immuno

Immuno is commonly used as shorthand for immunology or as a productive prefix in terms that describe the immune system and its study. In academic and clinical contexts, immunology is the discipline that investigates how the body defends itself against pathogens, tumors, and foreign substances, as well as mechanisms of immune tolerance and autoimmunity.

An overview of the immune system includes innate immunity, which provides immediate, non-specific defense through barriers such as skin and mucous membranes, phagocytic cells like neutrophils and macrophages, natural killer cells, and soluble factors such as complement. Adaptive immunity involves antigen-specific responses mediated by T and B lymphocytes, with B cells producing antibodies and T cells coordinating responses and destroying infected cells. Antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, bridge innate and adaptive immunity by displaying pieces of pathogens to lymphocytes.

Immuno is instrumental in research and medicine, including vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies. Immunodiagnostic methods such as ELISA, serology, and immunohistochemistry detect antigens or antibodies in samples. Flow cytometry characterizes immune cell populations. In therapeutics, immuno-oncology uses checkpoint inhibitors to boost anti-tumor immunity; autoimmune diseases and allergies are areas of study in immune regulation and tolerance.

Subfields and related terms include immunology, immunopathology, immunogenetics, transplant immunology, and immunotherapy. The prefix immuno appears in many terms (immunochemistry, immunogenetics, immunoassay) and reflects the central role of the immune system in health and disease.