Tuesday, July 30, 2019

TWO MEN WHO UNRAVELED THE IMMUNE SYSTEM'S FUNCTIONS WERE BITTER RIVALS

Two researchers who found key elements of the immune system, Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, ought to have had the option to consider them to be as integral, yet they wrapped up opponents. Pasteur, a French microbiologist, was renowned for his examinations exhibiting the system of immunizations utilizing debilitating forms of the organisms. Koch, a German doctor, set up four basic conditions under which pathogenic microbes can taint has, and utilized them to recognize the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium that causes tuberculosis. In spite of the fact that both set up the germ hypothesis of sickness—one of the establishments of present-day drug today—Pasteur and Koch's fight may have been bothered by patriotism, a language hindrance, reactions of one another's work, and conceivably a trace of envy.

Pasteur's vocation demonstrates him to have been an incredible experimenter, far less worried about the hypothesis of malady and insusceptible reaction than with managing sicknesses by making new antibodies. Still, it is conceivable to recognize his ideas on the more dynamic themes. At an early stage, he connected the invulnerable reaction to the natural, particularly nourishing, prerequisites of the microorganisms included; that is, the organism or the weakened microorganism in the antibody drained its sustenance source during its first attack, making the following surge hard for the microorganism. Later he conjectured that organisms could create concoction substances poisonous to themselves that coursed all through the body, along these lines indicating the utilization of poisons and counteragents in immunizations. He loaned backing to another view by inviting to the Institut Pasteur Élie Metchnikoff and his hypothesis that "phagocytes" in the blood—white corpuscles—clear the assemblage of the outside issue and are the prime specialists of invulnerability.

Not an expressive speaker, Koch was all things considered by model, exhibition, and statute one of the best of educators, and his various understudies—from the whole Western world and Asia—were the makers of the new period of bacteriology. His work on trypanosomes was of direct use to the famous German bacteriologist Paul Ehrlich; that is just a single case of Koch's impelling of epochal work both inside and past his own quick circle. His disclosures and his specialized advancements were coordinated by his major ideas of the etiology of the malady. Sometime before his passing, his place in the historical backdrop of science was generally perceived.

Both Pasteur & Koch played an important role in research & development of studies of Immunology which played an important role in modern techniques & assessments.

Learn More at: https://molecularimmunology.insightconferences.com/


Friday, June 21, 2019

7 Yoga Poses to Boost Your Immune System

Yoga and the immune system is interlinked. For anything to work well, balance and stability are essential. The same applies to the immune system, and when imbalance sets in, the immune system is affected. Yoga gives a holistic uplifting approach to your body and works great in reducing stress levels, a primary reason for a weak immune system. There are specific yoga poses that strengthen and support your immune system and regularly practicing them will keep diseases at bay.

7 Best Poses of Yoga for Immune System –
  • Tadasana (Mountain Pose)
  • Vrikshasana (Tree Pose)
  • Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose)
  • Trikonasana (Triangle Pose)
  • Utkatasana (Chair Pose)
  • Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose)
  • Matsyasana (Fish Pose)

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1.  Tadasana (Mountain Pose):


Tadasana, also called Mountain Pose, is a base pose from which all the others asanas emerge. Therefore, it is rightly called the ‘mother’ of all yoga poses. This basic level Hatha Yoga pose can be done at any time in the day and should be held for at least 10-20 seconds or at least five deep breaths. If you are following up Tadasana with other postures, make sure your stomach is empty.

Benefits: Tadasana helps restore balance and regulates the digestive system. It steadies your breathing, increases awareness relieves tension and improves blood circulation. Tadasana expels dullness and keeps you refreshed. It increases your energy and harmonizes your body and mind.

2.    Vrikshasana (Tree Pose):


Vrikshasana is also called Tree Pose because it represents the stable and balanced stance of a tree. It is best to do this beginner level Hatha Yoga pose in the morning on an empty stomach and a fresh mind, but if you feel so inclined to strike a pose for a mid-afternoon office break or before dinner, find the time that works best for you. Balance yourself, working your way up to holding for a minute on each leg, while breathing deeply.

Benefits: Vrikshasana strengthens your spine and aids nerve-muscle coordination. It improves your mental capabilities and keeps you stable. It invigorates your entire body by stretching it, increasing your stamina and keeping you focused. It boosts your self-confidence and relaxes the nervous system.

3. Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose):


Padangusthasana, also called Big Toe Pose, helps to stretch your muscles in the back of your legs, your spine, and neck. Do this basic level Hatha Yoga pose for at least 30 seconds early in the morning on an empty stomach. In case you miss doing it in the morning, try it in the evening after 2-3 hours from your last meal.

Benefits: Padangusthasana is calming to the brain as it relieves stress and anxiety. The digestive system is stimulated, which can improve digestion. Your liver and kidneys receive more blood flow, resulting in new and improved energy. By relaxing the central nervous system, Padangusthasana keeps insomnia at bay and may help you sleep peacefully at night.

4. Trikonasana (Triangle Pose):


Trikonasana, also called Triangle Pose, is named so because it resembles a triangle. This is one of the best yoga poses for the immune system. Hold this beginner level Vinyasa-style yoga pose for 30 seconds or five to ten deep breaths. It is best to do the asana in the morning as you are energized, and the food is digested completely. But, as with the other poses, find what time works best for you – 2-3 hours before or after a meal.

Benefits: Trikonasana can improve circulation in your body. It may aid digestion, reduce blood pressure, and improve concentration and balance. It calms your mind and reduces stress.

5. Utkatasana (Chair Pose):


Utkatasana, also called Chair Pose, is like sitting on a chair – only a bit more challenging since you don’t use a chair and instead use your body without the actual chair. To get the biggest benefit from Utkatasana, stay in the pose for at least 30-60 seconds or 5-10 deep breaths.

Benefits: Utkatasana can improve your strength, energy, and balance. It stimulates your heart and massages the abdominal organs as you engage your core. To stay energized, practice Utkatasana regularly.

6. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose):


Bhujangasana, also called as Cobra Pose, resembles the raised hood of a cobra. Bhujangasana is part of the Suryanamaskar practice. Hold this basic level Ashtanga Yoga pose for 15-30 seconds or 5-10 breaths.

Benefits: Bhujangasana can stimulate your digestive system and circulation. It opens up your heart and lungs, helping to relieve stress. It increases the flexibility of your spine, elevates your mood, stimulates your core, and boosts your energy.

7. Matsyasana (Fish Pose):


Matsyasana, also called Fish Pose, puts some sense into your body when it tends to go haywire, just like how Lord Vishnu took the Matsya avatar to flush out all the bad on earth. Similar to the other postures, hold this Hatha Yoga pose for 15-30 seconds or five deep breaths.

Benefits: Matsyasana stimulates your core and digestion. It can relieve tension in the shoulders and neck. It may help to regulate breathing and stimulate the parathyroid gland. Matsyasana gives your digestive organs a good massage and keeps anxiety, constipation, and fatigue at bay.

Therefore, these yoga poses offer a plethora of benefits that affect your immune system for the better, directly or indirectly. A healthy immune system keeps you fit as a fiddle. Yoga will keep diseases at bay by making your immune system stronger. So, you should surely give it a shot.

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

These 7 Foods Might Help Alleviate Seasonal Allergy Symptoms


When you think of food and allergies, you may think of keeping certain foods out of the diet to avoid an adverse reaction. But the connection between seasonal allergies and food is limited to a few groups of foods known as cross-reactive foods. Reactions to cross-reactive foods may be experienced by those with birch, ragweed, or mugwort seasonal allergies. Aside from those groups of foods, seasonal allergies, also called hay fever or allergic rhinitis, only occur during certain parts of the year usually the spring or summer. They develop when the immune system overreacts to allergens, like plant pollen, which results in lots of congestion, sneezing, and itching.
While treatment usually involves over the counter medicines, lifestyle changes may also help ease your springtime woes. Adding certain foods to your diet could actually help relieve symptoms like the nose-dripping and eye-watering. From reducing inflammation to boosting the immune system, there are a number of dietary choices that may help mitigate the miseries of seasonal allergies.
Here’s a list of foods to try:

 1. Ginger


Many of the unpleasant allergy symptoms come from inflammatory issues, like swelling and irritation in the nasal passages, eyes, and throat. Ginger can help reduce these symptoms naturally. For thousands of years, ginger has been used as a natural remedy for a number of health problems, like nausea and joint pain. It’s also been proven to contain antioxidative, anti-inflammatory phytochemical compounds. Now, experts are exploring how these compounds may be useful for combating seasonal allergies. Ginger has suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory proteins in the blood of mice, which led to reduced allergy symptoms. There doesn’t appear to be a difference in the anti-inflammatory the capacity of fresh ginger versus dried. Add either variety to stir-fries, curries, baked goods, or try making ginger tea.
2. Bee pollen

Bee pollen isn’t just food for bees; it’s edible for humans, too. This mixture of enzymes, nectar, honey, flower pollen, and wax is often sold as a curative for hay fever. It has been shown that bee pollen can have anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antimicrobial, properties in the body.  Bee pollen inhibited the activation of mast cells which is a crucial step in preventing allergic reactions. What kind of bee pollen is best, and how do you eat it? “There is some evidence to support the consumption of local bee pollen to help build your body's resistance to the pollen that you are allergic to. “It is important that the honey be local so that the same local pollen your body is allergic to is contained in the bee pollen.” If possible, look for bee pollen at your local farmer’s market.  Bee pollen comes in small pellets, with a flavor some describe as bittersweet or nutty. Creative ways to eat it include sprinkling some on yogurt or cereal, or blending it into a smoothie.
3. Citrus fruits

While it’s an old wives’ tale that vitamin C prevents the common cold, it may help shorten the duration of a cold as well as offer benefits for allergy sufferers. Eating foods high in vitamin C has been shown to decrease allergic rhinitis, the irritation of the upper respiratory tract caused by pollen from blooming plants. So during allergy season, feel free to load up on high-vitamin C citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, sweet peppers, and berries.
4. Turmeric

Turmeric is well-known as an anti-inflammatory powerhouse for a good reason. Its active ingredient, curcumin, has been linked to reduced symptoms of many inflammation-driven diseases and could help minimize the swelling and irritation caused by allergic rhinitis. Although turmeric’s effects on seasonal allergies haven’t been studied extensively in humans, animal studies are promising. One showed that treating mice with turmeric reduced their allergic response. Turmeric can be taken in pills, tinctures, or teas or, of course, eaten in foods. Whether you take turmeric as a supplement or use it in your cooking, be sure to choose a product with black pepper or piperine, or pair turmeric with black pepper in your recipe. Black pepper increases the bioavailability of curcumin by up to 2,000 percent.
5. Tomatoes

Though citrus tends to get all the glory when it comes to vitamin C, tomatoes are another excellent source of this essential nutrient. One medium-sized tomato contains about 26 percent of your recommended daily value of vitamin C. Additionally, tomatoes contain lycopene, another antioxidant compound that helps quell systemic inflammation. Lycopene is more easily absorbed in the body when it’s cooked, so choose canned or cooked tomatoes for an extra boost.
6. Salmon and other oily fish

Could a fish a day keep the sneezing away? There’s some evidence that the omega-3 fatty acids from fish could bolster the allergy resistance and even improve asthma. A study found that the more eicosapentaenoic (EPA) fatty acid people had in their bloodstream, the less their risk of allergic sensitivity or hay fever. Another study showed that fatty acids helped decrease the narrowing of airways that occurs in asthma and some cases of seasonal allergies. These benefits likely come from omega-3s’ anti-inflammatory properties.
7. Onions

Onions are an excellent natural source of quercetin, a bioflavonoid that may have seen sold on its own as a dietary supplement. Some suggest that quercetin acts as a natural antihistamine, reducing the symptoms of seasonal allergies. Raw red onions have the highest concentration of quercetin, followed by white onions and scallions. Cooking reduces the quercetin content of onions. Onions are also prebiotic-rich foods which nourish healthy gut bacteria and further support immunity and health.

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Monday, June 3, 2019

NUTRITION: Boost your immune system and fight colds with probiotics



Did you know about 70 percent of your immune system resides in your gut?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive tract and help digest food, synthesize vitamins and support our immune systems. Eating more foods packed with probiotics during cold and flu season may lessen the impact of the common cold. According to a systematic review, certain probiotics strains, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were found to lessen the duration of respiratory infections in adults and children.
To maintain a healthy digestive tract and immune system, it's helpful to consume probiotic-rich foods or even take supplements. These foods contain live bacteria cultures or have been fermented with benign bacteria.
Fermentation has been used throughout history as a way to preserve food. But don't confuse fermentation with pickling. Both are forms of food preservation, but pickled food won't provide probiotic benefits.
Fermentation occurs when bacteria convert carbohydrates and sugars in whole food items (like vegetables or milk) to an acid that helps preserve the food. To get the maximum benefits from fermented foods, read product labels and choose only those that contain "active, live cultures." Raw and unpasteurized is best unless you have a compromised immune system.
Probiotic foods are easy to come by in supermarkets these days. You'll find them in the produce section. Select foods that have been refrigerated and say they have live cultures or have not been pasteurized since the heat of pasteurization kills the good bacteria. It's also simple and inexpensive to make probiotic foods at home.
Sources of probiotics include:
  • Fermented vegetables: sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles, beets, carrots
  • Fermented fruits: chutneys, jams, green papaya, pickled jackfruit
  • Yogurt, kefir, sour cream, buttermilk with live and active cultures (pick plain and no added sugar)
  • Kombucha, a fermented beverage
  • Fermented condiments: homemade ketchup, relishes, salsas and pickled ginger
  • Water kefir, coconut milk kefir
  • Homemade coconut milk or cashew yogurt
  • Beet kvass, a fermented beet juice
  • Natto, miso, tempeh, and tamari sauce

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Molecular Immunology 2019

10th International Conference on Immunology & ImmunogeneticsOctober 30-31, 2019 London, UK


Conference Series LLC Ltd. is glad to organize “10th International Conference on Immunology & Immunogenetics” on October 30-31, 2019 at London, UK with the theme “Investigating Advancements in the Field of Immunology” and cordially welcomes participants across the world to showcase their presence and share their research work & ideas at the conference.
Molecular Immunology 2019 is a 2-day event offering the Exhibition, at the venue to showcase the new and emerging technologies and have wider sessions involving Keynote presentation, Oral, YRF (student presentation), poster, e-poster presentations. World-renowned speakers and eminent delegates across the globe attending the conference, to share their valuable presentation on the most recent and advanced techniques, developments, technologies, clinical trials in Immunology and relevant topics along the newest updates are the prominent features of the conference.


Scientific Sessions:

  1. Immunology
  2. Immunology Techniques
  3. Immunological Disorders
  4. Immunotherapy, Vaccination & Immunization
  5. Immunity & the Immune System
  6. Autoimmune & Inflammatory Diseases
  7. Immunogenetics
  8. Immunodermatology
  9. Molecular Immunology
  10. Microbial Immunology
  11. Immunotoxicology
  12. Immunoresearch & Immunotechnology
  13. Immunopathology
  14. Antigen Processing & Presentation
  15. Viral Immunology
  16. Veterinary & Comparative Immunology
  17. Cancer & Tumor Immunology
  18. Transplantation & Computational Immunology
  19. Mucosal & Regional Immunology
  20. Nutritional Immunity & Immunohematology
  21. Clinical & Cellular Immunology
  22. Reproductive and Behavioural Immunology
  23. Ocular Immunology
  24. Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation
  25. Technological Innovations in Immunology


Important Links: 


Contact Information:


Contact Person: Jiah Smith
Tel: +17027147001 Ext. 9070

Monday, May 20, 2019

Here's How Sex Can Affect Your Immune System

Sex can actually directly impact your immune system, both for good and for bad sense. Sex, it turns out, is really good for you. But, it does have its risks too.
Whilst exposure to things like sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is an obvious one, as we see, there are some other more subtle changes that can take place. From priming a woman's immune system for getting pregnant, to actually increase your likelihood of getting HIV, sexual activity has been shown to directly affect the immune system.


Does sexual behavior affect the immune system?

It has long been known that sex can affect your immune system. Researchers have explained that sex can be both beneficial and detrimental to one's immune system. The immune system boosts from sex also has a positive impact on your sex drive and general mood. People who also have regular sex tend to take less sick days. Researchers were able to show that college students who had sex once or twice a week had higher levels of a certain antibody compared to students who had sex less often. Having sex also has many other benefits to you and your well-being.
It can: 
  • Lower your blood pressure; Improve bladder control in women;
  • Boost your libido (obviously);
  • Improve your physical fitness (it is a form of exercise after all);
  • Lower your risk of heart attacks (believe it or not);
  • Block pain, or lessen pain;
  • Has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing prostate cancer;
  • Improves your sleeping patterns; and,
  • Help reduce stress. 

Can sexual behavior affect the immune system?

One study appears to show a link between sexual activity and the subject's ability to combat pathogens. Researchers in 2001 found that males who had more sexual partners showed a marked reduction in the ability to fight off a bacterial infection. Their results suggest immunosuppression is an important cost of reproduction and that immune function and levels of disease susceptibility will be influenced by sexual selection.

But, it is important to note that the study was concerned with male flies of the Drosophila melanogaster (common fruit fly) species, not human beings. But, of course, flies are not humans. This species of fly's sexual life is very different too. In D. melanogaster there is no paternal care, and male reproductive effort is composed entirely of investment in successfully mating. In nature, an evolutionary increase in mating effort will be favored by increased sexual selection.

But it's not all bad.

There are many other studies that show sex is also beneficial to you and your immune system. It may even increase a woman's chance of getting pregnant (if you're trying for a baby of course). The study, by researchers showed a clear link between sexual activity and physical changes (including the immune system) that increased the chance of conception, even outside of the window of ovulation. It's a common recommendation that partners trying to have a baby should engage in regular intercourse to increase the woman's chances of getting pregnant even during so called 'non-fertile' periods although it's unclear how this works
This research is the first to show that the sexual activity may cause the body to promote types of immunity that support conception. But, of course, this should come as no surprise. The more you have unprotected sex, the higher the chance you will become pregnant (as a woman). But what is interesting is that the human body appears to show physical changes that appear to increase the likelihood of conception. 

Can sexual behavior affect your gut microbiome?

Your sexual behavior can, it appears, alter your gut microbiome. Some recent studies have shown a connection between your sexual preference and susceptibility to infectious diseases. For clarity, the microbiome is the community of microbes that live inside our gut. A healthy microbiome is vital for many things including the efficiency and function of your immune system.


One study, in particular, found that men who have sex with men (MSM) have a distinct gut ecology compared to men who have sex with women (MSW). Results were also not dependent on the subjects HIV-status. Their method included taking 35 stool samples of healthy men. The donors were a mixture of men who have sex with men and men who have sex with women. The stool samples were then transplanted into lab mice. They found that the stool samples from MSM showed a marked increase in the activation of CD4+ T cells within the mice. This, it turns out, would put those mice at a higher risk of being susceptible to HIV (if they were human). CD4+T cells "recognize peptides presented on MHC class II molecules, which are found on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). As a whole, they play a major role in instigating and shaping adaptive immune responses.
These results provide evidence for a direct link between microbiome composition and immune activation in HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM, and a rationale for investigating the gut microbiome as a risk factor for HIV transmission. There is a unique microbiome associated with men who have sex with men that drives immune activation in the gut that may also drive higher levels of HIV infection. But we still don’t know exactly why this is
Whilst the study is interesting, further investigation is still needed to understand why the microbiome is important. If it is responsible for weakening immune systems, especially with regards to HIV, it may yield some fertile ground for combating the disease.