Chemokines, acting as "traffic controllers" in the tumor microenvironment, regulate immune cell infiltration and local immunity. This review summarizes the chemokine expression profiles in tumors, their diverse roles in pro- and anti-tumor immunity, current targeting strategies (inhibition, delivery, engineering), and synergistic potential ability with other immunotherapies. Despite challenges, targeting the chemokine receptor axis holds great promise for reprogramming the tumor microenvironment and advancing precision cancer therapy.

A research team at IDM is leading the development of a sensor that paves the way for the rapid, selective and cost-effective detection of active tuberculosis. The device detects the presence of a protein secreted by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes the disease. It provides results in just 60 minutes – significantly less time than conventional methods, such as microbiological culture, which can take several weeks.

How can the mild flavor of flaxseed oil be preserved for longer? A research team led by Roman Lang from the Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich has investigated this question. As the team demonstrates in its latest study, natural precursors of bitter-tasting compounds can be gently removed from the oil using bleaching earth (magnesium-aluminum silicate). This results in significantly fewer bitter-tasting compounds formed during storage, and the flaxseed oil remains flavor-stable for longer. The particular advantage: The high content of health-beneficial fatty acids as well as the oil’s typical character are preserved despite the purification process.

This work, published in Nature Communications, opens new avenues for identifying tumors with a high risk of developing metastases and may improve the classification of breast cancer patients.

National poll suggests young adults may fall short on physical activity after high school, with time, screen use and lack of interest as top barriers