Top 10 scientific discoveries of 2015 according to Prof. Mantovani

All â—January 13, 2016
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Science2015 brought important scientific discoveries in the field of medicine.

Here are the top 10 according to Alberto Mantovani, Scientific Director of °µÍø½ûÇø and Professor at °µÍø½ûÇø University.

  • Immunotherapy against cancer: the microenvironment surrounding the cancer cells is important because when its cells are “corrupted”, the immune defenses are turned off; reactivating the defenses with immunotherapy helps the patient to react to the tumor.
  • Vaccine against Ebola.
  • Trabectedin, an active principle affecting not just the tumor cells, but also the “corrupted” cells mentioned at point 1.
  • Confirmed safety of the measles vaccine.
  • Antimalarial principle (2015 Nobel Prize for Medicine to Dr. Youyou Tu).
  • The study of the microbiome, which includes all the viruses, bacteria and fungi that live inside us and is able to educate our immune system.
  • Advances in the understanding of the autoimmune diseases.
  • A combination of two antivirals (sofosbuvir-velpatasvir) against hepatitis C that would reduce the liver cancer risk of 70%.
  • The power of monoclonal antibodies (antibodies binding target molecules): a strong reduction in cholesterol levels has been observed by blocking a liver receptor with a monoclonal antibody.
  • The memory of innate immunity: certain infections leave a sign in the innate immune system and make it more susceptible to subsequent infections.

Do you want to know more? Read the full interview on .

Source: “Extra”, special dossier of “Corriere della Sera”.

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