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In a new study, researchers have announced that they have discovered how gamma-delta T cells become activated.
The study from University of Melbourne’s
Gamma-delta T cells are known to respond to the presence of small molecules, known as phosphoantigens, that are produced by bacteria and cancer cells,
“Up until now, scientists have struggled to understand the fundamental question of how phosphoantigens are detected by gamma-delta T cells,”
“These findings represent a key advance in our understanding of how gamma-delta T cells function to protect us from disease,”
“This research project demonstrates the power of collaboration between academia and industry. Nearly a decade ago, we identified Butyrophilin 2A1 as a potential therapeutic target but its precise biological function remained elusive,” continued Dr
“This discovery makes a significant contribution to our understanding of how gamma-delta T cells work and in doing so, paves the way for translating this research into new immunotherapies for the treatment of serious human disease.”
The study was published in Science.
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