Do Microbes Have Immune Systems?

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We often think of immunity as being a human, or at least mammalian, phenomenon. But in fact almost all living organisms have some form of immune system. In this lecture, we lift the lid on the astonishingly diverse immune mechanisms used by bacteria, amoebae, nematodes and many other microbial forms of life in their constant battle against viruses and each other.

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Do Microbes Have Immune Systems?
Professor Robin May

2 October 2024

For this year’s lecture series, I am trying a different format of transcript.  Rather than a long-form written document, which has been largely rendered obsolete by the ability to transcribe from the YouTube recording, this handout is a brief summary of the key topics in the lecture, together with some more extensive suggestions for extra reading.  As ever, we would be delighted to hear your thoughts on this new approach!

We are all used to the concept of immunity.  During the Covid-19 pandemic, the global media conversation was dominated by immunity – are some people more immune than others, what can we do to boost our immunity and, critically, will we ever have a vaccine to boost our immune systems against this new virus?  As a result, immunity is now a common topic of conversation at dinner tables and social gatherings around the world.  Almost all of these conversations focus on human immunity; perhaps with the occasional segue into consideration of immunity and vaccination for our domestic pets and livestock.  And yet immunity is not restricted to mammals or even to multicellular organisms.  In this lecture we delve into the fascinating world of microbial immunity.  How do bacteria fight off viruses?  Why is your bread dough a seething warzone between microbes?  And how might we be able to harness microbial immunity for human benefit?

 

Key topics in the lecture with further reading

© Professor Robin May 2024

Key topic in the lecture with further reading

This event was on Wed, 02 Oct 2024

Professor Robin May

Professor Robin May

Gresham Professor of Physic

Gresham Professor of Physic, Chief Scientific Adviser at the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Professor of Infectious Disease at the University of Birmingham, Professor Robin...

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