SA Special Editions

Long thought to be divorced from the brain, the immune system turns out to be intimately involved in its functioning

Researchers have begun to crack the code of protein structure, allowing them to remake, well, everything

About 80 conditions can be described as autoimmune disorders, although definitions are still changing

What scientists know about the inner workings of the pathogen that has infected the world 

New evidence indicates that target cells may play a role in their own destruction

The virus flourishes by undermining the body’s chemical defense system

The effects of sex hormones, X chromosomes and different gut microbes may be parts of the answer

Enhancing the body’s own immune system is leading to promising results in the battle against malignancy

By aiming at specific genes or cells, researchers can boost effectiveness and reduce side effects

Experts are figuring out how to exploit the 380 trillion viruses that make up the human virome

A controversial theory holds that one immunization, given properly, can protect against many diseases besides its target

Viruses found in contaminated water may protect against type 1 diabetes

Instructing our cells to make specific proteins could control influenza, autoimmune diseases, even cancer

People with diseases or treatments that suppress their immune system cannot count on the same protection most vaccinated people have

This form of recall may control immune responses beyond the central nervous system

mRNA vaccines are now in the limelight as a key tool for tackling COVID-19, but the technology was originally developed for other diseases, such as cancer, that researchers are now hoping to treat