Immunology and Infection

Outbreaks of avian influenza are accelerating in the Northern Hemisphere, and while the risk to Australia is small, it’s important we monitor the situation closely

Discovery of an inflammatory driver in a rare syndrome may have implications for more common diseases like Parkinson’s and viral infections

Researchers discover that a type of immune cell can cannibalise the properties of other cells, creating the potential for harnessing them for new therapies and vaccines

Every one of us is at risk of being both a potential COVID-19 patient and virus vector, with about 20 per cent being ‘super spreaders’. Electing to be vaccinated fulfils a very basic responsibility to ourselves, our family and the community

There is increasing concern for people living with diabetes whether it be ensuring continued access to medications, glucose management or the implications of infection with COVID-19 itself

What are the implications of reinfection for vaccines, antibody passports and herd immunity?

Last week we looked at a well-documented case of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. This patient remained asymptomatic following the second experience, which clearly boosted his immunity. But what does it tell us about protective immunity in SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 mutational ‘bar codes’ can be used both to track the sub-strains that are circulating in different geographical regions, and to test where the one individual has been infected sequentially with two distinct viruses

Antibody passports could be used to identify people who are vaccinated and are COVID-19 survivors. The body’s immune response helps guide which antibodies to look for in a ‘passport’

The old adage says that looks don’t matter, but new research has found more evidence that they do – and understanding our response can help counteract it