Home > Industry/Domain > Biology > Immunology

Immunology

Immunology is the study of the structuree and function of the immune system which is responsible for the protection from invading foreign macromolecules or organisms. It is a broad branch of biomedical science that covers the study of all aspects of the immune system in organisms. It deals with the physiological functioning of the immune system in both healthy states and immunological disorders (autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency, transplant rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo.

Contributors in Immunology

Immunology

isotype switch

Biology; Immunology

The switch which occurs when a B cell stops secreting antibody of one isotype or class and starts producing antibody of a different isotype but with same antigenic specificity; involves joining ...

isotypes

Biology; Immunology

Also known as antibody classes. Antibodies that differ in the heavy chain constant regions: IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA and IgE. These differences result in distinct biological activities of the antibodies; ...

J chain (joining chain)

Biology; Immunology

A polypeptide involved in the polymerization of IgM and IgA.

J gene

Biology; Immunology

A gene segment coding for the J or joining segment in immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor chains; in Ig light chains and TCR α and γ, a V gene segment rearranges to a J segment; in Ig heavy chains and ...

Janus kinases (JAK)

Biology; Immunology

Tyrosine kinases activated by cytokines binding to their cellular receptors.

killer inhibitory receptor (KIR)

Biology; Immunology

a receptor expressed on NK cells that binds to MHC class I molecules on target cells; ligation of MHC class I inhibits the signaling that would otherwise lead to target cell killing.

killer T cell

Biology; Immunology

A T cell that kills a target cell expressing foreign antigen bound to MHC molecules on the surface of the target cell. Also called cytotoxic T cell.

Featured blossaries

Belgium

Category: Geography   1 2 Terms

Journalistic Terms and Expressions

Category: Education   1 12 Terms