Prof Sheena Cruickshank
@sheencr.bsky.social
Immunologist & science communicator based at UoM fascinated by our immune response to threats (pathogens, pollution) & microbiome & how this exposome affects health. Also quite likely to share random dog and nature pics 🧪👩🔬 #AcademicSky #SciCom
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Exciting research shows potential for a new way to prevent flu infection using a nasal spray! 🧵🧪
Phase 1 and preclinical studies reveal safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of intranasal delivery of the influenza antibody CR9114
Intranasal CR9114 is safe in humans, and twice-daily dosing confers protection against influenza virus challenge in macaques.
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Exciting research shows potential for a new way to prevent flu infection using a nasal spray! 🧵🧪
So whilst this new discovery is really exciting and promising especially for clinically vulnerable people will it get developed and if so will it be licensed?
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
So whilst this new discovery is really exciting and promising especially for clinically vulnerable people will it get developed and if so will it be licensed?
But Kennedy’s AcIP have not discriminated between vaccines and monoclonals thus far when they chose to limit use of a monoclonal that targets RSV to ‘At risk babies’
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
But Kennedy’s AcIP have not discriminated between vaccines and monoclonals thus far when they chose to limit use of a monoclonal that targets RSV to ‘At risk babies’
It may appeal to Kennedy and his team who have shown a decidedly anti-vaccine stance with much of their vaccine policies to date…and Prasad just rejected licensing the latest flu vaccine update from Moderna. They also blocked further development of a vaccine that might target multiple flu strains.
FDA reverses course, refuses to review Moderna’s application for new mRNA flu vaccine
www.cidrap.umn.edu
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
It may appeal to Kennedy and his team who have shown a decidedly anti-vaccine stance with much of their vaccine policies to date…and Prasad just rejected licensing the latest flu vaccine update from Moderna. They also blocked further development of a vaccine that might target multiple flu strains.
But so far it required at least 2 doses per day as wore off quickly. This could add up in terms of cost and monoclonals can be pretty expensive drugs. For example some of the treatments for Alzheimer’s were rejected due in large part to issues with cost effectiveness
NICE rejects Alzheimer’s drug donanemab owing to cost and “significant health risks”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has rejected the Alzheimer’s drug donanemab because the “relatively small benefit” it provides does not outweigh its cost.1
The draft guid...
www.bmj.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
But so far it required at least 2 doses per day as wore off quickly. This could add up in terms of cost and monoclonals can be pretty expensive drugs. For example some of the treatments for Alzheimer’s were rejected due in large part to issues with cost effectiveness
This is great news and for those who can’t make their own antibodies s as they are immunocompromised could be an important clinical tool to protect them if further clinical trials back up the initial findings…
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
This is great news and for those who can’t make their own antibodies s as they are immunocompromised could be an important clinical tool to protect them if further clinical trials back up the initial findings…
The spray contains cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies that recognise multiple types of flu. Sprayed in the nose these could prevent infection from several flu strains in animal and human phase 1 trials. Link is a primer of how monoclonals work
Immunology 101: Monoclonal antibodies
What monoclonals are and how we use them therapeutically.
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
The spray contains cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies that recognise multiple types of flu. Sprayed in the nose these could prevent infection from several flu strains in animal and human phase 1 trials. Link is a primer of how monoclonals work
Exciting research shows potential for a new way to prevent flu infection using a nasal spray! 🧵🧪
Phase 1 and preclinical studies reveal safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy of intranasal delivery of the influenza antibody CR9114
Intranasal CR9114 is safe in humans, and twice-daily dosing confers protection against influenza virus challenge in macaques.
www.science.org
February 12, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Exciting research shows potential for a new way to prevent flu infection using a nasal spray! 🧵🧪
Even as measles cases rise in the states, the trust in the mmr vaccine is falling. So much disinformation been given about this and other vaccines by Kennedy and his team that one can’t help but wonder if he his denting vaccine confidence… #MMR #HealthPolicy
Annenberg poll shows drop in perceived safety of vaccines
www.cidrap.umn.edu
February 12, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Even as measles cases rise in the states, the trust in the mmr vaccine is falling. So much disinformation been given about this and other vaccines by Kennedy and his team that one can’t help but wonder if he his denting vaccine confidence… #MMR #HealthPolicy
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Vinay Prasad has refused to review Moderna's application to license a new updated flu vaccine for the USA- why - this is puzzling because he basically made up a reason as he claims a trial was not done that was in fact performed. This has huge implications for licensing new vaccines in the States
FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Vinay Prasad has refused to review Moderna's application to license a new updated flu vaccine for the USA- why - this is puzzling because he basically made up a reason as he claims a trial was not done that was in fact performed. This has huge implications for licensing new vaccines in the States
Yup all the up front costs for international researchers re visa/health etc have probably discouraged people from coming over.
February 11, 2026 at 11:53 AM
Yup all the up front costs for international researchers re visa/health etc have probably discouraged people from coming over.
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Vinay Prasad has refused to review Moderna's application to license a new updated flu vaccine for the USA- why - this is puzzling because he basically made up a reason as he claims a trial was not done that was in fact performed. This has huge implications for licensing new vaccines in the States
FDA declines to review Moderna application for new flu vaccine
Moderna requests meeting to discuss refusal as decision could have implications for all new and updated vaccines
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Vinay Prasad has refused to review Moderna's application to license a new updated flu vaccine for the USA- why - this is puzzling because he basically made up a reason as he claims a trial was not done that was in fact performed. This has huge implications for licensing new vaccines in the States
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
✅ The UK Government has today granted access to half a million UK Biobank participants' coded GP data for health research.
This change will dramatically increase the power of UK Biobank's dataset to advance the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions handled by GPs.
This change will dramatically increase the power of UK Biobank's dataset to advance the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions handled by GPs.
February 10, 2026 at 2:57 PM
✅ The UK Government has today granted access to half a million UK Biobank participants' coded GP data for health research.
This change will dramatically increase the power of UK Biobank's dataset to advance the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions handled by GPs.
This change will dramatically increase the power of UK Biobank's dataset to advance the diagnosis, treatment and management of conditions handled by GPs.
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social offers insight in The Guardian @theguardian.com on the science behind sneezing and what it reveals about our health #ImmunoSky
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
The sneeze secret: how much should you worry about this explosive reflex?
It is one of the most powerful involuntary actions the human body can perform. But is a big sneeze a sign of illness, pollution or something else entirely?
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Prof Sheena Cruickshank @sheencr.bsky.social offers insight in The Guardian @theguardian.com on the science behind sneezing and what it reveals about our health #ImmunoSky
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
www.theguardian.com/society/2026...
I cannot imagine how terrifying this was!
My helicopter went into freefall – inside an active volcano
Christopher Duddy was shooting a film in Hawaii when disaster struck. For 28 hours he choked on fumes near a lava lake, fighting to get to safety
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 8:17 AM
I cannot imagine how terrifying this was!
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
Interesting recent research has investigated why some people who are clinically vulnerable e.g. smokers or asthmatic do so much worse in response to some common cold viruses. 🧪 🧵@exposomeimmunology.bsky.social
Rhinovirus triggers distinct host responses through differential engagement of epithelial innate immune signaling
Rhinoviruses are the most frequent cause of common colds and also a major cause of
respiratory distress in high-risk groups. Using single-cell sequencing of rhinovirus-infected
nasal epithelial organo...
www.cell.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Interesting recent research has investigated why some people who are clinically vulnerable e.g. smokers or asthmatic do so much worse in response to some common cold viruses. 🧪 🧵@exposomeimmunology.bsky.social
Reposted by Prof Sheena Cruickshank
7/ Read the rest of the letters:
“I Have Been Here Too Long”: Read Letters from the Children Detained at ICE’s Dilley Facility
Hundreds of children are currently being held with their parents at an immigration detention center in Dilley, Texas. In letters and drawings, eight kids convey the pain of feeling trapped with no end...
propub.li
February 9, 2026 at 12:42 PM
7/ Read the rest of the letters:
agreed- happy to promote his alternative cures and promote anti-vaccine ideology the rest of the time
February 9, 2026 at 1:40 PM
agreed- happy to promote his alternative cures and promote anti-vaccine ideology the rest of the time
so sorry to hear that
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
so sorry to hear that
They were able to identify a pathway involving an important damage sensing pathway involving NLRP1 receptor & the cytokine Interleukin 1 beta as being increased in the RV susceptible model. If this pathway up in susceptible people this could be a future target for therapy to improve outcomes to RV!
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
They were able to identify a pathway involving an important damage sensing pathway involving NLRP1 receptor & the cytokine Interleukin 1 beta as being increased in the RV susceptible model. If this pathway up in susceptible people this could be a future target for therapy to improve outcomes to RV!
The virus was very happy and there was MUCH higher levels of virus. There was more cell damage (caused by the virus). Also mucus levels went up and they have actual video of this in the paper which was BRILLIANT- screen shot below but I can't share the video via bluesky
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
The virus was very happy and there was MUCH higher levels of virus. There was more cell damage (caused by the virus). Also mucus levels went up and they have actual video of this in the paper which was BRILLIANT- screen shot below but I can't share the video via bluesky
In normal conditions the cells made lots of Interferon & virus was well controlled- less than 2% of cells were infected. This is good- shows how effective the immune response was limiting viral replication. But what happened when you inhibited the interferon response (mimicking a poor response)?
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
In normal conditions the cells made lots of Interferon & virus was well controlled- less than 2% of cells were infected. This is good- shows how effective the immune response was limiting viral replication. But what happened when you inhibited the interferon response (mimicking a poor response)?
So researchers did single-cell sequencing of an organ model of healthy human nasal epithelial cells (taken from swabbing the nose) that were infected with RV
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
So researchers did single-cell sequencing of an organ model of healthy human nasal epithelial cells (taken from swabbing the nose) that were infected with RV
Rhinoviruses (RVs) are amongst the most frequent cause of the cold but the mechanisms for why some groups of people do worse unknown. However data had shown that cells lining the nose (nasal epithelial) of RV-susceptible patient groups made less anti-viral factors- interferons
February 9, 2026 at 1:23 PM
Rhinoviruses (RVs) are amongst the most frequent cause of the cold but the mechanisms for why some groups of people do worse unknown. However data had shown that cells lining the nose (nasal epithelial) of RV-susceptible patient groups made less anti-viral factors- interferons