- "Immunology is a branch of biology and medicine that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms."
Basic concepts of the immune system, including innate immunity and adaptive immunity, different types of immune cells and their functions, and the role of cytokines and chemokines.
Immune system: The immune system is a complex network of organs, tissues, and cells that work together to protect the body from pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and cancer cells. It is essential to understand the different components of the immune system, how they function, and how they interact with each other.
Antigens: An antigen is a substance that triggers an immune response by binding to specific receptors on immune cells. It can be a pathogen or a molecule produced by the body itself, such as a tumor cell.
Antibodies: Antibodies are proteins produced by immune cells that specifically recognize and bind to antigens. They are essential for the recognition and elimination of pathogens and foreign substances.
Immunoglobulin genes: Immunoglobulin genes are the genes that encode antibodies. Understanding their structure, function, and regulation is essential for understanding how antibodies are produced and how they contribute to the immune response.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC): MHC molecules play a crucial role in the recognition of pathogens by immune cells. They present antigens to T cells, which then activate other immune cells to eliminate the pathogen.
T cell receptors (TCRs): TCRs are receptors found on the surface of T cells that also recognize and bind to antigens presented by MHC molecules.
B cell receptors (BCRs): BCRs are receptors found on the surface of B cells that recognize and bind to antigens.
Cytokines: Cytokines are signaling molecules produced by immune cells that regulate the immune response. They can stimulate or suppress the activity of other immune cells.
Immunological memory: Immunological memory is the ability of the immune system to remember past encounters with pathogens and respond more efficiently to subsequent infections.
Immune tolerance: Immune tolerance is the ability of the immune system to recognize and tolerate self-antigens and not mount an immune response against them.
Autoimmune diseases: Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks healthy cells and tissues in the body.
Immunodeficiency diseases: Immunodeficiency diseases occur when the immune system is unable to mount an effective immune response, leaving the body vulnerable to infections.
Vaccines: Vaccines are preparations that stimulate an immune response against a specific pathogen, providing immunity without causing the disease.
Immunotherapies: Immunotherapies are treatments that harness the immune system to fight cancer, infections, or other diseases.
Allergies: Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to harmless substances, such as pollen or certain foods, and triggers an allergic reaction.
Clinical Immunology: It is a branch of immunology that involves the diagnosis and treatment of immunological disorders.
Molecular Immunology: It is a branch of immunology that studies the molecular and biochemical processes involved in immunity.
Cellular Immunology: It is a branch of immunology that studies the properties and functions of the different cells involved in immunity.
Immunohematology: It is a branch of immunology that deals with blood group antigens and the immunological reactions that occur in response to transfusions.
Immunotoxicology: It is a branch of immunology that studies the adverse effects of toxic chemicals on the immune system.
Immunotherapy: It is a type of medical treatment that uses the immune system to fight diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infections.
Transplant Immunology: It is a branch of immunology that studies the immune responses that occur when organ transplantation is done in the human body.
Reproductive Immunology: It is a branch of immunology that studies the immunological aspects of human reproduction, such as infertility and pregnancy.
Innate Immunology: It is the body's first line of defense against pathogens, and it is a branch of immunology that studies the mechanisms involved in this process.
Adaptive Immunology: It is the body's secondary line of defense against pathogens, and it is a branch of immunology that studies the mechanisms involved in creating and maintaining immunity.
- "Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases."
- "Malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency, and transplant rejection)."
- "The physical, chemical, and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system."
- "Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, rheumatology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology."
- "The term was coined by Russian biologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov."
- "Unusual cells surrounding the thorns."
- "He first observed the phenomenon of phagocytosis, in which the body defends itself against a foreign body."
- "Ehrlich accustomed mice to the poisons ricin and abrin. After feeding them with small but increasing dosages of ricin he ascertained that they had become 'ricin-proof'."
- "He received the Nobel Prize for his work in 1908 with Paul Ehrlich."
- "Prior to the designation of immunity, from the etymological root immunis, which is Latin for 'exempt'."
- "The important lymphoid organs of the immune system are the thymus, bone marrow, and chief lymphatic tissues such as spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, adenoids, and liver."
- "However, many components of the immune system are cellular in nature."
- "Embedded or circulating in various tissues located throughout the body."
- "The important lymphoid organs of the immune system are the thymus, bone marrow, and chief lymphatic tissues such as spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, adenoids, and liver."
- "Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation."
- "Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases."
- "The term was coined by Russian biologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov."
- "Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, rheumatology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology."
- "Ehrlich interpreted this as immunization and observed that it was abruptly initiated after a few days and was still in existence after several months."