How targeting killer T cells in the lungs could lead to immunity against respiratory viruses
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A significant site of damage during COVID-19 infection is the lungs. When we are first exposed to bacteria or viruses, such as influenza, one type of our immune cells, known as killer T cells, destroy infected cells and recognize previous invaders. A team of researchers led by Salk Professor
Susan Kaech
has discovered that these specialized immune cells can be activated in the lungs to attack pathogens more easily than previously thought. The insight, published in the
Journal of Experimental Medicine
, could aid in the development of universal vaccines for influenza and the novel coronavirus.
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Salk scientists uncover how cells remember their identity, avoiding errors that could cause cancer
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Cancer is often the result of DNA mutations or problems with how cells divide, which can lead to cells “forgetting” what type of cell they are or how to function properly. Professor
Martin Hetzer
and a team of scientists uncovered details into how new cells remember their identity after cell division. These memory mechanisms, published in
Genes & Development
, could give insight into problems that occur when cells lose their identities, such as in cancer.
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Mouse brain cortex development yields insight into the human cortex
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Emeritus Professor
Charles Stevens
and coauthors counted the developing brain cells in the mouse cortex over time, to understand the rules by which precursor cells lead to neurons. In humans, the cortex is the brain area responsible for higher thinking. The work, which was published in the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
, could help explain why, relative to body size, the human brain is the largest among animals.
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Salk researchers accelerate, expand COVID-19 research
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As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the globe, the Salk Institute joins in efforts to understand the fundamental science behind the novel coronavirus to pave the way to treatments and cures. COVID-19 exploits a vulnerability in the immune system’s armor: because the SARS-CoV-2 virus—the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19—appeared in humans recently, our immune systems have no experience with the virus and sometimes have difficulty fighting it. Salk faculty are tackling COVID-19 research from a number of innovative angles.
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Salk’s Office of Equity & Inclusion Announces New Initiatives to Promote Diversity, Equality
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The Institute stands with BIPoC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) at Salk and everywhere, not only in the spirit of solidarity, but also with actions that will continue to contribute to the betterment of humanity and lead to meaningful change. Salk’s leadership and the Institute’s Office of Equity and Inclusion have been working on several initiatives to this end.
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Fred H. Gage Receives the ISSCR Achievement Award
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Salk President
Rusty Gage
received the inaugural Achievement Award from the International Society of Stem Cell Research (ISCCR) at the organization's June 27 meeting. The honor “recognizes the transformative body of work of an investigator that has had a major impact on the field of stem cell research or regenerative medicine.”
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Jeffrey Reina Garciasalas awarded Pew Fellowship
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Jeffrey Reina Garciasalaas, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of
Tony Hunter
, has been named a 2020 Pew Latin American Fellow in the Biomedical Sciences.
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Nikki Lytle awarded Hope Funds Fellowship
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Nikki Lytle, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of
Geoffrey Wahl
, has been named a Hope Funds for Cancer Research 2020 Postdoctoral Fellow.
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Matthew Maxwell awarded HHMI Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study
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Matthew Maxwell, a graduate student in the lab of
Diana Hargreaves
, has been awarded an HHMI Gilliam Fellowship.
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Maribel Patiño named Neuroscience Scholars Program Fellow
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Maribel Patiño, a graduate student in the lab of
Edward Callaway
, has been named a Fellow of the
Society for Neuroscience's
Neuroscience Scholars Program.
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Season 2: Where Cures Begin podcast now live
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Season 2 of
Where Cures Begin
launched May 13, highlighting cutting-edge science and the researchers making it all possible.
New episodes of the Salk podcast are now available.
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The summer issue of
Inside Salk lands in mailboxes soon.
Interested in getting on our mailing list to receive the print version of
Inside Salk?
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Janelle Ayres
explores the ways in which animals tolerate disease
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Tatyana Sharpee
is interviewed in “An Obscure Field of Math Might Help Unlock Mysteries of Human Perception”
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Kay Tye
talks about work-life balance and reducing stigma in mental health
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Tye is also quoted in “Mental health toll from coronavirus could rival that of disease itself”
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Salk Institute tackles COVID-19
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Salk science is beautiful
This month’s image comes from a recent
press release
from Salk scientists in the
Kaech
lab who discovered that targeting killer T cells in the lungs could lead to immunity against respiratory viruses.
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