The single-celled parasite Entamoeba histolytica usually causes nothing worse than diarrhea, but sometimes it triggers severe, even fatal disease by chewing ulcers in the colon, liquefying parts of the liver and invading the brain and lungs. In a new paper, UC Davis researchers lay out a plan for tackling it, using genetic tools to tease apart the function of its proteins and genes.

An MIT study in Cell Reports finds that an easily measurable brain wave shift of phase may be a universal marker of unconsciousness under general anesthesia

A Ludwig Cancer Research study has identified a key mechanism by which advanced ovarian cancers suppress anti-tumor immune responses and resist immunotherapies.

New research led by Irish scientists has uncovered how lipid-rich fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites, plays a central role in weakening the body’s immune response in advanced ovarian cancer. The findings offer new insights into immune suppression in ovarian cancer and open promising avenues for future immunotherapy approaches.

Over 70% of patients with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage, often presenting with large volumes of ascites. This ascites fluid not only supports the spread of cancer throughout the abdominal cavity but also significantly impairs the body’s immune defences. Understanding how ascites affects the immune system is important for developing better treatments that use the immune system to fight cancer. 

In this recent study, researchers from Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin explored how ascites disrupts immune cell function, with a particular focus on natural killer (NK) cells and T cells, which are key players in the body’s ability to eliminate tumours.