Infection history imprints prolonged changes to the epigenome, transcriptome and function of Kupffer cells.

Background & Aims: Liver macrophages fulfill various homeostatic functions and represent an essential line of defense against pathogenic insults. However, it remains unclear whether a history of infectious disease in the liver leads to long-term alterations to the liver macrophage compartment.

Methods: We utilized a curable model of parasitic infection invoked by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei brucei to investigate whether infection history can durably reshape hepatic macrophage identity and function.

Q586B2 is a crucial virulence factor during the early stages of Trypanosoma brucei infection that is conserved amongst trypanosomatids.

Human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei, is characterized by the manipulation of the host's immune response to ensure parasite invasion and persistence. Uncovering key molecules that support parasite establishment is a prerequisite to interfere with this process. We identified Q586B2 as a T.

Lipocalin-2: A Nurturer of Tumor Progression and a Novel Candidate for Targeted Cancer Therapy.

Within the tumor microenvironment (TME) exists a complex signaling network between cancer cells and stromal cells, which determines the fate of tumor progression. Hence, interfering with this signaling network forms the basis for cancer therapy. Yet, many types of cancer, in particular, solid tumors, are refractory to the currently used treatments, so there is an urgent need for novel molecular targets that could improve current anti-cancer therapeutic strategies.

A few good reasons to use nanobodies for cancer treatment.

mAbs have been instrumental for targeted cancer therapies. However, their relatively large size and physicochemical properties result in a heterogenous distribution in the tumor microenvironment, usually restricted to the first cell layers surrounding blood vessels, and a limited ability to penetrate the brain. Nanobodies are tenfold smaller, resulting in a deeper tumor penetration and the ability to reach cells in poorly perfused tumor areas.