Sub-Spec - Immunology

Immunology

Immunologists investigate the immune system in the very wide range of diseases where the immune system causes disease. This includes diseases where the immune system accidentally attacks the host, which results in autoimmune diseases and vasculitis. In some cases the immune system mistakenly responds to a perceived threat that is not really harmful to the host, and this is allergy. In other cases, the immune system is defective in some way, and abnormal infections result – this is immunodeficiency. Immunologists run the immunology laboratory, which is used to investigate all three types of conditions. Many different techniques from the biological sciences are used in immunology laboratories, some of which lend themselves to high levels of automation using auto analysers. The skill of the immunologist is then in interpreting the results produced. Other types of assay require skill and experience, and the immunologist works closely with biomedical scientists in the laboratory, using skill such as fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and interpreting electrophoresis.

Medically-trained immunologists may also run a clinical service, seeing patients with the wide range of conditions caused by immune system abnormalities. A holistic approach is needed, because all organs in the body can be affected, so it is a different approach to some organ-based or procedural specialties. So many conditions are caused by the immune system that common conditions like asthma, eczema and diabetes, are usually looked after by the relevant organ-based specialist (such as a respiratory physician, dermatologist or diabetologist). Immunologists tend to specialise in immunodeficiencies and complex allergies, although they are often asked to see unusual conditions which don’t neatly fall into one simple category, examples include conditions like behcet’s disease or hereditary angioedema.