#IMMUNOTHERAPY

[reasonsforhope]

Story from the Washington Post here, non-paywall version here.

Washington Post stop blocking linksharing and shit challenge.

"The young woman was catatonic, stuck at the nurses’ station — unmoving, unblinking and unknowing of where or who she was.

Her name was April Burrell.

Before she became a patient, April had been an outgoing, straight-A student majoring in accounting at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. But after a traumatic event when she was 21, April suddenly developed psychosis and became lost in a constant state of visual and auditory hallucinations. The former high school valedictorian could no longer communicate, bathe or take care of herself.

April was diagnosed with a severe form of schizophrenia, an often devastating mental illness that affects approximately 1 percent of the global population and can drastically impair how patients behave and perceive reality.

“She was the first person I ever saw as a patient,” said Sander Markx, director of precision psychiatry at Columbia University, who was still a medical student in 2000 when he first encountered April. “She is, to this day, the sickest patient I’ve ever seen.” ...

It would be nearly two decades before their paths crossed again. But in 2018, another chance encounter led to several medical discoveries...

Markx and his colleagues discovered that although April’s illness was clinically indistinguishable from schizophrenia, she also had lupus, an underlying and treatable autoimmune condition that was attacking her brain.

After months of targeted treatments [for lupus] — and more than two decades trapped in her mind — April woke up.

The awakening of April — and the successful treatment of other people with similar conditions — now stand to transform care for some of psychiatry’s sickest patients, many of whom are languishing in mental institutions.

Researchers working with the New York state mental health-care system have identified about 200 patients with autoimmune diseases, some institutionalized for years, who may be helped by the discovery.

And scientists around the world, including Germany and Britain, are conducting similar research, finding that underlying autoimmune and inflammatory processes may be more common in patients with a variety of psychiatric syndromes than previously believed.

Although the current research probably will help only a small subset of patients, the impact of the work is already beginning to reshape the practice of psychiatry and the way many cases of mental illness are diagnosed and treated.

“These are the forgotten souls,” said Markx. “We’re not just improving the lives of these people, but we’re bringing them back from a place that I didn’t think they could come back from.” ...

Waking up after two decades

The medical team set to work counteracting April’s rampaging immune system and started April on an intensive immunotherapy treatment for neuropsychiatric lupus...

The regimen is grueling, requiring a month-long break between each of the six rounds to allow the immune system to recover. But April started showing signs of improvement almost immediately...

A joyful reunion

“I’ve always wanted my sister to get back to who she was,” Guy Burrell said.

In 2020, April was deemed mentally competent to discharge herself from the psychiatric hospital where she had lived for nearly two decades, and she moved to a rehabilitation center...

Because of visiting restrictions related to covid, the family’s face-to-face reunion with April was delayed until last year. April’s brother, sister-in-law and their kids were finally able to visit her at a rehabilitation center, and the occasion was tearful and joyous.

“When she came in there, you would’ve thought she was a brand-new person,” Guy Burrell said. “She knew all of us, remembered different stuff from back when she was a child.” ...

The family felt as if they’d witnessed a miracle.

“She was hugging me, she was holding my hand,” Guy Burrell said. “You might as well have thrown a parade because we were so happy, because we hadn’t seen her like that in, like, forever.”

“It was like she came home,” Markx said. “We never thought that was possible.”

...After April’s unexpected recovery, the medical team put out an alert to the hospital system to identify any patients with antibody markers for autoimmune disease. A few months later, Anca Askanase, a rheumatologist and director of the Columbia Lupus Center,who had been on April’s treatment team, approached Markx. “I think we found our girl,” she said.

Bringing back Devine

When Devine Cruz was 9, she began to hear voices. At first, the voices fought with one another. But as she grew older, the voices would talk about her, [and over the years, things got worse].

For more than a decade, the young woman moved in and out of hospitals for treatment. Her symptoms included visual and auditory hallucinations, as well as delusions that prevented her from living a normal life.

Devine was eventually diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, which can result in symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. She also was diagnosed with intellectual disability.

She was on a laundry list of drugs — two antipsychotic medications, lithium, clonazepam, Ativan and benztropine — that came with a litany of side effects but didn’t resolve all her symptoms...

She also had lupus, which she had been diagnosed with when she was about 14, although doctors had never made a connection between the disease and her mental health...

Last August, the medical team prescribed monthly immunosuppressive infusions of corticosteroids and chemotherapy drugs, a regime similar to what April had been given a few years prior. By October, there were already dramatic signs of improvement.

“She was like ‘Yeah, I gotta go,’” Markx said. “‘Like, I’ve been missing out.’”

After several treatments, Devine began developing awareness that the voices in her head were different from real voices, a sign that she was reconnecting with reality. She finished her sixth and final round of infusions in January.

In March, she was well enough to meet with a reporter. “I feel like I’m already better,” Devine said during a conversation in Markx’s office at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, where she was treated. “I feel myself being a person that I was supposed to be my whole entire life.” ...

Her recovery is remarkable for several reasons, her doctors said. The voices and visions have stopped. And she no longer meets the diagnostic criteria for either schizoaffective disorder or intellectual disability, Markx said...

Today, Devine lives with her mother and is leading a more active and engaged life. She helps her mother cook, goes to the grocery store and navigates public transportation to keep her appointments. She is even babysitting her siblings’ young children — listening to music, taking them to the park or watching “Frozen 2” — responsibilities her family never would have entrusted her with before her recovery.

Expanding the search for more patients

While it is likely that only a subset of people diagnosed with schizophrenia and psychotic disorders have an underlying autoimmune condition, Markx and other doctors believe there are probably many more patients whose psychiatric conditions are caused or exacerbated by autoimmune issues...

The cases of April and Devine also helped inspire the development of the SNF Center for Precision Psychiatry and Mental Health at Columbia, which was named for the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, which awarded it a $75 million grant in April. The goal of the center is to develop new treatments based on specific genetic and autoimmune causes of psychiatric illness, said Joseph Gogos, co-director of the SNF Center.

Markx said he has begun care and treatment on about 40 patients since the SNF Center opened. The SNF Center is working with the New York State Office of Mental Health, which oversees one of the largest public mental health systems in America, to conduct whole genome sequencing and autoimmunity screening on inpatients at long-term facilities.

For “the most disabled, the sickest of the sick, even if we can help just a small fraction of them, by doing these detailed analyses, that’s worth something,�� said Thomas Smith, chief medical officer for the New York State Office of Mental Health. “You’re helping save someone’s life, get them out of the hospital, have them live in the community, go home.”

Discussions are underway to extend the search to the 20,000 outpatients in the New York state system as well. Serious psychiatric disorders, like schizophrenia, are more likely to be undertreated in underprivileged groups. And autoimmune disorders like lupus disproportionately affect women and people of color with more severity.

Changing psychiatric care

How many people ultimately will be helped by the research remains a subject of debate in the scientific community. But the research has spurred excitement about the potential to better understand what is going on in the brain during serious mental illness...

Emerging research has implicated inflammation and immunological dysfunction as potential players in a variety of neuropsychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, depression and autism.

“It opens new treatment possibilities to patients that used to be treated very differently,” said Ludger Tebartz van Elst, a professor of psychiatry and psychotherapy at University Medical Clinic Freiburg in Germany.

In one study, published last year in Molecular Psychiatry, Tebartz van Elst and his colleagues identified 91 psychiatric patients with suspected autoimmune diseases, and reported that immunotherapies benefited the majority of them.

Belinda Lennox, head of the psychiatry department at the University of Oxford, is enrolling patients in clinical trials to test the effectiveness of immunotherapy for autoimmune psychosis patients.

As a result of the research, screenings for immunological markers in psychotic patients are already routine in Germany, where psychiatrists regularly collect samples from cerebrospinal fluid.

Markx is also doing similar screening with his patients. He believes highly sensitive and inexpensive blood tests to detect different antibodies should become part of the standard screening protocol for psychosis.

Also on the horizon: more targeted immunotherapy rather than current “sledgehammer approaches” that suppress the immune system on a broad level, said George Yancopoulos, the co-founder and president of the pharmaceutical company Regeneron.

“I think we’re at the dawn of a new era. This is just the beginning,” said Yancopoulos."

-via The Washington Post, June 1, 2023

[shittyamdaily]

AM supporting pride month

Day 122

[neuroandhemo]

platelet

one of my ideas for its design

[dark-paraddis3]

This post is about a different kind of journey, a dark one. Two years of treatments, scans, blood tests, fear, relief, hope. I was diagnosed with lymphoma 3 years ago. That rocked my entire life. That’s where my fitness journey began, thats when I realised that facing your demons is not that scary, I even invited them on my table to sit with me. That’s when I realised how strong I am. So in some twisted way it might have come as a blessing. Today was my last treatment so far 🙏 I feel thankful and blessed.

[science-lover33]

The Power of Immunotherapy: A Deep Dive into Cancer Treatment

Immunotherapy, a groundbreaking approach in cancer treatment, has been making waves in the medical world. 🌟 But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Let's delve into the intricacies of this cutting-edge therapy. 💉

Immunotherapy at a Glance: 🔬 Immunotherapy, or immuno-oncology, is a therapeutic strategy that harnesses the body's immune system to combat cancer cells. Unlike traditional treatments like chemotherapy, which target both healthy and cancerous cells, immunotherapy is highly targeted, making it a game-changer in the fight against cancer.

Key Players in Immunotherapy: 🦠

Tumor Antigens are molecules found on cancer cells that act as red flags, signaling the immune system to attack. 👥

T Cells: The immune system's soldiers. They are trained to recognize and destroy threats, including cancer cells.

💡 Checkpoint Inhibitors: Proteins that, when blocked, enhance the immune response against cancer. 🧬

CAR-T Cell Therapy: Genetic engineering to supercharge T cells for precision attacks on tumors.

How Does Immunotherapy Work? Immunotherapy comes in various forms, but they all aim to accomplish one goal: boost the immune system's ability to recognize and eradicate cancer cells. Whether through checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, or CAR-T cell therapy, the goal remains: empower the immune system's fighters!

Immunotherapy is a testament to the power of science and innovation, offering new hope to cancer patients worldwide. 🌍

Let's continue to explore, research, and advance this remarkable field to improve the lives of those affected by cancer.

References:

Postow, M. A., Callahan, M. K., & Wolchok, J. D. (2015). Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Cancer Therapy. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(17), 1974–1982. doi:10.1200/jco.2014.59.4358

Rosenberg, S. A., Yang, J. C., & Restifo, N. P. (2004). Cancer immunotherapy: moving beyond current vaccines. Nature Medicine, 10(9), 909–915. doi:10.1038/nm1100

June, C. H., & Sadelain, M. (2018). Chimeric Antigen Receptor Therapy. New England Journal of Medicine, 379(1), 64–73. doi:10.1056/nejmra1706164

[dosesofcommonsense]

More hocus poke-us on the mRNA front.

I’ve said since the mRNA poke came out they’d just combine it with the flu shot and people’s never know. I’ve heard stories of that. I also knew hospitals would fill in vaccines pending surgery or duration of stay in hospitals. I didn’t know this.

[talkethtothehandeth]

If you’re disabled and give yourself injections bravo, kudos I have no idea how you do it and in a few months I’m going to have to do it at home with xolair. The problem is that I cannot handle the idea of sticking a needle into myself at all; I asked my diabetic mom if she would do it for me (since she self injects) and she said yes.

But if you do give yourself at home injections and were scared of needles previously/are still scared of needles how do you build up the courage to inject yourself because I just cannot even think about it without my body going “DANGER ⚠️” and I really need to learn how to do it on my own

* I am not afraid of needles at all, I have 15 piercings and have had countless pokes from many medical facilities , but the idea of me pushing a needle into myself is not a fun thing

[science-sculpt]

ELISA: A Powerful Tool for Detecting the Invisible

ELISA, or Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, has become a cornerstone of medical diagnostics and biological research. This versatile technique allows scientists to detect and quantify minute amounts of target molecules, such as proteins, antibodies, and even viruses, with remarkable accuracy. In this blog, we'll delve into the world of ELISA, exploring its various types, its applications, and the exciting future directions this technology holds.

At its core, ELISA relies on the exquisite specificity of antibodies. Antibodies are highly specialized proteins produced by the immune system in response to foreign invaders. Each antibody can bind to a unique structure, called an antigen, on a specific molecule. In an ELISA, scientists leverage this binding property to create a sensitive detection system.

The 1960s witnessed a surge in interest in immunoassays, techniques that utilize the specificity of antibodies to detect target molecules. One such technique, radioimmunoassay (RIA), developed by Rosalyn Yalow and Solomon Berson, revolutionized medical diagnostics. RIA used radioactively labeled antibodies to detect antigens, offering high sensitivity. However, concerns regarding the safety of radioactive materials fueled the search for a safer alternative. The year 1971 marked a turning point. Independently, Eva Engvall and Peter Perlmann published their work on a novel technique – the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ELISA replaced radioactive labels with enzymes, eliminating the safety concerns associated with RIA. Like RIA, ELISA harnessed the specific binding between antibodies and antigens. However, it employed enzymes that could generate a detectable signal, such as a color change, upon interacting with a substrate. This innovation paved the way for a safer and more user-friendly diagnostic tool.

The basic ELISA protocol involves immobilizing the target antigen on a solid surface like a plate well. Then, a sample containing the molecule of interest (e.g., a suspected virus) is introduced. If the target molecule is present, it will bind to the immobilized antigen. Next, an antibody specific to the target molecule, linked to an enzyme, is introduced. This "detection antibody" binds to the target molecule already attached to the antigen. Finally, a substrate specific to the enzyme is added. This antigen-antibody binding is visualized using an enzyme linked to a reporter molecule. When the enzyme encounters its substrate, a detectable signal is produced, such as a color change or luminescence. The intensity of this signal is directly proportional to the amount of antigen present in the sample, allowing for quantification. The beauty of ELISA lies in its adaptability. Several variations exist, each tailored for specific detection needs.

The Four Main ELISA Formats are:

Direct ELISA: Simplicity at its finest. In this format, the antigen is directly coated onto the ELISA plate. A labeled antibody specific to the antigen is then introduced, binding directly to its target. After washing away unbound molecules, the enzyme linked to the antibody generates a signal upon addition of the substrate. Direct ELISA offers a rapid and straightforward approach, but sensitivity can be lower compared to other formats due to the lack of amplification.

Indirect ELISA: Unveiling the Power of Amplification. Similar to the direct ELISA, the antigen is first coated onto the plate. However, instead of a labeled primary antibody, an unlabeled one specific to the antigen is used. This is followed by the introduction of a labeled secondary antibody that recognizes the species (e.g., mouse, rabbit) of the primary antibody. This two-step approach acts as an amplification strategy, significantly enhancing the signal compared to the direct ELISA. However, the presence of an extra incubation step and the potential for cross-reactivity with the secondary antibody add complexity.

Sandwich ELISA: Capturing the Antigen Between Two Antibodies. Here, the capture antibody, specific for one region of the antigen, is pre-coated onto the ELISA plate. The sample containing the antigen is then introduced, allowing it to be "sandwiched" between the capture antibody and a detection antibody specific for a different region of the same antigen. A labeled secondary antibody or a labeled detection antibody itself can then be used to generate the signal. Sandwich ELISA boasts high sensitivity due to the double-antibody recognition and is often the preferred format for quantifying analytes.

Competitive ELISA: A Race for Binding Sites. In this format, the antigen competes with a labeled antigen (usually a known amount) for binding sites on a capture antibody pre-coated onto the plate. The more antigen present in the sample, the less labeled antigen can bind to the capture antibody. Following a washing step, the amount of bound labeled antigen is measured, providing an inverse relationship between the signal and the concentration of antigen in the sample. Competitive ELISA is particularly useful for studying small molecules that may be difficult to directly conjugate to an enzyme.

ELISA's Reach: From Diagnostics to Research. The applications of ELISA are as vast as they are impressive. Let's delve into some key areas where ELISA plays a vital role:

Unveiling the Mysteries of Disease: Diagnostics: ELISA is a cornerstone of diagnosing infectious diseases like HIV, Hepatitis, and Lyme disease. It detects antibodies produced by the body in response to the invading pathogen, providing valuable information for early detection and treatment. Monitoring Autoimmune Diseases: ELISA helps monitor autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus by measuring specific antibodies associated with these conditions. Cancer Screening: Certain cancers can be detected by identifying tumor markers, proteins elevated in the blood of cancer patients. ELISA assays are being developed to detect these markers for early cancer screening.

Safeguarding Food Quality: Allergen Detection: Food allergies can be life-threatening. ELISA ensures food safety by enabling the detection of allergens like peanuts, gluten, and milk in food products, protecting consumers with allergies. Monitoring Foodborne Pathogens: ELISA can identify harmful bacteria, viruses, and toxins in food, preventing outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.

Environmental Monitoring: Pollutant Detection: ELISA can detect pollutants like pesticides and herbicides in water and soil samples, contributing to environmental protection efforts. Microbial Analysis: This technique can be used to identify and quantify specific microbes in environmental samples, providing insights into ecosystem health.

Research and Development: ELISA plays a crucial role in various research fields: Drug Discovery: It helps researchers assess the effectiveness of new drugs by measuring drug-target interactions and monitoring drug levels in the body. Vaccine Development: ELISA is instrumental in developing vaccines by evaluating immune responses to vaccine candidates. Basic Research: Scientists use ELISA to study various biological processes by detecting and quantifying specific molecules involved in these processes.

Despite its established role, ELISA is evolving alongside technological advancements. New multiplex platforms allow for the simultaneous detection of various targets in a single sample, boosting efficiency in biomarker discovery and disease analysis. Automation streamlines workflows minimizes errors, and increases throughput, making high-throughput screening feasible in drug development and clinical settings. Miniaturization and portable devices enable rapid on-site diagnostics, providing healthcare professionals with real-time data for quicker interventions. Additionally, ongoing research is improving assay sensitivity, reducing background noise, and expanding detection limits, allowing for the identification of trace analytes and early disease biomarkers with greater accuracy than ever before. Integration of ELISA with emerging technologies such as microfluidics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence holds promise for enhancing assay performance, scalability, and data analysis capabilities.

These advancements hold promise for even wider applications of ELISA in the future. ELISA has revolutionized our ability to detect and quantify biological molecules. Its versatility, accuracy, and adaptability make it an invaluable tool across various scientific disciplines. As research continues to refine and innovate ELISA techniques, we can expect even more exciting possibilities to emerge in the years to come. ELISA's future is bright, promising to play a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of the biological world and improving human health.

[bpod-bpod]

Tumour Environment Effects

Combined immunotherapy (GVAX + anti-PD1) and targeted radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer not only promotes anti-cancer T cells but also immunosuppressive macrophages – insight for skewing therapy towards greater anti-tumour effects

Read the published research article here

Image from work by Junke Wang and Jessica Gai, and colleagues

Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

Image originally published with a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Published in Science Advances, February 2024

You can also follow BPoD on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

[cbirt]

A recent publication in Nature Journal has presented the TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Cancer) ICI (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors) response predictive classifier (TNBC-ICI) integrating gene expression profiles of TNBC specimens and artificial intelligence, which has demonstrated a significant performance in identifying TNBC patients who would potentially achieve pCR (Pathological Complete Response) to the chemotherapy treatment supplemented with ICI, opening an avenue to improve the decision making and disease management of patients diagnosed with primary TNBC.

Researchers from the Health Research Institute of the Balearic Islands (IdISBa), Spain, have implemented a random forest machine learning algorithm to construct and evaluate gene expression-based signatures to efficiently predict Pathological Complete Response (pCR) to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) therapy assisted with chemotherapy in patients with primary TNBC treated in the phase II/III I-SPY2 clinical trial that includes clinical and gene expression data. This study involved 188 ICI-naïve and 721 specimens treated with ICI plus chemotherapy.

Here, patients who achieved a pCR or absence of invasive cancer in the breast and regional nodes at the time of surgery were classified as ‘responders,’ whereas those who had residual disease were considered ‘non-responders’ during the classifier construction. The algorithm is applied to select the most informative gene combinations to predict response to ICI in primary TNBC tumors.

Continue Reading

[harmcityherald]

I love that they are called dome wreckers.😆 500mg each then add the indica hybrid making tonight's dinner of stuffed clams and buttered pasta seasoned with rosemary from the garden, basil, onion flakes, salt and pepper, well it makes that a feast of kings and to artemesia's credit I feel so much better than last night. The cramping in my stomach was pretty bad came with a side order of projectile vomiting free of charge. 24hrs later I'm stuffed to the seams but not uncomfortably so. This is why I continue to tell my doctors there needs to be more study into medical cannabis related to stomach cancer, appetite and pain relief and calming of the stomach as well. I lost 80% of my stomach and was told I would never be able to gain weight on my own. today I'm twice as heavy and relaxing from a meal where I ate significantly more than everyone else. sure last night I was sick. but tonight all systems are operating at peak efficiency. I can directly draw a line from my use of edibles to my success at regaining weight and stretching out the remaining tissue to form a quasi-stomach, with which I now eat normally. The doctors agree with me. They have to stop short of recommending their patients utilize it, but trust me, anything you can do to improve your mood and condition they will appreciate. I gained weight when they told me I couldn't. They continue to be pleasantly surprised by my success. So I'm a big advocate of medical cannabis especially when it concerns stomach cancer and similar maladies. I can say I have added years to my life thanks to good old Mary Jane. All those years of self medicating with the only anxiety medication that ever worked finally paid off. it helped me to eat again when that seemed bleak and out of reach. it's helping me tonight. its helping artemesia with her restless legs and getting some semblance of sleep.

I'm thankful for the help it most certainly provides.

I totally support recreational legalization everywhere, all the time but I believe that it's criminal to not provide this medical option, so valuable in many different ways to someone like me whose life would have been shortened without it.

free the weed.

[barbi3-bitches]

Please please help if you can,

Anything will be greatly appreciated!! ❤️

Please share as well, thank you for your kindness in this tough time

[innonurse]

Researchers create AI tool to forecast cancer patients' responses to immunotherapy

- By InnoNurse Staff -

NIH scientists have developed an AI tool that uses routine clinical data to predict cancer patients' responses to immunotherapy, potentially aiding in treatment decisions.

Read more at National Institutes of Health (NIH)

///

Other recent news and insights

New analytical tool enhances comprehension of heritable human traits and diseases (University of Oslo/Medical Xpress)

[dark-paraddis3]

It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever

[eretzyisrael]

Good News From Israel

In the 18th Jun 23 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:

An Israeli startup can train the brain to filter out chronic pain.

Children with psychological problems receive therapy from Israeli dolphins.

3 Israeli startups have independently developed solutions to cure insomnia.

It’s official - another major Israeli natural gas discovery.

Israel beat Korea to come 3rd in the Under 20 Soccer World Cup.

An Israeli kidney donor ran a marathon alongside the transplant recipient.

Read More: Good News From Israel

This week's theme is "together". Having just returned from celebrating together with my family, it was uplifting to read so many news articles of Israelis working together, and also with global partners. Ben Gurion Uni is working together with Israel's OncoHost on a cancer biosensor; Tel Aviv Uni has got together with UCLA to treat memory loss; Israel's BioNanoSim is marketing its eye disease treatments together with a Greek manufacturer; and the world's first AI chatbot for cancer patients is called "Beating Cancer Together" from Israel's Belong.Life. Yad Sarah volunteers have together saved Israel billions by providing ancillary medical services; the International Fellowship of Christians & Jews is celebrating 40 years of uniting Jews together with their homeland; for over 30 years, Israeli children have been receiving emotional therapy by swimming together with dolphins. And recently, a record 1,127 Birthright participants enjoyed Shabbat together at Jerusalem's Western Wall. Rarely publicized examples of "togetherness" include Jewish residents of Judea who frequently save the lives of their Palestinian Arab neighbors; the annual Veteran Games between injured UK and Israeli soldiers; and International legislators coming to Israel to strengthen bilateral ties. Israel and Japan have been connecting together at the Israel-Japan Conference in Tokyo; The latest stage of Israel's National Drone network is testing hundreds of commercial UAVs flying together; and Israel's Steakholder Foods and Singapore's Unami Meats are cultivating no-fish fish together. Finally, Israelis have attained some incredible teamwork achievements. The IDF's Special In Uniform Band just performed their 500th show together; Israel's Under 20 soccer team came 3rd in the World Cup; and two Israelis can be considered "joined at the hip" having just completed a unique marathon race together - one of them was a kidney donor, and the other was the recipient of her kidney. The photo is one single poster on the wall of the arrivals hallway at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International airport. The two images together show two of the multi-faceted sides of little Israel - busy innovating, while conserving and improving the environment.

[geohoneylovers]

🐝🍯 Buzzing Breakthrough! 🌟 Immunotherapy Saves the Day for Honey Bees 🌈🦠 Honey bees are facing deadly viruses, but there's a sweet solution! Discover how cutting-edge immunotherapy is coming to the rescue, helping our beloved pollinators build their defenses and thrive. 🌼🐝🌼 Read the buzz-worthy research here: https://geohoney.com/research-detail/immunotherapy-aids-honey-bees-in-resisting-deadly-viruses