Immunity, wound healing, Dr Joseph Murray, HIV, AIDS, diabetes, malnutrition, chronic illnesses, burns, major wounds, bedridden patients, long term intensive care patients, vaccination, mercenary cells, killer cells, evidence based immune therapy, Dr Alexander, plastic surgeon, cosmetic surgery, Cochin, Kerala, India+

                                      Dr Joseph Murray
                                                                                             (pic fromhttp://jentytharian.blogspot.com)

The world lost Dr Joseph Murray on Nov 26, 2012. He was the first and only plastic surgeon to be awarded the Nobel Prize for the first organ transplantation in the history of medicine which he did in 1954. He had transplanted a kidney in a 23 year old gentleman from his twin brother (donor). He became an international leader and pioneer in transplantation biology and immunology. Without his knowledge in immunology, organ transplants which he had done would have been rejected. 

Immunity deals with our ability to fight and prevent infection, to know what belongs to our body and to reject what does not. Diseases like AIDS (Acquired immune deficiency syndrome) directly attack the immune system and destroy it so that the immunity of these patients is impaired. Similarly taking steroids for long term (for any reason) can reduce the immunity again. Diabetes and malnutrition are other causes for decreased immunity as we discussed. If these patients have wounds obviously the healing will be hampered. Major burn patients have decreased immunity and therefore their wounds have a higher predisposition to infection. 

For bedridden patients and those undergoing major surgeries and long term hospital treatment, taking care of the immune requirements may be beneficial in reducing their hospital stay and getting their wounds to heal faster.

While we have gone a long way in preventing diseases by vaccinations, the medical field is still in its infancy in providing evidence based immune therapy for diseased patients and I believe that future research in this direction will be beneficial. If we can stimulate individual cells to do their functions at the time and place that we choose, then we could use them as warriors in our fight against super bugs and others to prevent, heal and treat diseases.There are billions of cells in our body and we need to know how to control them sometime in the future.

  

Imagine signalling and sending a few 'mercenary cells' to do the job!!!