In a groundbreaking study published in Science, researchers from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the American Scripps Research Institute have developed an AI platform that can design proteins to tailor immune cells for precision cancer treatment. This innovative approach significantly shortens the process of finding effective molecules for cancer treatment from years to just weeks.

Associate Professor Timothy P. Jenkins at DTU explains, “We are essentially creating a new set of eyes for the immune system.” The current method involves finding T-cell receptors in the immune system of a patient or donor, which is a time-consuming and challenging process. In contrast, the AI platform designs molecular keys to target cancer cells using machine learning algorithms, producing a lead molecule within 4-6 weeks.

The researchers aimed to overcome a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy by demonstrating how scientists can generate targeted treatments for tumor cells while avoiding damage to healthy tissue. T cells naturally identify cancer cells by recognizing specific protein fragments (peptides) presented on the cell surface by molecules called pMHCs. However, utilizing this knowledge for therapy has been slow and challenging due to the variation in the body’s own T-cell receptors.

In the study, the researchers tested the strength of their AI platform on a well-known cancer target, NY-ESO-1, which is found in various cancers. They successfully designed a minibinder that bound tightly to the NY-ESO-1 pMHC molecules and created a unique new cell product named ‘IMPAC-T’ cells, which effectively guided T cells to kill cancer cells in laboratory experiments.

The researchers also applied their pipeline to design binders for a cancer target identified in a metastatic melanoma patient, successfully generating binders for this target as well. This demonstrated that the method can be used for tailored immunotherapy against novel cancer targets.

A crucial step in their innovation was the development of a ‘virtual safety check’ using AI to screen designed minibinders and assess them in relation to pMHC molecules found on healthy cells. This enabled them to filter out minibinders that could cause dangerous side effects before any experiments were carried out.

Precision in cancer treatment is crucial, and by predicting and ruling out cross-reactions already in the design phase, the researchers reduced the risk associated with the designed proteins and increased the likelihood of designing a safe and effective therapy. DTU professor Sine Reker Hadrup notes that it may take up to five years before this new method is ready for initial clinical trials in humans.

Once ready, the treatment process will resemble current cancer treatments using genetically modified T cells (CAR-T cells), which are currently used to treat lymphoma and leukemia. Patients will have their immune cells extracted from a blood sample, modified in the laboratory to carry AI-designed minibinders, and returned to the patient where they act like targeted missiles, precisely finding and eliminating cancer cells in the body.

The benefits of regular exercise are well-documented, but a new study suggests that even just two workouts a week can have a significant impact on the health of adults with diabetes. Researchers from several top universities recently published their findings in Annals of Internal Medicine, showing that diabetics who engaged in physical activity had lower risks of heart disease and death compared to those who were inactive.

The study analyzed data from over 51,000 adults with self-reported diabetes who participated in the National Health Interview Survey between 1997 and 2018. The participants were divided into four categories based on their exercise habits: inactive (no reported physical activity), insufficiently active (less than 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week), weekend warriors (at least 150 minutes of physical activity, but only on one or two days a week), and regularly active (at least 150 minutes of physical activity, distributed across three or more days a week).

The results were striking. Compared to inactive participants, those who engaged in insufficient physical activity had a 12% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 15% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality. Weekend warriors had an even greater benefit, with a 21% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 33% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality. Regularly active participants also saw significant benefits, with a 17% lower risk of all-cause mortality and a 19% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality.

While the study did not find as strong a link between physical activity and cancer mortality, the overall message is clear: any amount of exercise can have a positive impact on the health of adults with diabetes. Whether it’s a quick walk after dinner or a weekend hike, getting moving can make a big difference in reducing the risk of heart disease and death.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab a friend or family member, lace up your shoes, and get out there to enjoy some fresh air and exercise. Your body – and your diabetes – will thank you!

The Pistachio Paradox: How Swapping Bedtime Snacks Can Rewire Your Gut and Help Prevent Diabetes

A third of people in the United States live with prediabetes, a condition that often progresses to Type 2 diabetes. While dietary interventions have shown promise, effective strategies remain limited. A recent study by researchers at Penn State has shed new light on how nighttime pistachio consumption can reshape the gut microbiome and potentially prevent diabetes.

Researchers led by Kristina Petersen, associate professor of nutritional sciences, found that replacing a traditional carbohydrate-based bedtime snack with pistachios can significantly alter the gut bacterial landscape in adults with prediabetes. The study, published in the journal Current Developments in Nutrition, demonstrated that consuming about two ounces of pistachios each night for 12 weeks resulted in distinct stool microbial community profiles compared to those who consumed the recommended 15 to 30 grams of a carbohydrate snack.

Specifically, researchers observed increased abundance of “good” bacteria like Roseburia and members of the Lachnospiraceae family, which produce beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. Butyrate serves as a primary energy source for colon cells, helps maintain the gut barrier, and supports anti-inflammatory processes.

Pistachio consumption also led to reductions in bacterial groups linked to less favorable metabolic outcomes, such as Blautia hydrogenotrophica and Eubacterium flavonifractor. The study’s design, a randomized crossover clinical trial, allowed researchers to better understand how specific foods like pistachios can influence the gut microbiome.

While the study demonstrated shifts in gut bacteria, it remains unclear whether these changes directly translate to improvements in health. Researchers hope to explore this question further in future research.

This study has significant implications for people working to improve their metabolic health. By incorporating pistachios into one’s bedtime snack routine, individuals may be able to reshape their gut microbiome and potentially prevent the progression of prediabetes to Type 2 diabetes.

The study was funded by the American Pistachio Growers, Penn State’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute through the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health, and additional support from Juniata College and the U.S. National Science Foundation.

At a time when federal funding cuts threaten research progress, studies like this one demonstrate the importance of continued investment in scientific inquiry that can improve the lives of people across the country and around the world.