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.
According to a YouGov poll, support for the Labour Party has fallen to a historic low of just 17%, matching that of the Conservatives....
The United States has expanded its crackdown on Chinese telecommunications companies, tightening restrictions on equipment deemed a threat to national...
Nokia announced on Tuesday that chipmaker Nvidia will acquire a $1 billion stake in the company....
A light aircraft crash in Kenya on Wednesday (28 October) has claimed the lives of eight Hungarian and two German tourists, as well as a Kenyan pilot....
NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic jet successfully took off from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, early on Tuesday (October ...
According to a YouGov poll, support for the Labour Party has fallen to a historic low of just 17%, matching that of the Conservatives.
The United States has expanded its crackdown on Chinese telecommunications companies, tightening restrictions on equipment deemed a threat to national security.
Nokia announced on Tuesday that chipmaker Nvidia will acquire a $1 billion stake in the company.
A light aircraft crash in Kenya on Wednesday (28 October) has claimed the lives of eight Hungarian and two German tourists, as well as a Kenyan pilot.
A small, silent object from another star is cutting through the Solar System. It’s real, not a film, and one scientist thinks it might be sending a message.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A tsunami threat was issued in Chile after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Drake Passage on Friday. The epicenter was located 135 miles south of Puerto Williams on the north coast of Navarino Island.
The war in Ukraine has reached a strategic impasse, and it seems that the conflict will not be solved by military means. This creates a path toward one of two alternatives: either a “frozen” phase that can last indefinitely or a quest for a durable political regulation.
A shooting in Nice, southeastern France, left two people dead and five injured on Friday, authorities said.
A small, silent object from another star is cutting through the Solar System. It’s real, not a film, and one scientist thinks it might be sending a message.
A 13-year-old boy in central Florida has been arrested after typing a violent question into ChatGPT during class, prompting an emergency police response when school monitoring software flagged the message in real time.
Nokia chief executive Justin Hotard said artificial intelligence is fuelling a structural growth cycle similar to the internet expansion of the 1990s, but rejected fears that investor enthusiasm has reached unsustainable levels.
NASA has announced that it will reopen bidding for its flagship U.S. moon landing contract, citing mounting delays in Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starship lunar lander project.
China has accused the United States of stealing sensitive data and infiltrating its National Time Service Centre, warning that such breaches could have disrupted communications, financial systems, power supplies, and the international standard time network.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment