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Australian scientists believe that chameleon cells can define the future of vaccines

Adam Layaan Kurik Riza

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Australian scientists are assured that they have found significant implications for the future of T cell-based vaccines, including second generation COVID-19 vaccines.

Their findings were revealed on Tuesday and were published in Nature Immunology, which gives an insight into the function tissue-resident memory T (TRM) cells play in the immune system, and describe how the cells behave in different body tissues.

TRM cells are only found in tissues, they will not be in circulation or the blood, and are required for immune protection against viral infections and are able to control melanoma skin growths.

The research team, led by University of Melbourne Professor Laura Mackay, a laboratory head at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, looked at the behavior of TRM cells in various body tissues.

The comparison of barrier organs that are exposed to the environment, such as the skin, to solid organs such as the liver, the immunologists found that the place in which TRMs are raised impacts how they contribute to immunity.

Researcher Susan Christo said finding out the molecular signatures of TRM cells in specific tissues would help in the development of T cell-based vaccines and immunotherapies.

“For example, if you want effective T-cell mediated immunity against a respiratory virus like SARS-CoV-2 or influenza, you want to induce TRM cells in the lung,” Christo said. “That way, the memory of the infection exists at the site of potential pathogen encounter. We found that TRM cells act like chameleons when they enter into a new tissue – they rapidly adapt to the molecules and proteins around them and can take on a new ‘image’ or phenotype.”

“The tissue surroundings also control how these cells behave – TRM cells in the skin are suppressed by a particular protein called TGF-b, which acts like a handbrake to stop these cells from unnecessary activation that may cause autoimmunity, such as psoriasis, but still allows them to fight against dangers like melanoma.”

“One key advantage of skin TRM cells is they can last a really long time and will be ready to attack when the body is in true danger.”

The team found the TRMs in the liver do not have this TGF-b “handbrake” and therefore have a greater ability to form a bigger pool of cells. “You could think of them as generating a large army of soldiers that fight the infection,” Christo said. “However liver TRMs have a shorter half-life and might not be around to fight future battles.”

“This is also the case for short-lived TRM cells in the lung, which has significant implications on the durability of vaccines against the flu and COVID-19. Therefore, our study provided the first evidence of what our immune cells need to last the distance and protect us for a long time.”

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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President Solih operated on orders from a foreign diplomat: President Muizzu

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu alleges that his predecessor, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, operated on orders from a foreign diplomat.

In an interview with Public Service Media (PSM) which aired on Thursday night, President Muizzu was asked for a response to criticism from the opposition regarding a recent procurement of military drones.

President Muizzu noted that the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), when it held office from 2018-2023, also held a supermajority in the Parliament.

However, the party failed to protect Maldives’ independence, leaving it in the hands of a foreign country, he said.

He said that President Solih had operated on orders from a foreign ambassador, which resulted in extensive damage.

However, he did not specify which foreign country he was referring to.

“We had lost independence in all sense of the word, including economically. After having done all this, they would naturally not accept our efforts to remedy all this and put the country on a track that the Maldivian people want, towards a ‘Dhiveheenge Raajje’,” he said.

Regarding the cost of the drones, President Muizzu said that while he believes in transparency, such military secrets aren’t disclosed by any country.

“In such matters that is crucial to national security, I am heavily reliant on counsel from our chief of defense force and our generals. Therefore, I will follow their counsel, and I will listen to them,” he said.

President Muizzu said that no value can be attached to the independence of Maldives, and that it is in fact “priceless.”

While the People’s National Congress (PNC) administration accuses the former administration of getting overly dependent on India, the MDP accuses the incumbent administration of ruining age-old ties with India and fostering closer ties with China.

President Muizzu had campaigned on the promise of expelling Indian soldiers stationed in Maldives, which he said was a threat to the country’s national security. The soldiers are now being replaced by Indian civilians.

Source(s): sun.mv

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China’s Shandong province donates 10 civil vehicles to Maldives

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The eastern Chinese province of Shandong has donated 10 civil vehicles to the Maldives.

The donation was handed over by Chinese Ambassador Wang Lixin to the Maldives’ Local Government Minister Adam Shareef Umar on Thursday evening.

Wang wrote on X that she is very pleased to handover the donation.

“I believe those vehicles will help a lot in collecting waste and other public works in different cities, and make Maldives a more beautiful place,” she said.

Meanwhile, Adam Shareef expressed profound gratitude for the generous donation.

“This meaningful gesture symbolizes the supportive friendship between our two nations,” he wrote on X.

Source(s): sun.mv

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Government aims to expand Aasandha service to UAE and Thailand this year

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu says his administration aims to expand the services of the public health insurance scheme – Aasandha – to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand within this year.

In an interview to Public Service Media (PSM) which aired on Thursday night, President Muizzu said that administrative arrangements to expand the services to the two countries are going ahead at a fast pace.

“We therefore have high expectations it can begin this year,” he said.

He did not provide any details.

In a press briefing on January 13, following a state visit to China, President Muizzu said his administration plans to expand Aasandha services to countries that offer better quality medical care services, including the UAE and Thailand.

“In the future, Aasandha will not be restricted to medical facilities in specific countries in a specific region, but will be expanded to countries that offer better services such as UAE and Thailand,” he said, while speaking to reporters from the Velana International Airport.

He also announced plans to provide Aasandha coverage for accommodation as well.

Aasandha services are currently available overseas in select medical facilities in neighboring Sri Lanka and India.

The decision to expand Aasandha comes amid concern over the growing burden on the state budget for the provision of the service. The cost of Aasandha has been growing yearly. On Wednesday, Social and Family Development Minister Dr. Aishath Shiham said the expenditure on Aasandha had increased by 60 percent over the last five years.

She said the administration is studying different models in an effort to switch to one that minimizes wastage.

MVR 1.9 billion is allocation in this year’s budget for Aasandha services.

Source(s): sun.mv

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