Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin...

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Exceptionally low mortality despite widespread COVID-19 infection among Indigenous Tsimane and Moseten of Bolivia.

Social science & medicine (1982)·2026

Same author

Inflammaging mediates testosterone declines in men while maintaining high testosterone increases mortality risk.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Female reproductive status and ecological conditions impact the magnitude of sex differences in human immune status across the lifespan.

Research square·2026

Same author

Divergent Biological Consequences of APOE Isoforms Across Industrialized and Non-Industrial Environments.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026

Same author

Evidence for an energy conservation model of inflammaging and immunosenescence in the US Health and Retirement Study and UK Biobank.

The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences·2026

Same author

Navigating Practical, Political, and Ethical Challenges of Long-Term Human Biology Field Research: The Shuar Health and Life History Project.

American journal of human biology : the official journal of the Human Biology Council·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 21, 2026

In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice

In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice

Published on: February 20, 2020

Immune function in Amazonian horticulturalists.

Aaron D Blackwell^1,2, Benjamin C Trumble^1,2,3,4, Ivan Maldonado Suarez²

¹a Department of Anthropology , University of California , Santa Barbara , CA , USA ;

Annals of Human Biology

|May 14, 2016

Summary

The Tsimane people exhibit distinct immune profiles compared to industrialized populations, with higher immunoglobulin and natural killer cell levels, but lower monocytes and naive CD4 T cells in older adults.

Keywords:

Immune function South America Tsimane horticulturalists life history

More Related Videos

Murine Nasal Lavage Fluid Collection without Blood Contamination

Murine Nasal Lavage Fluid Collection without Blood Contamination

Published on: July 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

Published on: September 20, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 21, 2026

In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice

In Vivo Infection with Leishmania amazonensis to Evaluate Parasite Virulence in Mice

Published on: February 20, 2020

Murine Nasal Lavage Fluid Collection without Blood Contamination

Murine Nasal Lavage Fluid Collection without Blood Contamination

Published on: July 11, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

Author Spotlight: Advancing Immune Monitoring in Critical Care Patients Using Whole Blood Assays

Published on: September 20, 2024

Area of Science:

Human immunology
Anthropology
Ecology

Background:

Amazonian populations face diverse parasitic and pathogen exposures.
Existing immunological knowledge often stems from industrialized populations with lower pathogen loads.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate immune function distributions and age-related variations in Bolivian Tsimane forager-horticulturalists.
To compare Tsimane immune profiles with US and European populations.

Main Methods:

Analysis of 22 immune measures in 6338 Tsimane individuals (aged 0-90 years).
Blood differentials, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and total immunoglobulins (IgE, IgG, IgA, IgM) were measured.
Flow cytometry quantified T cells (naïve/non-naïve CD4, CD8), natural killer cells, and B cells.

Main Results:

Tsimane show elevated immunoglobulins, eosinophils, ESR, B cells, and natural killer cells compared to reference populations.
Monocytes and basophils were reduced in the Tsimane.
Naïve CD4 T cells were depleted in older Tsimane individuals.

Conclusions:

Tsimane ecology shapes unique lymphocyte repertoires and immunoglobulin profiles distinct from industrialized populations.
These immunological differences impact disease susceptibility.
Immune variations correlate with Tsimane life history traits like growth and reproduction.