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B cells: function and repertoire Respond to antigens and differentiate into plasmablasts and plasma cells Plasmablasts and plasma cells secrete antibodies Protection from infectious disease Immobilization – flagellae of motile bacteria Cytolysis – complement fixation Opsonization – phagocytosis via Fc receptors Activated B cells can secrete cytokines such as pro-inflammatory IL-6 and TNF-a Take up Read More

Immunological systems function as soldiers to resist illness, but under some circumstances, the soldiers are reprogrammed to limit immunological response. These specific circumstances appear in cancer and illness.  These reprogrammed immune cells are one of the most exciting areas of study and targeting them can be extremely useful to patients.   These immunosuppressive cells are broadly Read More

Introduction Immunological tolerance describes a diverse range of host processes that prevent potentially harmful immune responses within that host (1). A fundamental property of the immune system is its ability to mediate self-defense with minimal collateral damage to the host. The system uses several different mechanisms to achieve this goal, which is collectively referred to Read More

22 January 2024

In a recent study, researchers identified a method to block IL-6 signals to treat cytokine release syndrome, with minimised side effects…

01 September 2023

In a recent study, researchers have uncovered how severe cases of COVID-19 can lead to enduring alterations in the innate immune system…

Colon carcinogenesis Carcinogenesis refers to the process by which normal cells transform into cancerous cells, and it involves genetic and epigenetic alterations that disrupt normal cellular functions, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and division. Colon carcinogenesis is a stepwise process initiated by genetic and epigenetic alterations, leading to the activation of oncogenes (e.g., KRAS) and Read More

HIV, the Microbiome and Cellular Immunity   HIV in infants Of the 2.1 million children under the age of 15 that live with HIV infection, 90% of those are in Sub-Saharan Africa. At least 1/3 of infants born in Sub-Saharan Africa have been exposed to maternal HIV infection and antiretroviral treatment. Majority of HIV is Read More

Innate Epithelial Barrier Defense In the gastrointestinal tract it is of paramount importance to host health that the intestinal micro­biota is kept at a distance from intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), minimizing the likelihood of tissue damage and invasion. Innate immune strategies include the use of a mucus layer, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and innate lymphoid cells Read More

Introduction The term ‘microbiota’ defines the community of symbiotic microbes including bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that have established their own niches within a host and provide supporting roles in host immunity and metabolism. Some commensals organisms are often referred to as “pathobionts” because they can cause disease under certain conditions. The intestinal tract Read More