Andrew S. MacDonald

Vaccination with mRNA-encoded nanoparticles drives early maturation of HIV bnAb precursors in humans A leading HIV vaccine strategy requires a priming immunogen to induce broadly neutralizing antibody (bnAb) precursors, followed by a series of heterologous boosters to elicit somatic hypermutation (SH...

Vaccination with mRNA-encoded nanoparticles drives early maturation of HIV bnAb precursors in humans | Science www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Centre to study how exposome causes chronic inflammatory disease A new Medical Research Council (MRC) centre will investigate how the environment interacts with our immune system to trigger chronic inflammatory diseases.

Super excited to announce that MRC has funded a new Centre of Research Excellence in Exposome Immunology. Working together, Manchester and Oxford are going to tackle a major challenge of our times. For those who wonder what the Exposome is - see yesterday's posts! www.ukri.org/news/centre-...

T cell responses in repeated controlled human schistosome infection compared to natural exposure - Nature Communications In schistosomiasis-endemic regions, the cyclical nature of infection and treatment complicates understanding of host immune responses. Repeated controlled human Schistosoma mansoni infection, designed...

A real pleasure to be a part of this beautiful new study on T cell responses in repeat controlled human infection vs natural infection with #schistosomes, spearheaded by @emmahoulder.bsky.social with many wonderful colleagues #helminths #ImmunoSky #IDSky 🪱 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Pre-clinical studies of Schistosoma mansoni vaccines: A scoping review Author summary Schistosomiasis, a major neglected tropical disease, is caused by infection with parasitic worms of the Schistosoma species, including Schistosoma mansoni. Individuals can be repeatedly...

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How close are we to a schistosomiasis vaccine?
With help from an #MSCA fellowship and support from Batavia Biosciences, I spent 6 months reviewing 100+ pre-clinical studies on S. mansoni vaccines.
Here's what we found:
📄 doi.org/10.1371/jour...

🚨 Postdoc alert! Our former committee member @macleanlab.bsky.social is looking for a postdoc to work on Toxoplasma metabolism in his lab. Great opportunity to do cool science in a beautiful city! 🧪🤝

Speaker Highlight - Yasmine Belkaid

We are delighted that @belkaidlab.bsky.social, President of @pasteur.fr, will deliver the Keynote Lecture of Day 1 of www.emds2025.com - I'm sure it will be a tour de force!

@britsocimm.bsky.social @societymucosalimm.bsky.social

[Background photo:Chris Close]

Speaker Highlight - Martin Guilliams

Can't wait for @martinguilliams.bsky.social from @viblifesciences.bsky.social to open www.emds2025.com and hear about how in vivo CRISPR and spatial 🔬 is uncovering molecular dialogue in the liver.

@britsocimm.bsky.social

[Background photo:Sam Sills]

Checkpoint on Type 2 Immunity. Tuft cells play key roles in the initiation and propagation of type 2 immune responses in the gut, but whether they have regulatory machinery for constraining these responses is not known. Wang et al. found that the transcription factor Spi-B prevents excessive type 2 immune responses against helminth infection and food allergens by limiting tuft cell activation and proliferation in the small intestine. Spi-B represses c-Kit signaling in tuft cells, which limits their production of the cytokine TSLP and the subsequent activation of T helper 2 (TH2) cells. This month’s cover image features a tuft cell (dark red) within the epithelial lining of the small intestine in which Spi-B has been inactivated, leading to increased production of TSLP by tuft cells and the cytokine interleukin-13 (IL-13) by TH2 cells (white). Credit: A. Fisher/Science Immunology

The July issue of #Science #Immunology is out now! This week:

• Additional levels of #IL13RA1 gene regulation help explain susceptibility to #allergy!

• Spi-B is a #checkpoint of #type2 immunity by restraining #TuftCell activation in gut!

New content each week!

www.science.org/toc/sciimmun...

Future Library - Edinburgh Futures Institute Supported by Edinburgh Futures Institute.

Join us at @edbookfest.bsky.social on Wed 13 August for 'Future Library' 📗, a project based in Norway.

This event, sponsored by Edinburgh Futures Institute, features Future Library's Anne Beate Hovind.

📍 Edinburgh Futures Institute
🗓️ 13 August | 8:15pm – 9:30pm
🎟️ Tickets £15.50: edin.ac/477bXeC

Global diversity of soil-transmitted helminths reveals population-biased genetic variation that impacts diagnostic targets - Nature Communications This study analysed genetic data of soil-transmitted helminths from 27 countries, revealing diversity impacting molecular test accuracy and highlighting the need to adapt diagnostics for effective STH...

Great to be a (small) part of this beautiful new study on global diversity of soil transmitted #helminths from @stephenrdoyle.bsky.social and colleagues 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A big thank you to the sponsors of #EMDS2025 - they have allowed us to put together an awesome programme. Check it out here: www.emds2025.com

Still a couple of slots to sponsor if any commercial friends want to be at a fantastic meeting in 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿.

Registration open, but numbers limited!

Wow! 170 abstracts submitted - thanks for the enthusiasm 🙌🏻

These were scored by a 30+ panel from across 🇪🇺. Check your inbox in the coming week for outcomes - talk vs. poster.

Still time to apply for awards/services below. Only 3wks to Early Bird deadline - 1st Aug.

Oh and the social > ceilidh 👇🏻

Stimulating immune cells in vitro is a common experimental lab model. We profiled 150K blood immune cells treated with 11 different stimuli to compare the effects. The data are freely available for researchers. See the preprint for our findings and to access the data 🧪 doi.org/10.1101/2025...

SOX9 plays an essential role in myofibroblast driven hepatic granuloma integrity and parenchymal repair during schistosomiasis-induced liver damage Author summary Mammalian infection with schistosome worms results in the deposition of parasite eggs in the liver, where they secrete organ damaging toxins. In response, the liver generates a cellular...

Delighted to share our paper on the role of SOX9 in liver #fibrosis and #granuloma formation during #schistosome infection - a really great collaboration over the past few years with the Piper Hanley lab! #ImmunSky 🪱🧪

dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

Research Assistant at University of Glasgow Discover an exciting academic career path as a Research Assistant at jobs.ac.uk. Don't miss out on this job opportunity - apply today!

🚨 We're hiring! 🚨

Join the Jones Lab at the University of Glasgow, as a Research Assistant working on gut immunology & IBD 🧫🧬

Be part of a rapidly growing team working with me, @glasgowgutscience.bsky.social and @bainlab.bsky.social‬

🗓️ Closing date: 12 June
🔗 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DNC531/r...

🚨 Abstract Deadline - Friday 30th May

There are 10 days left to submit your abstract for EMDS2025. We have >20 selected talk slots - so submit an abstract today!

All details & programme: www.emds2025.com

@britsocimm.bsky.social @societymucosalimm.bsky.social @cytokinesociety.bsky.social

Vaccination against helminth IL-33 modulators permits immune-mediated parasite ejection The murine intestinal nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus bakeri (Hpb) modulates the host immune response via the Hpb alarmin release inhibitor (HpARI)…

🚨 New McSorley lab paper just out in Cell Reports!

Very happy to see this published - it has been a lot of work, and its turned into a really nice story.

In it, we show that HpARI+HpBARI can be used as vaccines

Tutorial thread below (1/16):

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Activation status of immune cells in the airway is a defining feature of severe fungal asthma. Airborne fungi are potent inducers of respiratory disease and cause the debilitating conditions severe asthma with fungal sensitisation (SAFS) and allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). Howev...

After a period of silence, delighted to share our latest work has come out as a pre print. Check it out. Huge thanks to the amazing efforts of co-authors and most importantly the generosity of the patients in providing samples. www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1...

This is more like me nowadays...

Wow! Amazing response in the first few days of registration opening for www.emds2025.com

Be sure to register early to avoid disappointment.

🚨 Abstract deadline is FRIDAY 30th MAY

(Sneak peak of @profandrewmac.bsky.social rehearsing for the 'Scotland Experience' social.)

🚨 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!!!

Head to www.emds2025.com to register and submit your abstracts. Full programme is now available.

NB: Spaces are limited, so don't delay, register today!

@britsocimm.bsky.social @efis-immunology.bsky.social
@societymucosalimm.bsky.social @natrevimmunol.nature.com

This made me chuckle… #Immunosky 🧪

The spring EIG session is coming this Thursday on 1st of May. Please join us from 13:30 in @edinuni-irr.bsky.social IRR South seminar room 1.05 for fantastic talks by Dr. Elizabeth Mann, Dr. Tovah Shaw and Prof. Hamida Hammad. See you there!

Speaker Highlight - Bart Lambrecht

Interested in #alveolar #macrophages (AMs)? Then do not miss Bart Lambrecht from @viblifesciences.bsky.social at EMDS2025 - he'll discuss recent work showing how AMs can become multi-nucleated giant cells!

@britsocimm.bsky.social

Photo by Sam Sills

Speaker Highlight - Catherine Robin

Using #zebrafish, Catherine's group @hubrechtinstitute.bsky.social have identified blood-resident #macrophages that safeguard the blood and ensure vessel integrity.

Hear all about it at EMDS2025:Scotland Edition!

@britsocimm.bsky.social

Photo by Sam Sills

Lovely seminar from @grizzlybeard.bsky.social the other day about systemic and local control of #monocyte derived cells in health and #Crohn’s disease. Thanks for visiting Andy! #ImmunoSky 🧪

Speaker Highlight - Molly Ingersoll

Over the moon that Molly @immunobladder.bsky.social from @institutcochin.bsky.social @institutpasteur.bsky.social will join us at EMDS2025.

I'm sure we will get an energetic update on #bladder #macrophages

@britsocimm.bsky.social

Photo by © www.nealesmith.com

Great to see the abstracts start to come in for EMDS2025.

We have over 20 short talk slots up for grabs - with dedicated slots for #ECRs (PhD and postdocs). So, if you want to showcase your work to Europe's #macrophage #monocyte and #dendriticcell community, be sure to submit your abstract ASAP.

Professor Amy Buck elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for her work pioneering RNA biology March 2025: Professor Amy Buck, EID member in the School of Biological Sciences, has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh for her cross-disciplinary research to understand how pa...

Huge congratulations to EID member Amy Buck who has been elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh!

Full news story ⤵️

edinburgh-infectious-diseases.ed.ac.uk/news-and-eve...

As proud Scottish Highlanders, @profandrewmac.bsky.social and I are delighted that fellow Highlander, David Russell, has agreed to speak at EMDS2025 in Edinburgh.

He'll discuss #macrophages, #metabolism and MTb.

@britsocimm.bsky.social @societymucosalimm.bsky.social