Immune Cell Memory

Following genetically marked donor memory T cells infused into hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients, a team led by researchers at the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan, Italy, found that two types of less-differentiated memory T cells can persist for up to 14 years. The team’s results, published December 9 in Science Translational Medicine, demonstrate that the survival of these immune cells depends on the type of memory T cells initially introduced into patients, and whether these cells continue to encounter antigens over time.

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Long-Lived Immune Memories 

Source: TheScientist
Image credits: National Science Institute
 

Paper cut E. coli

Rogan Brown has created this awesomely intricate sculpture entitled "Cut Microbe". At 112cms in length, the sculpture is around 500,000 times larger than the E. coli bacteria it is based upon. The sculpture is a commission for the Eden Project in the U.K. and is part of an exhibition exploring the microbes that live in and on our bodies. We don't know about you but we didn't realize that bacteria would be so beautiful!

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This Beautiful Awesome Paper Microbe

Source: Awesome Inventions
Image credits: Rogan Brown

Implementing High Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays

High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays promise better diagnostic accuracy for acute myocardial infarction, allowing earlier and more effective treatment for patients. This is why it is essential that laboratory medicine professionals and clinicians understand the performance of these tests and how to use them. With this challenge in mind, an expert group of laboratorians, emergency medicine clinicians, and cardiologists worked for more than 2 years on hs-cTn education materials, following-up on a mini-review that tackled the question, how does an assay become designated high-sensitivity? This group, all members of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Task Force on Clinical Applications of Cardiac Bio-Markers, also collaborated with representatives from in vitro diagnostics companies who have expertise in hs-cTn troponin immunoassays.

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Implementing High Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Assays 

Source: AACC

Love and Laboratory Sciences

I  love lab and my laboratorian


Original image: http://picssr.com/photos/47888952@N02/page101

Source: Flickr
Image credits: Joe Bowler

Novel role of mitochondria identified in immune function

Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have discovered a new role for an enzyme involved in cell death. Their study shows how the enzyme, called RIPK3, relays signals between the cell’s mitochondria “powerhouses” and the immune system. The new study shows that this crosstalk is important not only for launching immune responses against tumors, but also for regulating the inflammatory responses that may result in autoimmune diseases.

“This finding could be helpful for developing strategies to target cancer and inflammatory diseases.”

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News Release

 Source: Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI)

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease that affects vulnerable populations such as rural subsistence farmers and urban slum dwellers. Although leptospirosis causes life-threatening clinical manifestations, such as pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome, and has a worldwide distribution, the key barrier to addressing this neglected disease has been insufficient data on its disease burden. A new paper examines published literature and grey literature studies on leptospirosis and using information collected on disease incidence and case fatality, estimated leptospirosis incidence and mortality at country, regional and global level.

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The Global Burden of Leptospirosis

Source: MicrobiologyBytes

Microbe art

This culture is made of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis bacteria for study of the antibacterial resistance dissemination among hospital pathogens.

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Agar art contest 2015

Source: ASM