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A person may become immune to a specific disease in several ways. For some illnesses, such as measles and chickenpox, having the disease usually leads to lifelong immunity to it. Vaccination is another way to become immune to a disease.

Germs are everywhere: in school, at home, at the gym, at the mall, even on your computer! You're constantly exposed to germs. Fortunately for most of us, our immune systems defend us against germs and microorganisms daily to keep us healthy and prevent infection. The following discussion questions and activities will help your students learn all about the immune system.

The activity of some of our genes varies with the seasons throughout the year. The discovery comes from an analysis of blood samples from more than 16,000 people in both hemispheres. The most striking pattern was that 147 genes involved in the immune system made it more reactive or "pro-inflammatory" during winter or rainy seasons, probably to battle the onslaught of cold and flu viruses

A genetic "crystal ball" can predict whether certain people will respond effectively to the flu vaccine. Nine genes are associated with a strong immune response to the flu vaccine in those aged 35 and under, a new study finds. If these genes were highly active before vaccination, an individual would generate a high level of antibodies after vaccination, no matter the flu strain in the vaccine, researchers report online August 25 in Science Immunology. This response can help a person avoid getting the flu.

This index organizes teaching resources by topic-related issue and provides teaching resources (case studies, problems, videos, articles, activities, and other resources) which can be used to to facilitate the teaching of introductory non-majors biology using Problem or Case Studies Based Learning.