Tag: Immune

ScienceDaily (July 7, 2010) The concept of pregnancy makes no sense -- at least not from an immunological point of view. After all, a fetus, carrying half of its father's genome, is biologically distinct from its mother.
The fetus is thus made of cells and tissues that are very much not "self" -- and not-self is precisely what the immune system is meant to search out and destroy.

Researchers are working to treat pandemic flu by recruiting a patient's own immune cells.

Viruses multiply incredibly quickly once they've infected their victim--so fast that antiviral medications such as Tamiflu are only effective if given during the first few days of an infection. After that, the viral load is just too high for a single drug to fight off. But researchers are working on a treatment for the H1N1 virus (or swine flu) that uses a different approach. Rather than disabling the virus with a drug, they're creating a vaccine that can activate and steer a patient's own immune cells to attack the invader.

Hype about immune boosters can end up putting a real pinch your wallet. Here are tips you can bank on.

What multiplies as fast as a flu virus? Claims about immune boosters, most of which just boost a few bucks from your wallet. But a few study-backed moves really can help you fight infection. Worth a try