Macrophages are the body’s immune attack force, but how do they recognize their target particles? Fletcher Lab investigators have shown how macrophage target recognition is controlled by the height of the antibody above the target cell surface. They found that the gap created between the target cell and macrophage by the antibody, which bridges an antigen on the target cell surface and the macrophage’s receptors, must be small enough to exclude a molecule that turns off the receptor. This has broad implications for development of therapeutic antibodies because it establishes a size threshold for effective cell surface antigen targets.
Archives for June 2018
CRISPR-Gold editing reduces repetitive behavior in mice with a form of autism
New research from Prof Niren Murthy’s lab uses his CRISPR-Gold nanoparticle delivery technique to lessen some autism symptoms in mice with a form of fragile X syndrome, the most common known single-gene cause of autism spectrum disorder. Published in Nature Biomedical Engineering June 25, 2018.
Congratulations department fellows!
Congratulations to our PhD students awarded named department fellowships for 2018-19! Endowed fellowships allow our talented students to pursue independent , cutting-edge research not yet funded by a major grant.