Infection, immunity and allergy

Infection and the body’s responses to it connect with vaccination, inflammation, allergy and resistance to treatment. The parts divide by the biological or clinical subject: viruses, vaccines, sepsis, inflammation, food reactions and antimicrobial resistance. Immune-system anatomy, cancer immunotherapy, the gut microbiome and allergen-immunotherapy trial design belong to neighbouring concerns.

• Viruses and viral disease — virology, coronaviruses, respiratory and cardiovascular effects of viral infection, Zika and chikungunya, and antiviral drugs
• Vaccines — immune responses, platforms and programmes, manufacturing and equity, vaccination history and HIV-vaccine development
• Sepsis and septic shock — definitions, pathogen and host responses, organ dysfunction, treatment debates, survivor outcomes and research as of 2020
• Inflammation — signs and mechanisms, acute and chronic responses, roles in disease and normal physiology, and anti-inflammatory drugs
• Food allergy, intolerance and the misconceptions around them — distinguishing food reactions, lactose and gluten intolerance, childhood allergy, dietary consequences and accurate communication
• Antimicrobial resistance — biofilm infections, antibiotic use and stewardship, measuring use in animals, and barriers to new antibiotics