Immunology deals with the body’s defense mechanisms and their disorders. The immune system is the bulwark against invading harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and toxins.
If the immune defense is weakened, such invaders have an easy time. However, an excessive immune reaction, such as occurs in allergies and autoimmune diseases, is also problematic.
The tasks of immunology include:
- Direct support of the body’s defenses, e.g. through vaccinations, therapeutic antibodies or antisera in cases of poisoning.
- Immunostimulation, i.e. the strengthening of the immune system in cases of acquired or congenital immune deficiency (e.g. in HIV or after cancer therapies).
- Immunosuppression, i.e. the dampening of the immune system in cases of allergies, autoimmune diseases (such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), and after transplantation in order to prevent a rejection reaction.
