immunologie

Immunologie, or immunology in English, is the branch of biomedical science that studies the immune system, its components, and how it protects an organism from disease. The field covers how the body detects infections, distinguishes self from non-self, and maintains tolerance to its own tissues. It also investigates why immune responses fail or become misdirected, leading to disease.

The immune system consists of innate and adaptive arms. Innate immunity provides rapid, general defense through barriers (skin and mucous membranes), phagocytic cells, natural killer cells, and the complement system. Adaptive immunity develops more slowly but provides targeted and durable protection via B and T lymphocytes. B cells produce antibodies; T cells coordinate responses and can kill infected cells. Antigen recognition relies on receptors generated by genetic rearrangement, with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules presenting antigens to T cells. Immunological memory results from clonal expansion of specific lymphocytes after an encounter with a pathogen.

Clinically, immunologie addresses immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, allergies, and transplant rejection. It underpins preventive measures such as vaccines and informs therapies including monoclonal antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Immunology also encompasses cancer immunology, transplant biology, and the study of host–microbe interactions.

Research in immunologie employs in vivo and in vitro approaches, flow cytometry, serology, imaging, and computational methods. The field continually advances understanding of how the immune system maintains health and how it can be harnessed to treat disease.