The immune system comprises organs, tissues, cells and molecules, which protect the body against pathogens.
Detailed description
The biological defense system can be separated into an innate and an adaptive part. The innate immune system developed early in the phylogeny of living things. The adaptive immune system adjusts to new or modified pathogens. Both parts collaborate closely. Moreover, the immune system can destroy abnormal or defective cells of the own body.
Human herpesvirus 6 infects most people all over the world. It is usually well controlled by the body, but it can cause diseases in immunocompromised individuals. As reported in ‘PLOS Pathogens’, DZIF
Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria are hospital germs and are often resistant to common antibiotics. They can infect all human organs and implants, and can persist in the body for long periods of time in
Dr Silvia Portugal, Head of a DZIF junior research group, has received 1.5 million euros’ funding from the European Research Council. At the Heidelberg University Hospital, together with an
Scientists at the Institute of Tropical Medicine of the University of Tübingen, the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), and of Sanaria Inc. have developed an infection system that allows
The first joint study to be conducted across all twelve clinical trial units at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has been initiated. The aim of the study is to improve vaccine
DZIF researchers from the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) produced a molecule that provides a way to visualise Pseudomonas infection. The scientists published their
In the light of growing antibiotic resistance, developing alternative tuberculosis treatment approaches is of critical importance. Scientists at the Research Center Borstel and the DZIF have now shown
For over 20 years, Professor Andreas Peschel from the Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen (IMIT) and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has dedicated
The latest outbreaks of emerging, dangerous pathogens, such as Ebola, MERS-CoV or Zika, emphasise the importance of the rapid development of effective vaccines. However, being able to predict the
Chronic lung infections caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa require complex and, in most cases, long-term treatment with antibiotics. It is generally not possible to completely heal the
