Washington: Scientists have discovered a
critical "memory" circuit in the immune system which if faulty
can result in repeated infections, a breakthrough they claim
could pave for improved treatments of diseases like cancer.
An international team has identified the "memory"
circuit which involves a gene and protein called DOCK8, that
helps white blood cells to form synapses - tiny points of cell
contact - that resemble the synapse connections responsible
for laying down memory in the brain.
"Immunity normally lasts for years after we are
immunised or infected because our immune system remembers the
shape and `fingerprints` of an infecting microbe and keeps
making antibodies against them.
"When immunological memory wanes we become
susceptible to infection again, and need a reminder in the
form of a booster immunisation.
"For some vaccines like the tetanus vaccine this
occurs after several years, and for many experimental vaccines
their memory has so far proved just too short to be useful,"
lead scientist Dr Katrina Randall of the Australian National
University said.
Bureau Report