Insight on Immunology

By Francesca Scala • December 6, 2017

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I would like to follow up on Nikiesha Myer’s post and provide some variety by explaining why I find immunology so fascinating.

The immune system is a beautifully orchestrated system: the way the cells, tissues, and organs interact among each other to achieve an immunologically functional and balanced individual is incredible. Many people are intimidated by the amount of intertwined and interdependent processes in an immune response, but I think there are plenty of reasons to appreciate its complexity. I often think of it as a perfectly designed puzzle: If one of the pieces is missing, or has the wrong shape, it will affect the whole picture. Tracking down what a symptom of immune disease looks like on a patient and understanding the underlying cause of such symptoms, whether inherited or acquired, is very interesting. Those findings could be indicative of things as simple as allergies or as complex as systemic lupus erythematosus.

Another reason I enjoy learning about immunology is its relevance to everyday society.

Understanding these concepts can be helpful in preventing misconceptions about things like vaccines, understanding the multitude of diseases that affect the immune system, or what happens to your body when you are coming down with a simple cold.

Furthermore, immunology is in continuous progress: For as much as you can learn, there are probably countless things still yet to be discovered.

There are many facets of the immune system that have yet to be understood. Studies are continuously underway for expanding our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of immunity, furthering the development of new and better vaccines, as well as creating cheaper and more accurate therapies.

Understanding immune processes is necessary when performing laboratory tests. If you are a visual learner who wants to clearly see the expression of conceptual models in living systems in such a way that intersects with nearly all other parts systems of the human body, then immunology is the field of study for you.

Francesca Scala

Francesca Scala is a student in the Mayo Medical Laboratory Science program in Rochester, MN. She is completing her Clinical Laboratory Science major through University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Francesca enjoys playing the violin, water coloring, swimming, listening to music, and is a beginner in crocheting.