The environment teems with potentially infectious microbes. Human survival depends on the immune system's capacity to fight infection if a microbe penetrates the surface-level body defenses. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, leaves the...
A primary immunodeficiency occurs when part of the immune system is malfunctioning or missing. As discussed by the National Institutes of Health, there are more than 70 kinds of immunodeficiency diseases and they range in severity from mild to...
The thymus is a small gland that sits between the lungs and plays a critical role in the immune system. The thymus is an area where a special kind of immune cell, known as T cells, are able to develop and mature. The thymus is also important for...
The immune system defends the body against disease by identifying and destroying microorganisms and substances that could cause harm. The immune system can recognize millions of different potential invaders and can maintain the ability to...
Approximately 3 to 4 percent of all babies are born with a genetic disease or birth defect, according to information provided by Net Wellness. Genetic diseases are those that are passed down from parent to child through damaged or defective genes,...
Antibodies are protein molecules made by mature B cells called plasma cells. Antibodies, also called immunoglobulins, come in several types, including immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. Each type of antibody has a different role within...
Infections stem from invasions of the body by bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites. While individuals of all ages are prone to infections, children are more likely to come down with a bug. The immune system is made up of cells that are programmed...
The enzyme adenosine deaminase (ADA) works in your cells to remove a toxic product formed in the breakdown of DNA. A child born without the gene for this critical enzyme cannot protect herself from common infections because of resulting damage to...
