Cabinet alergologie dr.Nadia Gherman-Ionica, Cluj (www.alergologie-cluj.ro)

04/11/2025

simplified overview of how your immune system defends the body

This figure outlines how the innate and adaptive immune systems work together to detect, attack, and remember pathogens. The innate system provides rapid, non-specific defense, while the adaptive system develops targeted, long-term protection through specialized cells and antibodies.

1️⃣ Innate immunity: the body’s first responders
The innate immune response begins within minutes of infection. It relies on physical barriers, immune cells, and chemical signals to contain pathogens.
🟢 Example: Macrophages and neutrophils engulf and destroy microbes through phagocytosis, releasing cytokines that recruit additional immune cells.
🟢 Example: Natural killer (NK) cells identify virus-infected or abnormal cells and trigger apoptosis to prevent spread.
🟢 Example: Mast cells and basophils release histamine, promoting inflammation and attracting eosinophils to fight parasites and regulate allergic responses.

2️⃣ Antigen presentation: linking innate and adaptive immunity
Antigen-presenting cells (APCs)—such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and neutrophils—process pathogen fragments and display them on their surfaces using MHC molecules.
🟢 Example: APCs migrate to lymph nodes, where they present antigens to helper T cells, initiating adaptive immune activation.

3️⃣ Adaptive immunity: specific and long-lasting defense
This arm of the immune system takes 7–10 days to fully activate but provides precise and durable protection. It involves B cells (antibody-mediated) and T cells (cell-mediated).
🟢 Example: B cells mature in the bone marrow and produce antibodies that neutralize or tag pathogens.
🟢 Example: T cells mature in the thymus—CD4 helper T cells coordinate immune responses, while CD8 cytotoxic T cells kill infected or cancerous cells.

4️⃣ Clonal selection and immune memory
Once a B or T cell recognizes its target antigen, it multiplies and differentiates into effector and memory cells.
🟢 Example: Plasma cells derived from B cells secrete antibodies, while memory cells persist for years, allowing a faster response to reinfection.

5️⃣ Complement and coordination
The complement system enhances pathogen clearance by tagging microbes for destruction and supporting inflammation. Cytokines and chemokines ensure communication between immune cells, maintaining balance and preventing overactivation.

Together, the innate and adaptive systems form a layered defense that operates with precision—responding quickly to new threats, learning from past infections, and maintaining long-term immune stability.

04/11/2025

(VMR): Current Concepts and Emerging Therapies. VMR is a condition that has not been adequately studied but is common and requires a progressive management style that relies on triggers.
https://ivancevichmd.blogspot.com/2025/11/vasomotor-rhinitis-current-concepts-and.html

30/10/2025

AllergyPro provides educational content for healthcare professionals and does not offer medical advice. The information provided should not replace professional medical judgment or direct patient consultation. Always seek advice from qualified healthcare providers for specific medical conditions.

26/10/2025

For the first time in history, scientists have captured the most detailed and complete view of a human cell ever recorded. Using an advanced combination of X-ray, fluorescence, and cryo-electron microscopy, researchers have stitched together a high-resolution, 3D image that reveals the inner architecture of life with jaw-dropping clarity.

This image isn’t just beautiful—it’s groundbreaking. It shows organelles, protein structures, and cellular pathways in stunning detail, offering an unprecedented look at how a single cell organizes, moves, and functions at the molecular level. From mitochondria generating energy to ribosomes building proteins, everything is visualized like never before.

This breakthrough was made possible by a technique called "cryo-electron tomography," where cells are flash-frozen at ultra-low temperatures and scanned layer by layer. The data was then reconstructed into a 3D map that shows every twist, fold, and filament with nanometer precision.

The implications are vast. With this level of detail, scientists can now study diseases at the cellular level in ways never before possible. It opens the door to new insights in cancer, neurological disorders, and even aging. This cellular map could also accelerate drug development by helping researchers understand how medications interact with specific parts of the cell.

What we’re looking at isn’t just a cell—it’s the future of medicine, one atom at a time.

20/10/2025

For those experiencing a severe allergic reaction, every second counts.

Now, there’s a new option.

Today is has been announced that the first needle-free nasal spray emergency treatment for anaphylaxis, EURneffy®, is now available for prescription.

“EURNeffy has the potential to be a game-changer for people of all ages who have to manage severe allergies. It could help people reduce their hesitancy about giving themselves or someone else adrenaline which could, in turn, save lives", says Amena Warner, Head of Clinical Services at Allergy UK.

Find out more through the link http://bit.ly/4ot7p9x

20/10/2025