X chromosome inactivation (XCI) occurs in female mammals to normalize gene expression of sex chromosomes. This process is known to involve cis-mediated interactions by the long-noncoding RNA Xist on the inactive X (Xi) chromosome. This process is often incomplete with some genes that escape XCI (such as Xist) and many immune-relevant genes are expressed on the X chromosome, which might contribute to

Exhaustion and mitochondrial dysfunction can limit the effector function of T cells and their ability to kill solid tumors, an effect that tumor cells are thought to capitalize on by sucking mitochondria out of immune cells via tunneling nanotube connections (membrane protrusions that can connect cells over long distances). Data now published in Cell show how these nanotubes can be utilized in an immunotherapeutic

Aging is a risk factor for cancer but the mechanisms by which aging affects tumor control remain unclear. In Science, Park et al. find that aging is associated with enhanced emergency myelopoiesis, resulting in the accumulation of IL-1α-producing myeloid progenitor (MP)-like cells in tumors that drive tumor growth. Using a model of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the authors find that old mice

Innate immune memory provides antigen-independent cross-protection against heterologous pathogens. In Immunity, Lercher et al. determine the effects of innate immune memory in airway-resident immune cells on disease outcome of a second heterologous viral infection. The authors use a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain for a murine infection model of SARS-CoV-2 recovery. They investigate the epigenetic

Correction to: Nature Immunology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01819-8, published online 29 April 2024.

Correction to: Nature Immunology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01973-z, published online 2 October 2024.

Correction to: Nature Immunology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-024-01906-w, published online 19 July 2024.

Outbreaks of mpox have been increasing over the past few decades. The modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-based vaccine is effective against mpox; however, issues such as incomplete immunity and uncertainty of cross-protection to more virulent strains necessitate the investigation of improved vaccines. In Cell, Mucker et al. compare the protection against mpox conferred by two different vaccines in non-human

Inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs) and inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are human monogenic disorders caused by germline variants in single genes. A deeper understanding of these diseases could lead to new therapeutic options as well as revealing the basic biology underpinning the disorders. In Science Immunology, Patterson et al. use CRISPR screens of known IEM and IEI genes to test whether these

Coagulopathies are associated with respiratory and neurological complications in COVID-19 and long COVID. In Nature, Ryu et al. show that the soluble blood protein fibrinogen and its cleavage product fibrin, the structural component of blood clots, bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to promote activation of innate immunity in the brain and lungs. Spike protein binds to fibrin (with lower affinity

By overexpression of specific transcription factors, in vivo cell reprogramming has potential for treating ‘cold’ tumors that are often resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). A study in Science now shows that tumor cells in vivo can be reprogrammed to resemble type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) and in so doing overcome these poorly immunogenic tumor conditions by boosting the presentation

Correction to: Nature Immunology https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-022-01290-3, published online 24 August 2022.