Trade and security ties strengthened in presidential call
Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and U.S. President Donald Trump have agreed to broaden their strategic partnership and enhance mutually be...
Scientists in the UK have developed a super-strong antibody that could dramatically improve how the immune system attacks cancer cells by boosting its activation power.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have designed a new type of antibody that could strengthen the immune system’s ability to fight cancer. The team, supported by Cancer Research UK, discovered that by increasing the rigidity of antibodies - tiny proteins produced by white blood cells - they could trigger a much stronger immune response.
Antibodies work by attaching to harmful cells like bacteria, viruses, or cancer cells, marking them for attack by the immune system. The new prototype, which features extra structural bonds to stiffen its Y-shaped form, was found to outperform naturally occurring antibodies in lab tests.
“The concept of using immuno-stimulation for cancer treatment is very exciting,” said Professor Mark Cragg of the Centre for Cancer Immunology. “Even small increases in rigidity significantly improve how well antibodies can activate the immune system.”
Using supercomputers, the team visualized antibodies at atomic detail to precisely insert additional disulfide bonds—tiny bridges that stabilize the structure. This made the antibodies more rigid, allowing them to hold immune receptors closer together and produce a stronger activation signal.
PhD student Isabel Elliott explained: “Floppier antibodies are less effective at triggering immune cells. Rigid ones seem to organize the receptors better, leading to a more powerful response.”
Dr. Ivo Tews, Professor in Structural Biology, added that this strategy could be applied to a wide range of immune-related molecules, not just those used in cancer therapy.
Dr. Iain Foulkes, Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, emphasized the potential impact of the findings: “Refining how we harness the immune system is a vital step forward. These super-strong antibodies could empower new, more effective treatments for patients undergoing immunotherapy.”
The research is published in the journal Nature Communications, marking a promising step toward next-generation cancer treatments designed to supercharge the body’s natural defenses.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
OpenAI has sharply raised its projected cash burn through 2029 to $115 billion, according to The Information. This marks an $80 billion increase from previous estimates, as the company ramps up spending to fuel the AI behind its ChatGPT chatbot.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday urged Russia’s aerospace industry to step up efforts to develop booster rocket engines and expand the country’s role in global space technology.
U.S. President Donald Trump will host more than two dozen technology and business leaders on Thursday for a dinner in the newly renovated White House Rose Garden, a White House official said.
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft successfully completed an initial test Wednesday to demonstrate a new capability that helps maintain the International Space Station’s (ISS) orbital altitude.
A Chinese research team has unveiled a prototype washing machine designed for use in space, joining a growing international push to solve one of the more mundane but pressing challenges of long-duration missions: laundry.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment