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Related Concept Videos

Immunodeficiency Diseases01:25

Immunodeficiency Diseases

Immunodeficiency disorders are conditions in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent. The immune system comprises a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful invaders. When this system is deficient or not functioning properly, it leaves the body susceptible to infections, diseases, or other complications.
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

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 create...
Secondary Lymphoid Organs01:15

Secondary Lymphoid Organs

Secondary organs, including lymph nodes, the spleen, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), work harmoniously to protect us from disease and infection.
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...
Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age01:27

Pharmacodynamics in Geriatric Patients: Effects of Age

Age-related pharmacokinetic changes are extensively documented, but understanding age-related pharmacodynamic alterations is relatively limited. This knowledge gap can be partly attributed to the complexity of developing appropriate measures of drug responses compared to bioanalytical methods for determining drug concentrations.Most information regarding age-related differences in human pharmacodynamics originates from cross-sectional studies. However, these studies assume that observed mean...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients01:15

Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients

Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 29, 2026

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
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A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

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Risk Factors for Secondary Immunodeficiency in the Aged.

Anna Lang1, Alexandros Grammatikos2, Mark Ballow3

  • 1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, and Sleep Medicine, UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, Calif.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. in Practice
|May 27, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Secondary immune deficiencies compromise the immune system due to factors like aging and malnutrition. Updated vaccination strategies are crucial for preventing infections in older adults.

Keywords:
AgedChronic diseaseElderlyImmune effectImmunodeficiencyImmunosenescenceMalnutritionMedication effectSecondary immune deficiencyVaccination

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Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood
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Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood

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Last Updated: May 29, 2026

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
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A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood
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Quantitative Imaging of Lineage-specific Toll-like Receptor-mediated Signaling in Monocytes and Dendritic Cells from Small Samples of Human Blood

Published on: April 16, 2012

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gerontology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Secondary immune deficiencies are increasingly prevalent, especially in the aging population.
  • Immunosenescence involves inflammaging, cellular senescence, and impaired immune cell function, increasing infection risk.
  • Malnutrition, immunosuppressive therapies, and comorbidities exacerbate immune dysfunction in older adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the growing prevalence and multifaceted causes of secondary immune deficiencies in the elderly.
  • To emphasize the impact of immunosenescence, malnutrition, and comorbidities on immune health in older adults.
  • To underscore the critical role of updated vaccination strategies in preventing infectious diseases in this vulnerable demographic.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on secondary immune deficiencies in the aged.
  • Analysis of factors contributing to immune dysfunction, including immunosenescence, malnutrition, and comorbidities.
  • Examination of existing and recommended immunization strategies for older adults.

Main Results:

  • Aging leads to immunosenescence, characterized by reduced immune cell output and function.
  • Malnutrition and various comorbidities significantly worsen immune dysregulation in the elderly.
  • Older adults face cumulative risks that increase susceptibility to infections.

Conclusions:

  • Vaccination is a cornerstone of preventive care for older adults with secondary immune deficiencies.
  • Updated immunization strategies for diseases like COVID-19, influenza, and pneumococcal disease are essential.
  • Proactive vaccination is critical to reduce morbidity and mortality in the aging population.