Immunology: Immune Failures and Cancer Immunology

Our immune system is a powerful network. It protects us from external threats, such as harmful substances and pathogenic agents, as well as cellular changes which could lead to diseases. Complications emerge when our natural defences do not function properly, which can result in immune disorders. These can take the form of less severe issues such as insect allergy. Others are more harmful, such as auto aggressive immune reactions, that lead to localised or systemic tissue damage. In this course, you will learn about immune system failures which can cause insufficient responses to internal or external threats. We will look at immune deficiencies. These weaken an individual’s immunity and leave them unable to effectively fight infections or manage disease. We will examine the consequences of chronic inflammation on the immune system, in the context of ectopic lymphoid organs. We will also examine immune system malfunctions in tumour development, and the role of viral infections in human cancer.