Immunology basics

disorders (autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has various applications in several disciplines of science, and as such is further divided.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Histological examination of the immune system

Before even the concept of immunity was developed numerous early physicians characterised organs to be part of the immune system. The key organs of the immune system are thymus, spleen, [[bone , and secondary lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.

Many components of the immune system are actually cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ, but imbedded or circulating in various tissues located about the body.

Classical immunology

Classical immunology ties in with the fields of epidemiology and medicine. It studies the relationship between the body systems, pathogens and immunity. The earliest written mention of immunity can be traced back tonot until the 19th and 20th centuries before the concept developed into scientific theory.

The study of molecular and cellular components that comprise the immune system, including their function and interaction, is the central science of immunology. The immune system has been divided into innate immune system, and acquired or adaptive immune system, the latter of which is further divided into humoral and cellular components.

The humoral (antibody) response is defined as the interaction between antibodies and antigens. Without an understanding of the properties of these two biological entities, much of immunology would be non-existent. However, equally important is the cellular response which can not only kill infected cells in its own right, but is also crucial in controlling the antibody response. Put simply, both systems are highly interdependant.

In the 21st century though, immunology has broadened its horizons with much research being performed in the more specialised niches of immunology. This includes the immunological function of cells, organs and systems not normally associated with the immune system, as well as the function of the immune system outside classical models of immunity.

Clinical immunology

Clinical immunology is the study of diseases caused by the immune system and diseases of the immune system from a medical perspective.

Many diseases caused by the immune the immune system attacks its own antigens (examples include systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's disease and myasthenia gravis). Other immune system disorders include different hypersensitivities, in which the system responds inappropriately to harmless compounds (asthma and allergies) or responds too intensively.

The most well-known disease that affects the immune system itself is AIDS, caused by the HIV virus. AIDS is an immunodeficiency characterized by the lack of CD4+ ("helper") T cells and macrophages, which are destroyed by the HIV virus.

Clinical immunologists

The use of immune system components to treat a disease or disorder is known as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is most commonly used in the context of the treatment of cancers together with chemotherapy (drugs) and radiotherapy (radiation). However, immunotherapyin the immunosuppressed (such as HIV patients) and people suffering from other immune deficiencies or autoimmune diseases.

Diagnostic immunology

The specificity of the bond between antibody and antigen has made it an excellent tool in the detection of substances in a variety of label, or color-forming enzyme and are used as a "probe" to detect it.

Well known applications of this include immunoblotting, ELISA and immunohistochemical slides. led to the development of rapid techniques of disease, microbes and even illegal ]ous shells.

See Also

• Immune system
• autoimmunity
• List of immunologists

References

• Goldsby RA, Kindt TK, Osborne BA and Kuby J (2003) Immunology, 5th Edition, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, New York, ISBN 0-7167-4947-5