Introduction
The human immune system is composed of a network of specialized cells that act together to defend the body against infection by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, and also act to prevent cancer. Unfortunately, poorly regulated immune responses can result in the development of immune-mediated diseases that include asthma, allergy and autoimmune syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, it is the immune system that is responsible for the rejection of transplanted organs and tissues, which imposes the need for strong drugs to prevent rejection in transplant patients.
Although we have learned a great deal in the past few decades about the ways in which the immune system operates in both health and disease, there is still more to be learned that will lead to improved and novel methods to prevent or treat human disease. Thus, NIH supports basic science studies in immunobiology (the biology of the immune system) to provide a pipeline of potential new treatments and vaccines.
Research Areas
NIAID-funded research in basic immunobiology focuses on the structural and functional properties of cells of the immune system and the proteins they secrete, the interactions of immune components with other physiological systems, and the processes by which appropriate immunoregulation (regulation of the immune system) is achieved to protect the body while still preventing immune attack on self tissues.
DAIT supports research at the genetic, genomic, molecular, cellular, and systemic levels, that both contributes to, and benefits from, concurrent advances in related areas such as molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemistry. Most of the research that DAIT supports in this area is investigator-initiated rather than targeted by special programs. Research project grants are funded in a variety of areas within immunobiology to increase our ability to understand—and ultimately manipulate —immune responses in both the innate and adaptive immune systems.
Examples of research areas include: lymphocyte development and differentiation; dendritic cell biology; natural killer cells; natural killer T cells; antibody production; immune memory; T and B cell repertoire diversity; processes of antigen presentation; inflammatory mechanisms; phagocytosis; non-mammalian models of immunity; immune tolerance; vaccine adjuvants; cytokines and chemokines; and structural immunology.
Resources
Please note that the resources cited here are non-government, federally funded in full or in part by NIAID.
Immune Epitope Database (IEDB)
http://www.immuneepitope.org
ImmPort Immunology Database and Analysis Portal
https://www.immport.org/immportWeb/home/home.do
NIAID-Taconic Exchange Program: Mouse Repository
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/reposit/taconic.htm
NIH Knock-out Mouse Project (KOMP)
http://www.nih.gov/science/models/mouse/knockout/index.html
Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Centers
http://www.mmrrc.org
Consortium on Innate Immunity
http://www.systemsbiology.org
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