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.
U.S. President Donald Trump personally welcomed Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at the White House today, ahead of a historic peace signing cere...
Donald Trump has once again shared a video clip of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks from the Shusha Global Media Forum on his Truth Soci...
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left fo...
During President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Washington, officials from Azerbaijan and the United States discussed expanding economic collaboration and ...
Azerbaijan, Armenia and the United States signed landmark agreements in Washington on August 8, marking progress in the South Caucasus peace process a...
U.S. President Donald Trump personally welcomed Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev at the White House today, ahead of a historic peace signing ceremony. The meeting sets the stage for a U.S.-brokered framework aiming to stabilize relations in the South Caucasus.
Donald Trump has once again shared a video clip of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s remarks from the Shusha Global Media Forum on his Truth Social account.
A Russian drone attack on Ukraine’s southern Odesa region has damaged an oil depot belonging to Azerbaijan’s state oil company, SOCAR, and left four people injured, industry sources told Reuters.
During President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Washington, officials from Azerbaijan and the United States discussed expanding economic collaboration and boosting strategic innovation partnerships.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
Chinese automaker Chery has denied an industry-ministry audit that disqualified more than $53 million in state incentives for thousands of its electric and hybrid vehicles, insisting it followed official guidance and committed no fraud.
Scientists have discovered previously unknown communities of deep-sea creatures that survive by converting chemicals into energy, rather than feeding on organic matter, during dives into two of the Pacific Ocean’s deepest trenches.
The acting chief of the U.S. space agency NASA is expected to unveil a directive this week to build a nuclear reactor on the moon by 2030, according to U.S. media reports, as the United States seeks to strengthen its space presence amid growing competition from China and Russia.
Scientists in Norway have uncovered remains of more than 40 species from around 75,000 years ago, shedding new light on Ice Age life in Scandinavia.
Türkiye’s first domestically produced electric SUV, the Togg T10X, is expected to hit the German market by the end of 2025, German daily Bild reported.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday, sending an international crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the Dragon spacecraft as part of NASA’s Crew-11 mission.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment