A team of researchers at the University of Michigan have successfully tested a new approach to revving up the human immune system. After taking stem cells drawn from umbilical cords and bone marrow, the cells were injected into pig fetuses, where they multiplied and matured. The T-cells were then mixed with cells from the subject and did not trigger an immune response, indicating that they could be used safely.

The theory is that this approach could allow physicians to turbo charge the human immune system, essentially gearing them to fight off cancer, HIV or other infections.

"If I had HIV, I could put my stem cells in pigs and immunize them with an HIV vaccine," said Dr. Jeffrey Platt. "You would get immunity in the pig that you would never get in my body."

- read the article [1] in the Telegraph

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