by Kath Paddison
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Manchester professor says scientific jargon could be making the science of the human immune system a turn-off for the general public.
Professor Daniel Davis says that scientists are using a number of innovative ways to generate public discussion on immunology and the time is right for people to get to grips with the subject.
His paper, published today in Nature Reviews Immunology, coincides with the International Day of Immunology, argues that now is the right time for immunology to become the next big trend in popular science – to inform new discussions about health and disease.
Professor Davis, Director of Research at the University of Manchester's Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, said: "People already know a lot about DNA and evolution and would be keen to learn new concepts - like how the immune system works.''
"It's important to find out about immunology because it is crucial for understanding human health and disease. Plus, the human body is one of the greatest wonders of the universe, and its complexity, delicacy and elegance is clearly revealed in the way our immune system works."
Immunology explores how our immune system seeks out and destroys dangerous bacteria, viruses and fungi. It also examines how its activity connects with other body systems and influences, for example, our metabolism and hormone levels - and controls how well we feel. Sleep, stress, nutrition and our mental health are all connected to our ability to fight infections.
In his latest book, 'The Compatibility Gene', discussed recently at The Royal Institution in London and at the Edinburgh Science Festival, Professor Davis explored immunology and its link with compatibility genes.
As part of the research for this book he and his wife had their own DNA analysed for compatibility and explained how research has radically transformed knowledge of the way our bodies work - with profound consequences for medical research and ethics.
Professor Davis said: "The immune system is a wonderful basis for discussing the importance of human diversity. The genes that vary the most between individual people are not those that influence physical characteristics—such as skin, eye or hair colour, for example—but are the genes of the immune system."
Explore further: Nice genes: What makes you genetically compatible with your partner?
More information: "Presenting the marvels of immunity." Daniel M. Davis. Nature Reviews Immunology (2014) DOI: 10.1038/nri3681 . Published online 28 April 2014
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© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
by Kath Paddison
(Medical Xpress)—A University of Manchester professor says scientific jargon could be making the science of the human immune system a turn-off for the general public.
Professor Daniel Davis says that scientists are using a number of innovative ways to generate public discussion on immunology and the time is right for people to get to grips with the subject.
His paper, published today in Nature Reviews Immunology, coincides with the International Day of Immunology, argues that now is the right time for immunology to become the next big trend in popular science – to inform new discussions about health and disease.
Professor Davis, Director of Research at the University of Manchester's Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, said: "People already know a lot about DNA and evolution and would be keen to learn new concepts - like how the immune system works.''
"It's important to find out about immunology because it is crucial for understanding human health and disease. Plus, the human body is one of the greatest wonders of the universe, and its complexity, delicacy and elegance is clearly revealed in the way our immune system works."
Immunology explores how our immune system seeks out and destroys dangerous bacteria, viruses and fungi. It also examines how its activity connects with other body systems and influences, for example, our metabolism and hormone levels - and controls how well we feel. Sleep, stress, nutrition and our mental health are all connected to our ability to fight infections.
In his latest book, 'The Compatibility Gene', discussed recently at The Royal Institution in London and at the Edinburgh Science Festival, Professor Davis explored immunology and its link with compatibility genes.
As part of the research for this book he and his wife had their own DNA analysed for compatibility and explained how research has radically transformed knowledge of the way our bodies work - with profound consequences for medical research and ethics.
Professor Davis said: "The immune system is a wonderful basis for discussing the importance of human diversity. The genes that vary the most between individual people are not those that influence physical characteristics—such as skin, eye or hair colour, for example—but are the genes of the immune system."
Explore further: Nice genes: What makes you genetically compatible with your partner?
More information: "Presenting the marvels of immunity." Daniel M. Davis. Nature Reviews Immunology (2014) DOI: 10.1038/nri3681 . Published online 28 April 2014
Medical Xpress on facebook
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Nice genes: What makes you genetically compatible with your partner?
Aug 23, 2013
A University of Manchester professor and his wife have had their own DNA analysed for compatibility as part of the research for a new book out next week (August 29).
Bacteria may assist the immune system response against cancer
Mar 03, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—Recent research from the University of Otago shows that bacteria may assist the body's immune system response against cancer cells and help fight tumours like melanoma.
Disruption of VISTA plays an important role in regulating immune response
Apr 07, 2014
Researchers at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth have found that the body's immune system response was enhanced when they disrupted VISTA, a protein that prevents the immune system from overreacting. Understanding ...
Researchers discover how cancer 'invisibility cloak' works
Oct 28, 2013
Researchers at National Jewish Health have discovered how a lipid secreted by cancer tumors prevents the immune system from mounting an immune response against it. When lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) binds to ...
Immunology researchers uncover pathways that direct immune system to turn 'on' or 'off'
Mar 18, 2014
(Medical Xpress)—A key discovery explaining how components of the immune system determine whether to activate or to suppress the immune system, made by Kelvin Lee, MD, Professor of Oncology and Co-Leader of the Tumor Immunology ...
Recommended for you
One cell type may quash tumor vaccines
18 hours ago
Most cancer vaccines have not lived up to their promise in clinical trials. The reason, many researchers suspect, is that the immune cells that would help the body destroy the tumor – even those reactions boosted by cancer ...
Transplant success tied to naturally high levels of powerful immune molecule package
19 hours ago
Patients with highest levels of the most powerful version of the immune molecule HLA-G appear to have the lowest risk of rejecting their transplanted kidney, researchers report.
Should you be worried about the 'pollen vortex'?
22 hours ago
(Medical Xpress)—After an unseasonably cold and snowy winter, Canadians can soon look forward to sunshine and warmer weather.
Winter's polar vortex ushers in spring's 'pollen vortex'
Apr 25, 2014
(HealthDay)— You may have survived the worst this winter's polar vortex had to throw at you, but if you suffer from allergies, better brace yourself for its sibling—the "pollen vortex."
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Apr 24, 2014
A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) working with the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has discovered a new vulnerable site on the HIV virus. The newly identified ...
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User comments
© Medical Xpress 2011-2014, Science X network
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