The Delicate Immunology of the Testes
At first glance, sperm appear to be relatively unremarkable cells churned out by the body. They are small, stripped of most cellular machinery, and produced in staggeringly large numbers –...
Blog
Almost human: Tracing the evolution of the immune system
Introduction When Ilya Metchnikoff first pinned small thorns into the transparent larvae of a starfish in the late 1800s, he saw mobile cells within the larvae quickly surround the thorn and attack...
Letter from the Editors – Volume 14 Issue 1, 2026
As scientists working at the cutting-edge of immunology discovery research , we often turn to the familiar: the well- established mouse models, drawing parallels to the human immune system, the...
Letter from the Chair, Dr. Jennifer Gommerman – Volume 14 Issue 1, 2026
And now for something completely different…. I loved this latest issue of IMMpress brought to you by our talented Department of Immunology graduate students entitled “Built to Survive: Immunity Beyond...
The Enormous Impact of a Tiny Immune System: a Book Review of Walter Isaacson’s “The Code Breaker”
How can I convince you to read this biography? As a student in the Department of Immunology, I tend to be overly critical when reading books about Immunology and I often choose instead...
Mapping human illness across time through the lens of zoonosis
Animal to human disease transmission is a cause of numerous pandemics, epidemics, and severe illnesses we have seen throughout history. These diseases are zoonotic and make up around 60% of...
What the humble naked mole-rat can teach us about immunity
In the world of immunology, the human and murine model systems are often viewed as the "gold standard." As such, we (humans) define a robust immune system by two intricately...
VLRs: the jawless fish strike back!
The intricate web of organs, cells, and molecules that make up our immune system can be viewed as the product of evolutionary optimization, designed by nature itself. Our adaptive immune...
Spray-induced gene silencing: Using RNAi to fight fungi
Fungi Are No Fun For Plants The fungus Botrytis cinerea (B. cinerea) derives its name from the Latin term for “grapes of ash.” Also known as gray mold, this harmful crop pathogen coats damaged...
Fur and fortified immunity: How growing up with pets may shape the immune system
For generations, parents have debated whether pets belong in homes with young children. Traditional advice often warned that exposure to animal fur and dander might trigger allergies or autoimmune disease....