Infection and Immunity nieuws
Infection and Immunity nieuws
Jun 13: Vaccination of elderly people against pneumonia results in good immune response
Vaccination of the elderly with a 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) against pneumonia leads to a good immune response and a transient decrease in carrier status of the types against which the vaccine protects. However, it is still unclear what the best way is to treat pneumococcal disease in the elderly, according to Annemarie van Deursen, who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 7 June.
Read moreJun 8: Special immune cells in the intestinal wall play a role in chronic intestinal inflammations
Special immune cells in the gut wall may play a role in chronic inflammatory diseases of the gut such as Crohns disease. They also seem to contribute to the protection against pathogenic bacteria. This is the conclusion of David Hoytema van Konijnenburg who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 7 June.
Read moreJun 1: Anti-TNF therapy good alternative for treatment of sarcoidosis
The rare inflammatory disease sarcoidosis can be well treated with anti-TNF therapy (anti-inflammatory biotechnological drugs). These drugs are therefore a good alternative for patients whose current medicines do not work well and/or cause too many side effects, says Heleen Crommelin, who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 29 May.
Read moreMay 31: Blood test promising for distinguishing between active and sleeping tuberculosis
Utrecht PhD research has shown that doctors can distinguish between an active and latent sleeping form of tuberculosis by means of a special blood test. This is important because determining the right stage of the disease determines the most effective treatment.
Read moreMay 3: Better pertussis vaccine urgently needed
The current pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine gives fewer side effects, but also offers less protection against the disease than the vaccine that was replaced in 2005. The number of pertussis cases has recently increased considerably. One of the possible reasons for this is that the bacterium Bordetella pertussis has genetically adapted, which can have a negative effect on the effect of the vaccine. It is therefore time that a new pertussis vaccine is developed, according to Elise Hovingh who was awarded a PhD in Utrecht on 3 May.
Read moreApr 30: UMC Utrecht participates in a study on SCID admission in heel prick screening
Can the heel prick in newborns also be screened for “severe combined immunodeficiency” (SCID), a severe immune disorder? This question is being studied in the so-called SONNET study at the UMC Utrecht in collaboration with LUMC (study lead) and RIVM.
Read moreApr 26: Carla Bruijnzeel-Koomen appointed Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion
Prof. dr. Carla Bruijnzeel-Koomen, recently professor emeritus of dermatology, has been named Knight in the Order of the Dutch Lion. Mayor of Zanen of Utrecht presented the corresponding award at the Stadsschouwburg on April 26.
Read moreApr 12: Difficult atopic dermatitis patients can now also be treated well
Patients with severe atopic dermatitis, in whom the usual treatments do not work well or give too many side effects, can now be treated well with dupilumab, the first medicine that was developed specifically for this disease. Its effectiveness and safety have now been investigated in this group, in which the National Expertise Center for Atopic Dermatitis in the University Medical Center Utrecht has played a key role.
Read moreApr 5: Better defense against whooping cough with extra vaccination for teenagers and young adults
Whooping cough is a very contagious disease that can go seriously. Whooping cough is unfortunately becoming more and more common, also among teenagers and young adults. To protect them better, it may be useful to give an extra vaccination.
Read moreMar 29: New protein discovered that increases survival of bacterium Staphylococcus aureus
The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus produces the so-called SPIN protein that inhibits the enzyme myeloperoxidase. Because white blood cells can not destroy this bacterium, it can escape the immune system and cause infection. The newly discovered SPIN protein is described in the PhD thesis by Nienke de Jong, who will be awarded a PhD in Utrecht on March 29.
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