The intranasal adjuvant Endocine™ enhances both systemic and mucosal immune responses in aged mice immunized with influenza antigen.

Despite availability of annual influenza vaccines, influenza causes significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly. This is at least in part a result of immunosenescence; the age-dependent decrease in immunological competence that results in greater susceptibility to infections and reduced responses to vaccination. To improve protective immune responses in this age group, new vaccines strategies, such as the use of adjuvants, are needed.

Cinobufagin Modulates Human Innate Immune Responses and Triggers Antibacterial Activity.

The traditional Chinese medicine Chan-Su is widely used for treatment of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but also as a remedy for infections such as furunculosis, tonsillitis and acute pharyngitis. The clinical use of Chan-Su suggests that it has anti-infective effects, however, the mechanism of action is incompletely understood. In particular, the effect on the human immune system is poorly defined.

Immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D on innate and adaptive immune responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae forms part of the normal nasopharyngeal flora but can also cause a broad spectrum of inflammatory diseases. Vitamin D has potent effects on human immunity, including induction of antimicrobial peptides and suppression of T-cell proliferation, but its ability to modulate the immune response to pneumococci is unknown.

Methods: Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were stimulated with pneumococcal peptidoglycan (PGN) in the presence or absence of vitamin D.

Impaired release of antimicrobial peptides into nasal fluid of hyper-IgE and CVID patients.

Background: Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) often suffer from frequent respiratory tract infections. Despite standard treatment with IgG-substitution and antibiotics many patients do not improve significantly. Therefore, we hypothesized that additional immune deficits may be present among these patients.

Human monocytes promote Th1 and Th17 responses to Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis in children. Human immunity to pneumococcal infections has been assumed to depend on anticapsular antibodies. However, recent findings from murine models suggest that alternative mechanisms, dependent on T helper cells, are also involved.