From the moment a baby is born, their immune system embarks on a remarkable journey of development and adaptation. At this stage, every tiny triumph and defeat of the immune system can shape a child’s health for decades to come. In this issue of IMMpress Magazine, we follow this journey from fetus to teenager, highlighting recent findings from the world of pediatric immunology.
We showcase many of the hallmarks of immune development from infancy to childhood in an infographic (p8). Before delving into pediatrics, though, we cover obstetrics, with articles on the immunological interactions between mother and child (p18) and the genetic conditions that often affect a newborn’s immune function (p24). Next, we discuss factors such as breastfeeding vs. formula milk practices (p10) and Caesarean section vs. vaginal birth (p20) to understand how they affect immunity at the macro level.
First steps, first words, first day at school; childhood is a sequence of one milestone after the other. We delve into the importance of some of these milestones with articles on the influence of early pet ownership on allergy development later in life (p15), and the declining receipt of routine vaccinations due to vaccine hesitancy (p12). To learn more about pediatric immunology, we interviewed Department of Immunology alumnus Dr. Dilan Dissanayake to discuss his latest research on autoimmune diseases in children (p16).
And then of course arrives the tumultuous adolescent phase. We explore the interplay of puberty with autoimmune diseases such as lupus (p14), the impact of psychological stress in youth on adult immune health (p25), and the success of the HPV vaccine against different types of cancers (p22). Finally, we conclude this issue with a book review of The Baby and the Biome, in which a mother, drawing on her scientific background, searches for solutions to her son’s severe allergies by sifting through decades of microbiome research (p27).
We hope you feel young at heart while reading this overview of the field of pediatric immunology. This issue of IMMpress Magazine would not have been possible without our wonderful team of writers, editors, and designers. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone on the team, with special thanks to Kitty Liu for her years of exceptional leadership and boundless creativity as she steps down from her role as Design Director. In her place we are excited to welcome Jennifer Ahn as our new Design Director!
As always, stay safe and healthy!
IMMpress
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