🧬 Immunology – Overview
Immunology is the branch of biomedical science that studies the immune system, which protects the body from infections, diseases, and foreign substances. It explores how the immune system works, how it defends against pathogens, and what happens when it malfunctions.
🔍 What Does Immunology Cover?
- Innate immunity: The body’s first, non-specific line of defense (barriers, phagocytes, natural killer cells)
- Adaptive immunity: Specific immune response involving B cells (produce antibodies) and T cells (kill infected cells or help other immune cells)
- Immune response regulation: How the immune system balances attack and tolerance
- Autoimmunity: When the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Immunodeficiency: When the immune system is weak or absent (e.g., HIV/AIDS, primary immunodeficiencies)
- Allergies and hypersensitivity: Overactive immune responses to harmless substances (e.g., pollen, food)
- Vaccination and immunotherapy: Stimulating or modulating the immune system to prevent or treat disease
🧪 Key Components of the Immune System
- White blood cells (leukocytes)
- Antibodies
- Complement system
- Lymph nodes and spleen
- Bone marrow and thymus
⚠️ Common Immunology-Related Conditions
- Allergic reactions (hay fever, asthma, anaphylaxis)
- Autoimmune diseases (type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis)
- Immunodeficiency disorders (congenital or acquired)
- Infectious diseases and host defense mechanisms
🩺 Applications of Immunology
- Development of vaccines
- Diagnostic tests (e.g., antibody tests, immune markers)
- Treatment of immune disorders (immunosuppressants, biologics)
- Cancer immunotherapy (e.g., checkpoint inhibitors)