A prescription for human immunology

Abstract

Inbred mice have been an extremely successful tool for basic immunology, but much less so as models of disease. Thus, to maximize the use of immunologic approaches to improve human health, we need more strategically directed efforts in human immunology. This would also open up new opportunities for basic research.

Figure 1. Representative Assay for a Particular White Blood Cell

Here a given white blood cell is assayed for either a function or an array of biomarkers in both normal and diseased/aged individuals such that a range from overactive to underactive properties is registered. For the major cell types, it is likely that a deficiency in any one of them will disable the entire system in some way.