The Immunology Podcast

Guest: Dr. Ana Anderson is currently the Albert H. Coons Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School, Senior Scientist at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Institute Member of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, and Core Faculty Member of the Gene Lay Institute of Immunology and Inflammation. She talks about her research on immune regulation in cancer and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. (38:33) Featured Products and Resources: Submit your abstract now for IMMUNOLOGY2026! Download a free wallchart on the production of CAR T cells. The Immunology Round Up CAR Tregs for Atherosclerosis: Anti-oxidized low-density lipoprotein CAR Tregs reduce atherosclerotic plaque formation in mouse models. (2:20) Tumor-Reactive T Cells: Tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells can be isolated and expanded from clinical samples. (14:24) Harnessing Myeloid and Lymphoid Synergy for Immunotherapy: Myeloid-targeted immunocytokines and natural killer/T cell enhancers show potential for treating solid cancers. (18:50) Subcutaneous Fat Affects Intestinal Aging: Subcutaneous white adipose tissue dysfunction triggers aging-like intestinal dysfunctions in mouse models. (32:40) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. George Robinson is a Principal Research Fellow at University College London, where his lab focuses on juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. He discusses current approaches to diagnosis and treatment, as well as the role of sex differences in autoimmunity. (31:20) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Download a free wallchart on regulatory T cells. The Immunology Round Up Long-Term Allergies: Allergy-associated IgE plasma cells exhibit limited accrual in the bone marrow, and instead reside in other tissues for extended periods. (3:40) Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy: Peanut oral immunotherapy reshapes T cell responses, suppressing allergy-associated type 2 helper T cells and boosting cytotoxic type 1 helper T cells, offering clues to long-term tolerance. (9:00) Neuroprotective Microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease: The protective function of microglia is governed by the transcription factor PU.1, which becomes downregulated following microglial contact with amyloid plaques. (18:09) Autoimmunity in ALS: Researchers showed that ALS is associated with recognition of the C9orf72 antigen and mapped the specific epitopes that are recognized. (23:20) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Camila Coelho is a Principal Investigator at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where her lab studies emerging pathogens. She talks about her lab’s work on mpox and other viruses, her approach to mentorship, and how her MBA education helps her in science. (36:00) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in infectious disease news. Learn how to isolate highly pure immune cells with a free, on-demand course. The Immunology Round Up Epigenetic Programming of T Cells – Researchers developed an all-RNA platform for efficient, durable and multiplexed epigenetic programming in primary human T cells. (3:57) Converting Conventional T Cells to Tregs – Using a combination of cytokines and pharmacological approaches, conventional effector T cells can be converted into functional and stable Tregs. (9:40) A Host–Pathogen Arms Race – E. coli uses the effector NleL to suppress epithelial extrusion, which aids in bacterial spread. (23:06) Lactation and Lowered Breast Cancer Risk – Parity induces an accumulation of CD8+ T cells in breast tissue, which reduced tumor growth and increased immune cell infiltration in a mouse model. (28:13) Image courtesy of Dr. Camila Coelho Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Professor Matteo Iannacone is Director of the Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, Professor of Pathology, and Head of the Dynamics of Immune Responses laboratory at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University. His work centers on understanding the generation of dysfunctional adaptive immune cells in chronic hepatitis B virus infection and developing new strategies to reprogram them into functional cells endowed with potent antiviral activity. Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in human immunology news Isolate highly purified immune cells from virtually any sample source with EasySep The Immunology Science Round Up The Cells That Keep Immunity in Check – Brenda reviews Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi’s seminal study demonstrating that a population of T cells expressing the IL-2 receptor α chain acts to maintain self-tolerance by suppressing other T cells. The Gene That Controls Immune Balance – Brenda reviews Dr. Mary Brunkow and Dr. Fred Ramsdell’s work identifying FOXP3 as the gene disrupted in a fatal lymphoproliferation syndrome in the “scurfy” mouse, pointing to FOXP3 as a master regulator of regulatory T cells. Zap70 and the Treg Cell Repertoire – Age-dependent Zap70 expression regulates negative selection and thymic Treg cell development. T Cell Exhaustion Driven by Protein Stress – Researchers show that proteotoxic stress, induced by protein aggregation, is not merely a consequence, but a driver of the exhausted T cell state. Image courtesy of Professor Matteo Iannacone. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Robin Orozco is an Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas, where her lab studies how specific allelic variants affect immune responses. She talks about what we can learn from mouse models and the role of PTPN22 in antiviral immunity. (36:48) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. EasySep 8-Minute Human Cell Isolation Kits The Immunology Round Up Skin Infections and Food Allergy – Scientists unraveled mechanisms by which S. aureus skin colonization can aggravate food allergy in atopic dermatitis. (3:10) Cytotoxic T Cell Dynamics – Nuclear polarization represents a key step during cytotoxic T cell-mediated killing. (11:55) CRISPR-Boosted CAR T Therapies – Researchers discovered, validated, and biologically characterized CRISPR-boosted CAR T cells that outperform standard CAR T cells. (18:36) CAR T Cells in Myeloma – New findings reveal differing effects of gene perturbation on CAR T cells and highlight a promising target to generate highly effective CAR T cells for multiple myeloma. (26:40) Image courtesy of Dr. Robin Orozco Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Harikesh Wong is an Assistant Professor at the Ragon Institute and MIT, where his lab studies the design principles of the immune system.  He talks about how Tregs constrain conventional T cell responses during infection, and advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques to study immune responses. (38:11) Featured Products and Resources: Stay up-to-date with the latest in immune regulation news. Learn how to isolate highly pure immune cells and efficiently process human samples with a free, on-demand course on human immune cell isolation. The Immunology Science Round Up Immunometabolism in HIV – Immunometabolic defects in colon-resident CD8+ T cells in people with HIV lead to intestinal epithelial apoptosis and disruption of intestinal barrier integrity. (2:50) T Cell Dysfunction in Tumors – Mitochondria or telomeric reactive oxygen species induce DNA damage responses driving T cell dysfunction. (9:15) Microglia-Astrocyte Crosstalk – Microglia-derived Wnts drive astrocytes to reduce their association with synapses. (22:00) Monocyte-Derived Macrophages in Tumors – Researchers identified myeloid progenitor programs that fuel pro-tumorigenic monocyte-derived macrophages. (28:45) Image courtesy of Dr. Harikesh Wong Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Eric Vivier is a Professor of Immunology at Aix-Marseille Université and the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy. He is also an awardee of the European Research Council and a member of the French Society of Immunology. In this special episode recorded at the IUIS 2025 Congress in Vienna, Dr. Vivier highlights the critical importance of investing in science, explores the responsibility of governments and other organizations in funding research, and reflects on the role science plays in society. Featured Products and Resources: Register for an on-demand course on human immune cell isolation Download a free wallchart summarizing the development, phenotypes, and functions of regulatory T cells The Immunology Science Round Up Strengthening CAR NK Cell Therapies – Scientists have found that natural killer (NK) cells become better at killing cancer cells after removal of key gene targets. (3:00) Maternal Stress Triggers Infant Eczema – Offspring of stressed pregnant dams have dysregulated mast cells and skin-projecting neurons and quickly develop eczema in response to harmless mechanical friction. (8:55) Suppressing Necroptosis-Induced Colitis – Researchers show that XBP1 and caspase-8 synergize to prevent colon inflammation. (17:07) Reprograming T Cells through Cytokine Receptor Expansion – Scientists have leveraged synthetic cytokine receptor engineering to successfully rewire T cell fate decisions and amplify anti-cancer immunity. (24:25) Image courtesy of Eric Vivier Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In August 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria. We chat with delegates about their research and impressions of the meeting. They discuss the most memorable research presented and their experiences in Austria. Featured Products and Resources: Prepare for your next conference. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Zwi Berneman is Emeritus Professor of Hematology at the University of Antwerp, and previously Head of the Division of Hematology at the Antwerp University Hospital. His basic and clinical research is focused on vaccination with immunogenic dendritic cells in cancer and with tolerogenic dendritic cells in multiple sclerosis. He talks about the history and development of dendritic cell vaccines and the work needed to make them more widely available to patients. Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback on the podcast. The STEMdiff Monocyte Kit generates millions of monocytes that are ready for downstream assays, or further development into macrophages or dendritic cells. Image courtesy of Dr. Zwi Berneman Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the final of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on AI applications and CAR T therapy progress. Featured Products and Resources: ImmunoCult Mouse T Cell Activator Kit Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the fourth of five special episodes from the meeting, in which Jason and Brenda discuss sessions on cancer immunotherapy and neuroimmunology. Featured Products and Resources: Say goodbye to manual labor and hello to efficiency with RoboSep—your ultimate solution for automated cell isolation. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the third of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on CD4+ T cells in Hepatitis B infections and how amoebas make their way to the brain. They also cover research on the effects of antibiotics on immunotherapy, and what we can learn about allergies by comparing pet shop and lab mice. Featured Products and Resources: Improve your T cell therapy development with ImmunoCult-XF Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the second of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason cover research on Lynch syndrome, dendritic cells, and the epigenome of regulatory T cells. Featured Products and Resources: Simply and efficiently isolate untouched, viable human NK cells from PBMCs or leukapheresis samples with EasySep. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

In 2025, we attended the 19th International Congress of Immunology, hosted by the International Union of Immunological Societies, in Vienna, Austria, and recorded daily episodes discussing highlights of the conference. Here is the first of five special episodes from the meeting. Brenda and Jason discuss sessions on colon cancer organoids and stable induced regulatory T cells. They also cover presentations from the IUIS Rising Star Awardees and Dr. Yasmine Belkaid’s talk on maternal physiology. Featured Products and Resources: With no columns, minimal steps, and high-purity results, EasySep is the easy choice for simplified cell isolation. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Daniel Goodman is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where his lab researches high-throughput approaches to engineer the immune system. He talks about new technologies for immune cell engineering, and methods for screening and developing CAR T therapies. (47:30) Featured Products and Resources: Share your feedback on the podcast and enter to win a Bluetooth speaker! Register now for IUIS 2025! The Immunology Science Round Up Respiratory Infections and Breast Cancer – A study in mice shows that respiratory viruses can cause the proliferation of dormant disseminated cancer cells. (5:00) Early-Life HIV Antibodies – AAV-vectored delivery of HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies led to long-term protection in infant rhesus macaques. (11:55) Obesity and Immunity – Researchers compared the effects of high-fat diets derived from animal and plant fat sources on tumor growth in obese mice. (22:25) Lithium Deficiency in Alzheimer’s Disease – Scientists showed that endogenous lithium contributes to cognitive preservation during aging. (32:37) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Tamara Tilburgs is an Assistant Professor in the University of Cincinnati Department of Pediatrics, where her research focuses on immune tolerance during pregnancy. She talks about the immune paradox in trophoblast cells and how placental inflammation can lead to pregnancy complications. She also discusses CD8+ T cell responses at the maternal-fetal interface. (43:03) Featured Products and Resources: Plan your transportation for the IUIS 2025 Congress in Vienna! EasySep 8-Minute Human Cell Isolation Kits The Immunology Round Up Non-Antibiotics and Enteropathogens – Non-antibiotic drugs from a wide range of therapeutic classes can alter the ability of gut commensals to resist invasion by enteropathogens. (1:38) Medications and the Gut Microbiome – An analysis of prescription medications shows that several non-antibiotic drugs, such as the heart medication digoxin, can increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections. (7:20) Sex Dimorphism in Immune Responses – Fine-tuning of type 2 immune responses may explain why females are more susceptible to allergies. (15:00) Transposable Elements in Tregs – Researchers identified DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, and gene expression programs that govern the tissue adaptation of human skin Treg cells. (28:10) Image courtesy of Dr. Tamara Tilburgs Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Johnathan Canton is an Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary, where his lab uses advanced microscopy techniques to study dendritic cells, macrophages, and innate immunity. He talks about his career journey from studying tropical parasites to investigating phagocytes. He also discusses using advanced microscopy techniques, studying the mechanisms of dendritic cell cross-presentation, and running a farm in Belize. (35:55) Featured Products and Resources: Check out the program for IUIS 2025! The STEMdiff Monocyte Kit generates millions of monocytes that are ready for downstream assays, or further development into macrophages or dendritic cells. The Immunology Round Up Armored CAR T Cells – A CRISPR knock-in strategy can engineer CAR T cells that secrete proinflammatory cytokines directly within a tumor without causing toxicity. (2:15) Immune Invasion in Lung Cancer – Organoid immune co-cultures enable identifying immune evasion at subclonal resolution. (7:55) Chromatin Remodeling in Chronic Inflammation – Researchers identified a mechanism that separates the chronic and acute inflammation responses. (19:00) Reversing CD8⁺ T Cell Dysfunction – Scientists identified IL-27 as a tractable immunotherapeutic target in chronic hepatitis B virus infection. (25:40) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Mahima Swamy is a Program Leader at the University of Dundee, where her lab studies immune homeostasis in the intestinal epithelium. She talks about intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and the role of LRRK2 in Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease. Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Science Round Up Fungal Meningitis in Mammals – Researchers examined Cryptococcus neoformans phenotypes and identified factors that drive mammalian virulence. γδ T cell Receptor Activation – Using cryoelectron microscopy, researchers identified an MHC-independent antigen presentation mechanism distinct from αβ T cells. Fungal Pulmonary Fibrosis – The Dectin-1-Raf1 axis is a key regulator of pulmonary fibrosis and a promising therapeutic target for fibrotic diseases. Early-Life Fructose Exposure – High-fructose treatment of mouse and human microglia suppresses phagocytosis capacity. Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Rizwan Romee is a Oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, where his research focuses on genetically manipulating NK cells to enhance their anti-tumor function. He talks about advances and challenges in engineering NK cells for cancer therapy. He also discusses using E. coli to deliver immune-activating cytokines to tumors. (37:31) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Science Round Up The Y Chromosome in Cancer – Loss of the Y chromosome in tumor and T cells worsens survival. (5:00) Boosting CD8 T Cell Responses – Cytokine-adjuvanted mRNA-lipid nanoparticles can enhance immune response to vaccination. (11:40) Bacterial Antitumor Immunotherapy – Intratumoral Listeria monocytogenes can either enhance or inhibit tumor progression. (21:30) NK Cell Signaling – CAR activation and IL-15 signaling rapidly induce CREM upregulation in NK cells. (28:20) Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe

Guest: Dr. Arthur Mortha is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. His research focuses on innate lymphoid cells and their interactions with microbes. He talks about ILCs and how the gut microbiome can affect respiratory disease. (37:44) Featured Products and Resources: Register now for IUIS 2025! Enter to win a personalized lab coat! The Immunology Round Up Serotonin and Antitumor Immunity – Serotonin transporter acts as an immune checkpoint restricting CD8 T cell antitumor immunity. (3:35) T Cells in the Brain – CD4 T cells reside in the brain at steady state and are concentrated in the subfornical organ. (8:40) Bat Antiviral Immunity – A new organoid platform reveals key features of bat epithelial antiviral immunity that may inform therapeutic strategies. (22:30) Acetylcholine in the Thymus – Cholinergic signaling regulates immune cell development through thymic negative selection. (27:00) Image courtesy of Dr. Arthur Mortha Subscribe to our newsletter! Never miss updates about new episodes. Subscribe