immunology

(noun)

The branch of medicine that studies the body's immune system.

Related Terms

Examples of immunology in the following topics:

  • The Future of Diagnostic Immunology

    • The future of diagnostic immunology lies in the production of specific antibody-based assays and the development of improved vaccines.
    • Modern immunology relies heavily on the use of antibodies as highly specific laboratory reagents.
    • Immunologic methods are used in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and in the large number of immune-mediated diseases.
    • Immunology is a relatively young science and there is still so much to discover.
    • Describe how immunologic methods are used in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases and immune-mediated diseases

  • Basic Microbiology

    • Microbiology typically includes the study of the immune system, or immunology.
    • Generally, immune systems interact with pathogenic microbes; these two disciplines often intersect which is why many colleges offer a paired degree such as "Microbiology and Immunology. "
    • Microbiology is a broad term which includes virology, mycology, parasitology, bacteriology, immunology, and other branches.

  • Primary and Secondary Antibody Responses

    • Adaptive (or acquired) immunity creates immunological memory after an initial response to a specific pathogen, leading to an enhanced response to subsequent encounters with that same pathogen.
    • Immunology covers the study of all aspects of the immune system.
    • This improved response is then retained after the pathogen has been eliminated, in the form of an immunological memory, and allows the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger attacks each time this pathogen is encountered.
    • In immunology, self molecules are those components of an organism's body that can be distinguished from foreign substances by the immune system.
    • Because immunological memory has developed, reinfection at later times leads to a rapid increase in antibody production and effector T cell activity.

  • Immunoassays for Disease

    • Immunology is the study of molecules, cells, and organs that make up the immune system.
    • These methods provide high sensitivity and specificity and have become standard techniques in diagnostic immunology.

  • In Vivo Testing

    • Polyclonal antibodies are applied in immunological assays to diagnose disease.
    • In vivo testing remains a crucial step for the evaluation of in vitro experimental findings and the production of immunological solutions needed for the diagnosis of human diseases.

  • Specimen Collection

    • Applying one's knowledge of microbiology and immunology for the collection, transportation and storage of specimens is as important as it is in the laboratory.
    • There are several types of specimens recommended for diagnosis of immunological diseases including: serum samples, virology swab samples, biopsy and necropsy tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, whole blood for PCR, and urine samples.

  • Overview of the Immune System

    • Adaptive (acquired) immunity creates immunological memory after an initial response to a specific pathogen, leading to an enhanced response to subsequent encounters with that same pathogen.
    • This improved response is then retained after the pathogen has been eliminated, in the form of an immunological memory, and allows the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger attacks when this pathogen is encountered .
    • Because immunological memory has developed, reinfection at later times leads to a rapid increase in antibody production and effector T cell activity.

  • Cells and Organs of the Immune System

    • The fundamental immunological roles of tonsils aren't yet understood.
    • The liver has a wide range of functions, including immunological effects—the reticuloendothelial system of the liver contains many immunologically active cells, acting as a "sieve" for antigens carried to it via the portal system.

  • Agglutination Reactions

    • Various methods of agglutination are used in diagnostic immunology and these incude latex agglutination, flocculation tests, direct bacterial agglutination, and hemagglutination.

  • Neutralization Reaction

    • In diagnostic immunology and virology laboratories, the evaluation of neutralizing antibodies, which destroy the infectivity of viruses, can be measured by the neutralization method.