Immunology is the study of the body’s defense mechanism against diseases. It is connected to the immune system of the body that responds whenever there are physiological changes due to microbial attack and any other disease-causing factor.
Serology deals with the study of the blood serum and the study of proteins, predominantly antibodies found in blood and saliva. Both are interconnected but separate and form a part of laboratory medicine used in both diagnostic work and pathological and microbiological research studies.
Both immunology and serology depend on diagnostic tests to find antibodies, study auto-immune disorders, and check organ and tissue compatibility of the donor with the recipient’s tissue.
These tests help in diagnosing the exact underlying cause for targeted medication, understanding complex autoimmune diseases, and help in reducing the risk of donor rejection in case of organ transplant. Immunology online course can aid students preparing for these courses with 3D animated videos for deep learning and better grasp.
Uses of immunology in medical science
The correlation between antibodies and antigens or foreign bodies that attack the physiological conditions of the body is studied in different aspects of immunology. The following methods and tests that are part of immunology studies help in advanced diagnostics and medical research:
- Diagnostic immunology
Detecting potential threats to the body’s inherent defense system to fight against common microbes and antigens through antibodies is necessary to develop both preventive medicine and increase the dosage of antibiotic drugs in a treatment plan. Diagnostic immunology plays a crucial role in the assessment of threats and in preventing infections and auto-immune diseases. It has been used in treating arthritis, skin infections like psoriasis, allergies, and Crohn’s disease.
- Antigen-antibody reactions
The studies between antigen-antibody reactions help in assessing formulating antibiotics in the right dosage and in a manner that does not lead to a compelling problem like antibiotic resistance of an etiological agent. If pathogens develop resistance against synthetic drugs then the natural immunity of an entire population will be compromised. Immunodiagnostics use studies based on antigen-antibody reactions to help in understanding the strength and weaknesses of the antigen and help in devising effective treatments.
Antibodies are blood proteins produced in the human body in the form of white blood cells. Shaped as Y forms, antibodies bind to antigens such as bacteria or viruses and destroy them in the process.
- Luminescence immunology
Over the years, immunology has used advanced research methods to interpret antibodies and antigens. With state-of-the-art medical innovation and diagnostic tools like flow cell sorters, live antibody cells are stained with fluorescent colors. Chemiluminescence is used to enhance the sensitivity of immunoassays through enzyme amplification. In this manner using a microplate reader, an immunologist can gauge and record the sensitivity of the light’s intensity and the reaction of the enzyme label.
Uses of serology in medical science
Blood serum is the liquid component but plasma does not consist of fibrinogen and other blood coagulants. Human serum is used in many advanced treatments like human stem cell culture, drug testing, tissue cloning, and typing and cell therapy research.
- Cell and tissue culture
With help of advanced research, now it is possible to recreate damaged skin in burns, or limbs through the cell and tissue culture. In pharma research, human serum is preferred over bovine as the results are better. Human serum is a vital source that binds and regulates a cell membrane’s permeability. It acts as the carrier medium for lipids, enzymes, and micronutrients in the cell. Using serum, cells cultured in the lab can be classified as primary, modified, and self-renewing cells.
In cell and tissue culture, the medium that supports the natural state of physiological conditions in a lab setting is possible via human serum. It is superior to fetal bovine serum or FBS. It is used for in-vitro diagnostics, control assays, immunoassays, and clinical biochemistry. Often healthy male donor serum is preferred and can be used for laboratory research purposes only by FDA-licensed labs.
- Organs donor compatibility testing
Human leukocyte antigen typing is the test that enables screening the compatibility between organ donor and recipient to avoid mismatch or rejection during organ or stem cell transplant.
- AB Serum
AB blood type lacks antibodies against the A blood group and antigens against the type B blood group. Using this as the preface AB serum of human blood is used for culturing human cell and stem cell lines. This serum is extracted from the blood that is allowed to clot naturally since it contains more growth factors.
- Serum albumin
Human blood serum contains albumin, a protein that helps move essential nutrients through blood including minerals like calcium and vitamins. It plays an important role in restricting fluid in blood from leaking to other tissue cells. In the human body albumin carries thyroid hormones, fatty acids, and other drugs to targets. Pharma companies use this technique to deliver the drug to the target.
- Serological antibody repertoire
Until recently it was assumed an impossible task to neutralize and read about serum antibodies in silos as there are numerous of them with close compositions. But with advanced analytics, it is now possible to not just separate but maintain the entire log details of individual antibodies and research more on this subject.
Importance of immunologists and serologists
The human body is a marvel of secrets, puzzles, and amazement that are yet to be comprehended and recorded. It is difficult to understand everything that goes behind how our bodies function without understanding the same at the nano level.
Life sciences and its branches have enabled research advancements in not just understanding disease-causing phenomena, but also discovering means to regenerate tissues and combat diseases through vaccines and related drug discoveries. A great extent of medical advancements in treatment and healthcare is contributed by the efforts and knowledge of immunologists and serologists.
Conclusion:
Desirous students with an interest in life sciences can opt for undergraduate courses in universities offering a bachelor’s program in microbiology and immunology. They can further research or opt to go to med school to become a doctor of medicine and use this knowledge to develop core skills.