from intracellular bacteria that was presented on HLA-I and HLA-II molecules in melanoma tumors. Gamma Delta T Cells Link Immunity to Nutrition – Researchers analyzed mice fed a high-carbohydrate versus a high-protein diet and observed remodeling of the small intestinal epithelium in response to dietary carbohydrates. Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) Activate Innate Immune Sensor cGAS – In mice, NETs stimulated interferon production in a cGAS-dependent manner, suggesting that cGAS acts as a sensor of NETs to stimulate immune responses during infection. Photo Reference: Courtesy of Dr. Filipe Pereira Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In March of 2021, the Immunology Podcast will be launching with the goal of creating an accessible, entertaining, and educational resource for scientists to keep current on the latest developments in immunology research. The hosts, Drs. Brenda Raud and Jason Goldsmith, will cover the latest scientific advances and interview key immunology influencers about their work and perspectives on the field. The Immunology Podcast is owned and produced by STEMCELL Technologies, a global biotechnology company based out of Vancouver, Canada. STEMCELL provides the podcast under their Science Communication Program, alongside several other services to keep scientists current and connected with their fields. This includes the Stem Cell Podcast, which covers groundbreaking research in the field of stem cell biology, and has amassed a global following, with more than 600,000 downloads to date. STEMCELL Technologies supports life sciences research with more than 2,500 specialized cell culture media, cell separation tools, instruments, accessory products and educational services that are used by scientists performing immunology, stem cell, cancer, regenerative medicine, and cellular therapy research globally. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe