Abemaciclib inhibits kinases involved in transcriptional regulation
—Abemaciclib is a widely used drug in the therapy of hormone-receptor positive (HR-positive) and human epidermal growth factor receptor negative (HER2-negative) advanced breast cancer. The drug functions as a direct inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (Cdk4/Cdk6). Both kinases are responsible for the deactivation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb) by phosphorylation. Until its deactivation, Rb prevents cell…
Cerebral dysfunctions caused by sepsis during aging
—Sepsis occurs when the body's own immune reactions against an infection inflicts damage to its own organs and tissues. Such systemic inflammation is a life-threatening condition and one of the most severe complications of infectious diseases. It may be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites.
Systemic inflammations caused by Sepsis may induce an acute cerebral dysfunction known as sepsis- associated encephalopathy (SAE). Recent data from intensive care units show, that half of all patients…
Development of retinal disease closely linked to intestinal flora
—Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of blindness and severe visual impairment at old age in Germany and throughout Europe. Prof. Zeinab Abdullah, member of the Cluster of Excellence and group leader at the Institute of Molecular Medicine & Experimental Immunology of the University Clinics Bonn and Prof. Robert Finger from the University Hospital Bonn are taking a closer look at immune mechanisms in AMD.
Prof. Tobias Bald awarded with the Lisec-Artz Prize
—Professor Bald heads the research group „Tumor Immunobiology” as part of the Cluster of Excellence „ImmunoSensation²“, and is a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Life and Health“, both at the University of Bonn. He is now awarded with the Lisec-Artz price for his contributions to better understand the interactions between cancer cells and immune cells. His research focus is set on the role of the T-cell activating receptor CD226.
—Already in 2020, Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation² Member Prof. Dr. Peter Krawitz and his team showed, how artificial Intelligence can help in the diagnosis of lymphomas and leukemias. The machine learning method developed by the scientists has since been further developed. It is made freely accessible and may be utilized also by smaller laboratories. The respective study has now been published in "Patterns".
Epigenetics: Immunization is passed on to offspring
—Does an infection affect the immunity of subsequent generations? Prof. Andeas Schlitzer, member of the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation² and the Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) at the University of Bonn, Prof. Dr. Mihai G. Netea from Radboud University (Netherlands), together with researchers from Saarland University, Lausanne (Switzerland) and Athens (Greece), have investigated this.
"Open doors" at the Institute of Structural Biology
—It all started with a curious orange mouse in the TV children’s program “Sendung mit der Maus”, explaining how toothpaste is produced, why leaves change color in fall and for which reason the sky is blue. Ten years ago, in 2011, the curiosity of children and parents to look behind doors that usually remain closed to the public resulted in a campaign of “open doors with the mouse”.
Patent-Prize awarded for programing of stem cells into Photoreceptors
—Prof. Volker Busskamp, Member of the Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation, is awarded with the Patent-Prize of the German Ophthalmological Society for his work on photoreceptors. The Biotechnologist and his team developed a technology, which allows the rapid programming of human stem cells to become photoreceptors. The resulting cells are used in retinal research and shall serve in clinical application to treat blindness in the near future.
—Microglial cells join together to better cope with threats
To break down toxic proteins more quickly, immune cells in the brain can join together to form networks when needed. This is shown by a joint study of the University of Bonn, the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Institut François Jacob in France. However, in certain mutations that can cause Parkinson's disease, this cooperation is impaired. The findings are published in the renowned journal Cell.
