Immune defences.

Three groups are investigating the mechanisms by which the organism defends itself against invasion by either infectious agents or cancerous cells.

1. Jean-Pierre Vaerman and co-workers are specially concerned with the defence of digestive and respiratory mucosae mediated by a special kind of immunoglobulin, IgA, discovered by the founder of the group, the late Joseph-Felix Heremans, who died in 1975.
2. Jean-Paul Coutelier and his co-workers study the profound alterations of the immune system triggered by some viruses, with a special interest to autoimmune disorders.
3. Pierre Coulie and his co-workers, in close collaboration with the Ludwig Institute, work on the anti-tumoral immune mechanisms. This unit is particularly interested in monitoring the specific immune responses developed by patients who are treated by injections of various tumoral antigens.

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