The immune system comprises organs, tissues, cells and molecules, which protect the body against pathogens.
Detailed description
The biological defense system can be separated into an innate and an adaptive part. The innate immune system developed early in the phylogeny of living things. The adaptive immune system adjusts to new or modified pathogens. Both parts collaborate closely. Moreover, the immune system can destroy abnormal or defective cells of the own body.
The human gut is home to a dense network of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, which actively contributes to health. These microorganisms aid digestion, train the immune system
Since the start of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, several variants of the virus have developed into Variants of Concern (VOCs), as classified by the World Health Organization (WHO). VOCs are virus variants
If an intestinal inhabitant such as the bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) becomes resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause serious health problems if it enters the bloodstream. How can such
The coronavirus pandemic provided the decisive impetus: In 2022, a Bavarian branch of the young Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP) was launched in rented
The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) of the European Commission, through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) supports the establishment of the “European
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Pathogenic strains of Salmonella inject effector proteins into the cells of the gastrointestinal tract to invade and multiply within them. The bacteria are usually ingested with contaminated food
Kidneys are the most transplanted organ in Germany. According to the German Organ Transplantation Foundation, a total of 1,514 kidneys were transplanted after post-mortem organ donation in 2023, out
An international research group led by scientists of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has discovered a promising new drug candidate
Infections with the hepatitis E virus often go unnoticed because they cause no symptoms. However, in patients with weakened immune systems or pre-existing liver damage, and in pregnant women, the
