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The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
Groundbreaking single-dose vaccine found effective in preventing HIV
Scientists have developed a vaccine which provides a strong immune response against HIV in mice, an advance that could lead to potent single-dose vaccines for a range of infectious diseases. The vaccine candidate, when delivered along with two powerful adjuvants that stimulate the immune system, could produce a wide diversity of antibodies against the HIV virus, according to a new study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US found that the vaccine accumulated in the lymph nodes and remained there for up to a month, allowing mice to build up a much greater number of antibodies against the HIV protein. This strategy may lead to new vaccines that only need to be taken once for a range of infectious diseases, including HIV or Sars-CoV-2, scientists say. 'This approach is compatible with many protein-based vaccines, so it offers the opportunity to engineer new formulations for these types of vaccines across a wide range of different diseases, such as influenza, Sars-CoV-2, or other pandemic outbreaks,' said Christopher Love, a co-author of the study from MIT. Adjuvants are commonly given along with vaccines to help stimulate a stronger immune response against proteins present on pathogens. For instance, protein-based vaccines like those for hepatitis A and B are delivered along with the adjuvant aluminium hydroxide, also known as alum, which helps the body form a stronger memory of the infectious agent. Scientists previously developed another adjuvant called saponin derived from the bark of the Chilean soapbark tree. Researchers have shown that a tiny nanoparticle formulation of saponin, along with an inflammation-promoting molecule called MPLA, can be used as an adjuvant for an HIV vaccine under trial. An alum and SMNP combination used as an adjuvant for the vaccine could generate even more powerful immune responses against HIV or SARS-CoV-2, scientists say. Scientists suspect this combination boosts the immune response, specifically via the body's B cells, which produce antibodies. They found that such a vaccine combination accumulated in the mice lymph nodes, causing their B cells to undergo rapid mutations to generate a mix of antibodies against HIV. Researchers showed that the SMNP and alum combination helped an HIV protein penetrate through a protective layer of cells around the lymph nodes without being broken down. 'As a result, the B cells that are cycling in the lymph nodes are constantly being exposed to the antigen over that time period, and they get the chance to refine their solution to the antigen,' Dr Love explained. Scientists liken this process to what occurs during a natural infection, when antigens can remain in the lymph nodes for weeks, giving the body time to mount an immune response. 'What's potentially powerful about this approach is that you can achieve long-term exposures based on a combination of adjuvants that are already reasonably well-understood, so it doesn't require a different technology,' Dr Love said. 'It's just combining features of these adjuvants to enable low-dose or potentially even single-dose treatments,' he said.
Cision Canada
3 days ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
San Raffaele Hospital: World's First Case Study Demonstrates the Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Neurostimulation in a Paraplegic Patient with Severe Conus Medullaris Injury
The study, published in Med by Cell Press and authored by physicians and researchers from the MINE Lab, documents the recovery of walking ability through epidural electrical stimulation in a paraplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the T11–T12 level. These types of injuries account for over 50% of all spinal cord lesions. MILAN, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- A clinical case published in Med – Cell Press by the multidisciplinary team of the MINE Lab – including doctors, physiotherapists, and researchers from San Raffaele Hospital and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, in collaboration with bioengineers from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa led by Professor Silvestro Micera – describes the remarkable recovery of a 33-year-old man with a traumatic spinal cord injury at the T11–T12 level that extended into the conus medullaris. The injury caused severe motor impairment due to damage to both the central and peripheral nervous systems. After surgically implanting an epidural spinal cord neurostimulator, the team applied specific stimulation and rehabilitation protocols, significantly improving the patient's muscle strength, mobility, and motor control. This research builds on a path that began with the first implantation of a spinal cord neurostimulator in 2023, carried out by the neurosurgical team at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele led by Professor Pietro Mortini, Head of Neurosurgery at the hospital and Full Professor of Neurosurgery at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. The path continued with the publication, in Science Translational Medicine in 2025, of the first results from two implanted patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of the innovative epidural electrical stimulation (EES) protocol for treating spinal cord injuries. "With this case study, we have shown for the first time the effectiveness of epidural electrical stimulation (EES) combined with rehabilitation in restoring lower limb motor functions in a paraplegic patient with a severe conus medullaris injury—the terminal portion of the spinal cord —enabling him to stand and walk short distances," explained Dr. Luigi Albano, neurosurgeon and researcher at San Raffaele Hospital and first author of the study. "Beyond motor recovery, the stimulation also led to clinically significant improvements in neuropathic pain and the patient's overall quality of life." "The results of this study," added Professor Pietro Mortini, "offer new hope to patients with severe spinal cord injuries who have experienced long periods of immobility, making previously unimaginable recovery possible through the integration of advanced neuromodulation and personalized rehabilitation." About Conus Medullaris Injuries The conus medullaris is the terminal segment of the spinal cord, typically located between the first and second lumbar vertebrae (L1–L2). In this region, the central and peripheral nervous systems functionally merge, meaning injuries can impair lower limb motor and sensory functions as well as autonomic control of vital functions like urination, defecation, and sexual activity. Conus medullaris injuries often result from car accidents, falls, or violent trauma and account for more than 50% of spinal injuries involving the spinal cord-root junction. The Case Study The subject of the study is a 33-year-old man who suffered a severe spinal cord injury at the lower thoracic level (T11–T12) four years ago, resulting in paralysis of the lower limbs. Although classified as "incomplete" (ASIA Grade C), the injury severely affected his mobility. Despite two intensive rehabilitation programs following the trauma, the patient remained unable to stand or walk. Tests also showed damage to the nerve roots connecting the spinal cord to the leg muscles (L4–S1), indicating involvement of both the central and peripheral nervous systems—making this a particularly challenging case to treat, as conventional therapies rarely succeed when neural circuits are impaired at multiple levels. To provide a new opportunity, the patient was enrolled in the Neuro-SCS-001 clinical trial, which evaluates the effects of epidural electrical stimulation combined with a personalized rehabilitation program. "We implanted a spinal stimulation system with 32 electrodes between T11 and L1," explained Professor Pietro Mortini. "Once activated, the stimulation re-engaged residual neural circuits, particularly those controlling trunk muscles and hip flexors—key for regaining posture and walking ability. After an initial calibration phase, the patient underwent an innovative rehabilitation program integrating virtual reality exercises using sensory and motor feedback." SOURCE IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele; UniSR
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
San Raffaele Hospital: World's First Case Study Demonstrates the Effectiveness of Spinal Cord Neurostimulation in a Paraplegic Patient with Severe Conus Medullaris Injury
The study, published in Med by Cell Press and authored by physicians and researchers from the MINE Lab, documents the recovery of walking ability through epidural electrical stimulation in a paraplegic patient with a spinal cord injury at the T11–T12 level. These types of injuries account for over 50% of all spinal cord lesions. MILAN, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- A clinical case published in Med – Cell Press by the multidisciplinary team of the MINE Lab – including doctors, physiotherapists, and researchers from San Raffaele Hospital and Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, in collaboration with bioengineers from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa led by Professor Silvestro Micera – describes the remarkable recovery of a 33-year-old man with a traumatic spinal cord injury at the T11–T12 level that extended into the conus medullaris. The injury caused severe motor impairment due to damage to both the central and peripheral nervous systems. After surgically implanting an epidural spinal cord neurostimulator, the team applied specific stimulation and rehabilitation protocols, significantly improving the patient's muscle strength, mobility, and motor control. This research builds on a path that began with the first implantation of a spinal cord neurostimulator in 2023, carried out by the neurosurgical team at IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele led by Professor Pietro Mortini, Head of Neurosurgery at the hospital and Full Professor of Neurosurgery at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. The path continued with the publication, in Science Translational Medicine in 2025, of the first results from two implanted patients, demonstrating the effectiveness of the innovative epidural electrical stimulation (EES) protocol for treating spinal cord injuries. "With this case study, we have shown for the first time the effectiveness of epidural electrical stimulation (EES) combined with rehabilitation in restoring lower limb motor functions in a paraplegic patient with a severe conus medullaris injury—the terminal portion of the spinal cord—enabling him to stand and walk short distances," explained Dr. Luigi Albano, neurosurgeon and researcher at San Raffaele Hospital and first author of the study. "Beyond motor recovery, the stimulation also led to clinically significant improvements in neuropathic pain and the patient's overall quality of life." "The results of this study," added Professor Pietro Mortini, "offer new hope to patients with severe spinal cord injuries who have experienced long periods of immobility, making previously unimaginable recovery possible through the integration of advanced neuromodulation and personalized rehabilitation." About Conus Medullaris Injuries The conus medullaris is the terminal segment of the spinal cord, typically located between the first and second lumbar vertebrae (L1–L2). In this region, the central and peripheral nervous systems functionally merge, meaning injuries can impair lower limb motor and sensory functions as well as autonomic control of vital functions like urination, defecation, and sexual activity. Conus medullaris injuries often result from car accidents, falls, or violent trauma and account for more than 50% of spinal injuries involving the spinal cord-root junction. The Case Study The subject of the study is a 33-year-old man who suffered a severe spinal cord injury at the lower thoracic level (T11–T12) four years ago, resulting in paralysis of the lower limbs. Although classified as "incomplete" (ASIA Grade C), the injury severely affected his mobility. Despite two intensive rehabilitation programs following the trauma, the patient remained unable to stand or walk. Tests also showed damage to the nerve roots connecting the spinal cord to the leg muscles (L4–S1), indicating involvement of both the central and peripheral nervous systems—making this a particularly challenging case to treat, as conventional therapies rarely succeed when neural circuits are impaired at multiple levels. To provide a new opportunity, the patient was enrolled in the Neuro-SCS-001 clinical trial, which evaluates the effects of epidural electrical stimulation combined with a personalized rehabilitation program. "We implanted a spinal stimulation system with 32 electrodes between T11 and L1," explained Professor Pietro Mortini. "Once activated, the stimulation re-engaged residual neural circuits, particularly those controlling trunk muscles and hip flexors—key for regaining posture and walking ability. After an initial calibration phase, the patient underwent an innovative rehabilitation program integrating virtual reality exercises using sensory and motor feedback." Photo - - Patient Information Email: iocammino@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele; UniSR View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
03-06-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Gene Therapy For Inherited Disease In The Unborn Child
Until recently, even the most advanced gene therapies could only be given after a child was ... More born—often racing against time to prevent irreversible damage. In the first part of this series, we explored how early genetic screening and gene therapy transform the lives of newborns and their families. Now, we're taking an even earlier step: treating inherited diseases in the womb before birth. Until recently, even the most advanced gene therapies could only be given after a child was born—often racing against time to prevent irreversible damage. But what if we could intervene even earlier? That's the question now being answered, with some astonishing results. A recent study published in Science Translational Medicine showed that delivering a special kind of genetic therapy directly to the fetus could prevent the onset of spinal muscular atrophy in animal models. Treating the condition before birth may be possible to preserve healthy motor function and prevent the nerve damage that usually begins in the womb. This is the first time we see molecular therapies targeting the root cause of inherited disease before birth. Another special investigational case, the first in humans, found that providing the mother with gene therapy while pregnant and continuing treatment after birth also prevented the devastating muscle weakness that usually comes with the disease. This is a true leap forward: instead of managing symptoms; we may soon be able to stop some inherited diseases before they ever begin. The journey starts with advanced prenatal genetic screening. Genetic changes in the developing fetus can be found using a simple blood sample from the mother. When a risk is found, therapy is delivered directly to the fetus, often by injecting medicine into the amniotic fluid. In the case of spinal muscular atrophy, this approach in animal models led to healthier development and longer survival. These findings suggest that intervening before birth can prevent or significantly reduce the neurological damage that begins in the womb and progresses rapidly after birth. While most of this research has been in animals, the first human steps have already begun. In February 2025, the University of California, San Francisco, reported the world's first attempt to treat a genetic disease in a human fetus using a medication called risdiplam. After learning that her unborn child was at risk, a mother began taking the medication late in pregnancy. The baby was born healthy and—now more than two years old—shows no signs of the disease, though some developmental challenges remain. Another important step was taken in a clinical trial at UCSF, where doctors successfully treated a fetus with a different rare disease using enzyme replacement therapy, showing that the technology for delivering medicine to the unborn is already here. Many inherited diseases cause the most significant harm before a baby is even born. By intervening early, we have the chance to save lives and give children the best possible start—preserving their ability to move, think, and grow. This isn't just a medical advance. It's a new way of thinking about what's possible for families facing genetic disease. Of course, there are still challenges ahead. Many are working to ensure these therapies are safe, effective, and accessible to all who need them. Ethical questions about when and how to use these powerful tools will also need careful thought. The first human applications of gene therapy before birth are expected within the next decade, pending rigorous safety and ethical evaluations. This new era also brings new questions. If we correct a genetic error in a child before birth, will that change be passed on to future generations? For now, most therapies target the body's somatic cells, not the germline, so the changes are not inherited. However, the line between somatic and germline interventions may blur as technology evolves, raising complex ethical considerations. The first human trials of in-utero gene therapy are just beginning, and more research is needed. But the direction is clear: as technology advances, we are moving from treating inherited diseases after birth to preventing them at the start of life. As I have often said, the future of medicine is being rewritten, one gene at a time. This latest breakthrough brings us one step closer to a world where prevention, rather than treatment, becomes the standard for genetic disease, where every child can live their healthiest life from the very start. As discussed in my book, the hope is that every child will soon have the chance to live their healthiest life from the beginning.
India Today
27-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Why some Covid-19 cases turn severe while others don't
A recent study suggests that the virus behind Covid-19 has the potential to turn important immune cells into ones that weaken the body's ability to fight the finding out what makes some people develop severe Covid-19, researchers from Johns Hopkins University have found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may alter neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cells, in a way that weakens the immune study, funded by the US National Institutes of Health and published in Science Translational Medicine, reveals that neutrophils in Covid-19 patients may lose their ability to fight infections. Instead, these cells begin suppressing other immune cells, particularly T cells, which are essential for clearing viruses from the body.'In some Covid infections, the virus appears to reprogram neutrophils into a different type of cell that suppresses T cells. This may help explain why some people develop severe illness,' said Dr Andrea Cox, senior author of the altered cells are known as PMN-MDSCs (polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells), which have been seen in cancer and other non-viral diseases but not commonly in viral infections like researchers analysed blood samples from 39 hospitalised Covid-19 patients and compared them with samples from nine healthy individuals. None of the patients had received Covid vaccines or immunosuppressant drugs like dexamethasone. advertisementIn those with severe Covid-19, the team found that neutrophils had changed form, they had 'degranulated,' releasing their contents and morphing into PMN-MDSCs. These reprogrammed cells expressed two proteins, LOX-1 and PD-L1, known to suppress T cell the researchers exposed healthy neutrophils to the virus in the lab, they observed the same transformation: the cells began suppressing T cells, stopping them from multiplying and releasing cytokines, signalling proteins that activate other immune when the same experiment was done using the H1N1 influenza virus, the neutrophils did not convert into suppressor cells, indicating a unique feature of may already be a treatment that could counter this effect. The researchers added PD-L1-blocking antibodies, a type of drug used in cancer therapy, to neutrophils exposed to SARS-CoV-2. The result: T cells were less suppressed and became more active."This suggests that combining PD-L1 antibodies with antiviral drugs, or even using them alone when antivirals aren't possible, might help patients with severe Covid,' Cox CDC defines severe Covid-19 as illness that results in hospitalisation, ICU admission, or study offers a deeper understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 might hijack the immune system and lead to severe illness and opens new doors for treatments that could help the body fight back more Watch
