UCVMRESEARCH
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University of Calgary · Veterinary Medicine

This week in research.

18 May – 25 May 2026 From the archive

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03Publications
04UCVM authors
02Journals & venues

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Summary of works published 2026-05-18 to 2026-05-25 Coupling dead cell recognition to Fcγ receptors augments anticancer immunity — Nature Cancer, 2026-05-20 — Cohort author: Johnathan Canton - cDC1s are key for cross-priming CD8+ T cells against cancer, but are scarce in tumors. - The study shows that abundant tumor-associated APCs can cross-present necrotic antigens by bridging F-actin to Fcγ receptors (via an Fc–DNGR-1 fusion or anti-F-actin antibody), with FcγR+ APCs localizing to necrotic tumor areas and enhanced tumor control possible with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. - This reveals that nonspecialized APCs can be harnessed for cross-presentation of necrotic tumor antigens and that F-actin–FcγR bridging can potentiate anticancer immunity. Adjunctive D-cycloserine to intermittent theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation in fibromyalgia: a randomized placebo-controlled trial — Neuropsychopharmacology, 2026-05-20 — Cohort author: Tuan Trang - A double-blind RCT tested adding D-Cycloserine (100 mg) to iTBS over the left DLPFC in adults with fibromyalgia. - iTBS produced a large overall improvement in fibromyalgia severity (FIQR, d = 1.41) with no consistent between-group advantage for the primary outcome. - Depressive symptoms improved more with iTBS+D-Cycloserine than with placebo; the trial was futility-terminated at n = 47, suggesting the large iTBS effect may have masked any additional D-Cycloserine benefit. Parasites and forage as determinants of body condition and population size in an imperiled ungulate — Journal not provided, 2026-05-19 — Cohort authors: Susan Kutz; Mathieu Pruvot - A bioenergetic integral projection model links caribou population dynamics to forage quality, parasitic nematodes, and biting insects via body condition. - Parasites and insects markedly influence nutritional condition and population trajectories, with reduced foraging and higher energetic costs lowering population size and altering forage biomass. - The framework offers a mechanistic approach to evaluate how energetics, parasites, and disease jointly shape wildlife dynamics under multiple stressors. By the numbers - Nature Cancer: 1; Neuropsychopharmacology: 1; Journal not specified: 1 - Total works: 3

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Publications this week

3
Nature Cancer

Coupling dead cell recognition to Fcγ receptors augments anticancer immunity · doi/link

UCVM authors Johnathan Canton

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Abstract Type 1 conventional dendritic cells (cDC1s) are key antigen-presenting cells (APCs) for cross-priming of CD8 + T cells against cancer. They can capture and cross-present dead cell antigens via DNGR-1 (CLEC9A), a receptor for F-actin exposed on cell corpses. However, cDC1s are scarce in human and murine tumors, and this restricts anticancer immunity. We show that abundant tumor-associated APCs, including cDC2s and monocyte-derived cells, can be redirected to internalize necrotic debris and cross-present associated antigens by a variety of reagents that bridge F-actin to Fcγ receptors (FcγRs), including an Fc–DNGR-1 fusion protein and an anti-F-actin antibody. In vivo, Fc–DNGR-1 accumulates in necrotic tumor areas and highlights their proximity to intratumoral FcγR + APCs. In mouse cancer models, F-actin–FcγR bridging enhances tumor control and synergizes with cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Thus, nonspecialized APCs can be harnessed for cross-presentation of necrotic tumor antigens, and F-actin–FcγR bridging constitutes a strategy to potentiate anticancer immunity.
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Neuropsychopharmacology

Adjunctive D-cycloserine to intermittent theta-burst transcranial magnetic stimulation in fibromyalgia: a randomized placebo-controlled trial · doi/link

UCVM authors Tuan Trang

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Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with a substantial unmet treatment need. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise in decreasing fibromyalgia symptom severity. Emerging data suggest that adjunctive administration of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor partial agonist, D-Cycloserine, with rTMS can significantly improve clinical outcomes for other rTMS indications. Accordingly, this trial investigated adjunctive D-Cycloserine to intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in adults with fibromyalgia. All participants received 20 daily (Monday-Friday) active iTBS treatments (600 pulses per session) delivered to the left DLPFC at 80% resting motor threshold, with double-blind, random assignment to adjunctive D-Cycloserine (100 mg) or placebo, taken prior to each iTBS session. The primary outcome was change on the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire - Revised (FIQR) from baseline to treatment end. Secondary outcomes included self-report and clinician-rated measures of fibromyalgia-associated symptoms and quantitative sensory testing. Following a planned interim analysis, the trial was terminated for futility at n = 47 participants. There was a very large overall treatment effect on the FIQR (Cohen's d = 1.41, 95% CI: 0.82-2.00) with no significant between-group difference. There was, however, a greater decrease in depressive symptoms in the iTBS+D-Cycloserine group compared to the iTBS+Placebo group. In conclusion, iTBS+/-D-Cycloserine was associated with a large improvement in fibromyalgia symptom severity, while iTBS+D-Cycloserine was superior to iTBS+Placebo only for improvements in depressive symptoms. The large effect of iTBS on fibromyalgia symptoms may have masked specific effects of adjunctive D-Cycloserine. Trial Registration: NCT05395494.
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Parasites and forage as determinants of body condition and population size in an imperiled ungulate. · doi/link

UCVM authors Susan Kutz, Mathieu Pruvot

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Rapid environmental changes are resulting in widespread changes in population size, health, and physiology of wildlife, especially at northern latitudes where the impacts of climate change are more pronounced. Barren-ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) have declined across much of their range in recent decades, and while the ultimate causes are unknown, western science and local Indigenous Knowledge both point to changes in body condition and diseases as contributing factors. We used a bioenergetic integral projection model (beIPM) that mechanistically links caribou population dynamics to forage quality, parasitic nematodes, and flying parasitic and biting insects through their effects on body condition. We investigated (i) the effects of parasites on caribou populations and available forage biomass, (ii) the sensitivity of model dynamics to changes in key demographic and physiological parameters, and (iii) modeled how changes in insect harassment, nematode abundance, and forage quality are likely to impact caribou populations. We found that parasites and insects can have substantial impacts on nutritional condition and population dynamics of caribou, and that these impacts can cascade through the ecosystem. In the absence of parasites, caribou numbers were limited by forage resulting in population sizes reaching a stable carrying capacity. Reductions in foraging rate and increased energetic costs associated with parasites lowered caribou population size and increased biomass of available forage. Our study provides a critical contribution toward better understanding of the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on wild populations and outlines a framework for mechanistically evaluating the impacts of energetics, parasites, and disease on wildlife.
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