This book aims to introduce the reader to the fascinating mechanisms by which the immune system keeps at bay the microorganisms that menace us every day and threaten to make us sick. The first part of the book is structured as a story in which a bacterium attacks the organism. To defend itself, it sets in motion different cellular actors and molecular mechanisms, which we introduce in a simple way, but emphasizing the most important details as the story unfolds. In particular, the way in which the immune system distinguishes between self and foreign is explained in a narrative style and with…mehr
This book aims to introduce the reader to the fascinating mechanisms by which the immune system keeps at bay the microorganisms that menace us every day and threaten to make us sick. The first part of the book is structured as a story in which a bacterium attacks the organism. To defend itself, it sets in motion different cellular actors and molecular mechanisms, which we introduce in a simple way, but emphasizing the most important details as the story unfolds. In particular, the way in which the immune system distinguishes between self and foreign is explained in a narrative style and with great simplicity. The mechanisms of action of vaccines and the different types of vaccines that are known, including the novel RNA vaccines against coronavirus, are also addressed, as well as some of the fascinating reasons why microorganisms can evade immune system action and vaccines can be ineffective. The knowledge gained from reading the first seven chapters is applied in the following seven to delve deeper into the action of the immune system while addressing the problems that its malfunction can cause. Allergies, immunodeficiency diseases, autoimmune diseases, and transplant rejection, among other interesting aspects, are explained. Finally, how the immune system can be pharmacologically manipulated for the benefit of our health it discussed. Reading this book will help to understand some of the reasons for pandemics and infectious diseases, and the reasons why some overcome them, and others do not.
Jorge Laborda, Ph.D., is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Spain. Among his scientific contributions, it is worth mentioning the discoveries that reveal the existence of two genes regulating the activity of Notch receptors, one of the most important for the control of cell growth and differentiation and for the functioning of the immune system. During his work at the FDA, from 1991 to 1999, he was responsible for the evaluation of numerous projects on new anticancer therapies based on monoclonal antibodies. From November 2003 to May 2004, he was appointed as a Leading National Expert at the European Commission, where he worked on the management and promotion of the area of Synthetic Biology. In April 2004, he was elected Dean of the UCLM School of Medicine. From June 2007 to June 2011, he held the position of Councilor for Science, Technology and Consumer Affairs at Albacete City Council. Among his contributions in that capacity is the creation of the Promenade of the Planets, a scale reproduction of the Solar System: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paseo_de_los_Planetas. Among the extensive contributions in the area of scientific popularization he was PI of eight popularization projects financed by the FECYT (Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology) for the popularization of the scientific activities of the UCLM through the program Talking to Scientists (http://cienciaes.com/entrevistas/). He has authored twenty-two books on scientific subjects. Thirteen of these correspond to compilations of the more than one thousand popular science articles published in the newspaper La Tribuna de Albacete, newspapers of the Promecal group, and El País, and available in the blog Quilo de Ciencia (https://jorlab.blogspot.com). He has participated numerous times as a popularizer in Vanguardia de la Ciencia and Hablando con Científicos radio broadcast and podcasts programs. It also produces the podcast Quilo de Ciencia. He has also been the initiator and director of the podcast Ciencia Fresca. Finally, he was one of the initial promoters of the Spanish Science in the Parliament initiative, in which he participated as one of the six national experts to develop it.
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