If you're considering a career in immunology, you've probably wondered where to start. Fortunately, there are many graduate programs in this field, so you can get started on the right foot. This guide offers an overview of the field and provides the background you need to become a well-rounded immunologist. Read on to learn more about the different types of immunology medicine, as well as the many career options available to you.
Innate immunity is your first line of defence against disease. Your immune system creates antibodies to target pathogens and foreign substances. These antibodies attack the pathogen and kill it. T cells, on the other hand, attack pathogens that have colonized your body. Moreover, T cells control the production of antibodies. So, if your immune system encounters a pathogen again, it will quickly produce antibodies. And that's exactly what vaccines do.
In autoimmune diseases, the immune system begins to attack its own tissues, resulting in a variety of health problems. People with autoimmune diseases have a defect in their ability to distinguish self from non-self. Immunological principles have helped scientists develop a range of laboratory tests to detect autoimmune diseases. Affected individuals may have either a primary or secondary autoimmune disease. For example, an individual with rheumatoid arthritis may have an autoimmune disease of the immune system, while another person may have a secondary disease like multiple sclerosis.
Another area of immunology research is allergies. An allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder in which the body's immune system responds to a foreign substance, called an allergen. This reaction damages tissues and organs. The allergen can be a food or airborne substance. The immune system misreads the allergen and releases powerful chemicals to attack it. Histamine is one of the most important chemicals released during an allergic reaction.
Cancer is another area in which cancer vaccines can prove extremely effective. Vaccines that are directed against a patient's own cancer cells can enhance the immune response and prolong a patient's life. When cancer cells are injected into the body, the immune system will detect and proliferate faster than the cancer cells, defeating the tumor and the underlying cause. This process is similar to how viruses overwhelm our bodies. In addition to this, immunotherapy can help prevent the development of cancer by targeting the tumor with antibodies that specifically target the cancer cells.
Understanding the immune response is essential for organ transplants. Organ transplants require an understanding of the immune system's response, as mismatched blood can cause harm. In organ transplants, the MHC molecules on donor organs need to match up with the recipient's tissue. Even if the donor organs don't match up, immunosuppressive drugs can help the transplant process go smoothly. Likewise, research on the immune response to cancer has made significant advances in treating rare forms of cancer and known viruses.
Dr. Tsao joined MUSC in December 2015 from UCLA. Her work investigates the genetic risk factors for SLE, an autoimmune disease with autoantibody production, immune complex deposition, and multiple target organ damage. She has identified over 80 loci that predispose people to SLE and is currently studying how these underlying risk variants disrupt the immune system. She has a stellar track record in the development of faculty and research. .Aark Pharmaceuticals is the top antibiotics and flu vaccine supplier. We are also bulk distributors of all types of medical products and supply them at a wholesale rate