| Immunology is a broad branch of biomedical | | | | antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the |
| science that covers the study of all aspects of | | | | release of various cytokines in response to an |
| the immune system in all organisms. The immune | | | | antigen. The humoral immune response (HIR) is |
| system is the body's defense against infectious | | | | the aspect of immunity that is mediated by |
| organisms and other invaders. Through a series of | | | | secreted antibodies, produced in the cells of the B |
| steps called the immune response, the immune | | | | lymphocyte lineage (B cell). When activated by |
| system attacks organisms and substances that | | | | foreign antigen, B cells undergo proliferation and |
| invade our systems and cause disease. The | | | | mature into antibody secreting plasma cells which |
| immune system is made up of a network of cells, | | | | posses the ability to secrete soluble proteins |
| tissues, and organs that work together to protect | | | | (antibodies). Antibodies which are classified into |
| the body. The immune system is the body’s | | | | five different types (known as isotypes), namely |
| natural defence in combating organisms. The | | | | IgM, IgG, IgA, IgE and IgD, have two roles to |
| immune system usually have two lines of | | | | play - the first is to bind antigen and the second is |
| defence: the innate immune system representing | | | | to interact with host tissues and effector |
| a non-specific (no memory) response to antigen | | | | systems in order to ensure removal of the |
| (substance to which the body regards as foreign | | | | antigen. Thus the immune system generally is |
| or potentially harmful) and the adaptive immune | | | | protective, however the same immunologic |
| system, which displays a high degree of memory | | | | mechanisms that defend the host at times may |
| and specificity. The innate system represents the | | | | result in severe damage to tissues and, |
| first line of defence to an intruding pathogen and | | | | occasionally, may cause death. |
| includes various cells like the natural killer (NK) cells, | | | | Conceptualizing the natural antigen- antibody |
| mast cells dendritic cells and phagocytes. Besides | | | | development & interaction, Imgenex Corp. |
| there are molecules like complement, acute phase | | | | develops and commercializes novel reagents for |
| proteins (APP) and interferons (IFNs) which work | | | | the scientific study of human biology and disease |
| in concert with the cells of the innate immune | | | | and for the production of new diagnostic assays |
| system and which foster close functional links with | | | | and potential therapies of such diseases. These |
| their adaptive counterpart. The adaptive immune | | | | novel reagents include antibodies, gene and protein |
| system is further divided into humoral and cellular | | | | expression systems, and arrays of various cells |
| components. Cell-mediated immunity, also known | | | | and tissues for use in studies of functional |
| as delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) or Type | | | | genomics. Areas of biological interest at IMGENEX |
| IV Hypersensitivity, is an immune response that | | | | include cancer, apoptosis (programmed cell death), |
| does not involve antibodies but rather involves the | | | | molecular signaling pathways, cellular aging, and |
| activation of macrophages, natural killer cells (NK), | | | | metabolic and infectious diseases. |