Recommended reading from around the Web

U.S. Must Revitalize Its Support for the Sciences

U.S. Must Revitalize Its Support for the Sciences

by Ralph Steinman, M.D.

Immunology in the News | January 2009

We need a call to arms to revitalize the sciences in this country, and solve health crises such as AIDS and cancer.

Study May Predict if Hepatitis C Drugs Will Work

by Julie Steenhuysen

Reuters UK | December 23, 2008

A new genetic test can classify different strains of hepatis C, offering a potential method for predicting which patients will respond to traditional drug therapy.

Lupus Affects the Brain Very Early in the Disease

by Megan Rauscher

Reuters | December 23, 2008

An imaging study suggests that lupus affects the brain very early in the course of the disease--often, even before it is diagnosed.

Scientists Discover Trigger for Autoimmune Diseases

by Robert Preidt

HealthDay News | December 22, 2008

Healthy people have a significant number of dormant immune cells that could attack the body, a new study reveals. These somehow become active in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

New Drugs to Battle MS

by Brendan Borrell

The Los Angeles Times | December 15, 2008

In the next few years, several new medications could appear to help treat multiple sclerosis, according to scientists associated with some promising new studies.

A Coat of Many Proteins May Be This Parasite’s Downfall

by Nicholas Wade

The New York Times | December 15, 2008

Giardia infections are rare, but anyone who comes home from a trip abroad with this parasite won’t forget it anytime soon. Nor are scientists likely to forget its memorable mechanism of eluding the immune system.

Brain Scans May Detect MS Before Symptoms Appear

by Tralee Pearce

The Globe and Mail | December 11, 2008

Brain scanning technology appears to have reached a level of sophistication such that neurologists can detect early signs of multiple sclerosis in apparently healthy patients. However, the benefits of early screening aren’t universally acknowledged.

Genetic Link between Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Disease Seen

by Amanda Gardner

HealthDay News | December 10, 2008

A common set of genetic mutations for diabetes and a digestive disease suggests common immunological underpinnings

Some T Cells Linked with Lyme Disease

United Press International | December 10, 2008

Scientists have found that some natural killer T cells play an important role in fighting Lyme disease.