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Are appropriate numbers of scientists being trained for research in immunology? Available data suggest that supply is not yet outstripping opportunities. The form of those opportunities, though, should change.
NKT cells can rapidly produce a diversity of immunoregulatory cytokines; does this make these cells aggressors or suppressors? New experiments now reveal their immunosuppressive function in tumor control and reiterate their pivotal position.
Although thyrocytes in two autoimmune diseases of the thyroid both express Fas and FasL, the conditions produce opposite results: either hyper- or hypothyroidism. This may be due to cytokine production indirectly supporting pro- or anti-apoptotic gene expression in thyrocytes.
What only one person accomplish in a lifetime? Pirquet, an exceedingly curious pediatrician with acute powers of observation and deduction, not only solved the riddle of serum sickness and developed the concept of allergy, but also made contributions to the study of nutrition and aging.
The bite of the sandfly can both bring disease or provide protection. A report in a recent issue of Science indicates that infection with Leishmania can be severely impaired by previous bites from uninfected sandflies.