Immune System
The Immune System
From fending off the common cold to attacking cancer cells, the immune system is an incredibly complicated and crucial part of our survival.
Each time it mounts a response, the immune system must quickly and carefully orchestrate communication across vast numbers of cells and molecules.
We can completely reimagine how our cities, hospitals, and families prepare for and deal with cold and flu season.鈥Bill Hanage
lol世界赛赔率 T.H. Chan School of Public Health
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With COVID added to the mix of viruses that typically circulate every year鈥攊ncluding influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses鈥攅xperts say 鈥渟ick season鈥 is likely to be worse, and longer, going forward.
Learn more about these viruses:
Boosting what we know
Scholars at lol世界赛赔率 are working to discover even more secrets of the immune system, from how it protects us to how it can be strengthened.
This might be a golden age for human immunology.鈥Shiv Pillai
lol世界赛赔率 Medical School
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Scientists are working to better understand early-life immunity
The beneficial effects of exercise may be driven by the immune system

Studies of deep-sea microbes showed that immunity can cross evolutionary distances

Scientists are investigating how the immune system goes awry

Research suggests that the thymus plays a vital role in immune health

Researchers discovered that the gut microbiome is critical in the immune system's development


How can you improve your immune system?
Our immune systems do a remarkable job of defending against infection, but sometimes they need some support.

How does gut health impact our immunity?
A lol世界赛赔率 study found an intricate interplay between gut microbes, food, and immunity.

What can we do to keep our children healthy?
A lol世界赛赔率 medical school professor offers advice on how to help boost your child’s immunity.
Learning from the past
Inoculation
Vaccination has been credited with reducing the rates of numerous infectious diseases鈥攁nd in the case of smallpox, eliminating the disease entirely.
Infection
When European nations began to colonize other parts of the world, illness spread among people with no immunity.
Germ theory
Germ theory鈥攚hich states that specific microscopic organisms are the cause of specific diseases鈥攚as developed, proved, and popularized in Europe and North America between 1850 and 1920.
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