The immune system consists of a large number of different cell types all of which derive from stem cells in the bone marrow. These cells of the immune system are spread throughout the body and are organised like an army with parade grounds, camps and barracks, and with different specialisations ranging from reconaissance and intelligence units through infantry to heavy artillery. The system is able to quickly detect an incipient infection and to organise a rapid and effective response. Without it we would quickly die. Indeed, the system has to be able to do a lot more: it must learn to tolerate antigens present in food; during pregnancy it must take care not to mount an attack against the foetus; it plays a central role in the processes of wound healing and it even reduces the chances of inbreeding by influencing our choice of partner.
Defects in, or disruption of the system often lead to serious illness. Since all the organ systems in the body can be affected, immunology is by its very nature an interdisciplinary subject.
Our department has three functions: teaching, research and patient care.
We cover teaching in immunology in four degree courses in our university – in Medicine, in Human Biology, in Pharmacy and in Biochemistry. In all four of these subjects students have the option of choosing Immunology as a major subject. We are the only university in Germany which offers Immunology as the major subject in the Diploma (B.Sc) course in Human Biology.
In research we concentrate on those distressingly frequent disturbances in our anti bacterial defences which in serious cases can lead to lethal sepsis.
The department also runs a highly specialised immune diagnostic service for the University Clinics and for the hospitals in the surrounding region.
+49 3834 / 86 54 90
