Trends in basic immunology research - 2001 and beyond

The immune system is primarily involved in protection against pathogens and opportunistic organisms. Similar to a nation's defence organization, the i mmune system involves different components. This diversity allows the immun e system to defend against different types of attacks by microbes. The past century has witnessed tremendous progress in understanding the components and mechanisms involved in the immune response. This article attempts to hi ghlight areas of active research in basic immunology in the coming years.