Immune System

The practice of "vaginal seeding," in which a mother transfers her vaginal fluid to her newborn after a cesarean section, is generally not recommended, according to new guidelines.

Getting blood from a woman who has ever been pregnant could be risky for men, a new study from the Netherlands suggests.

Why do patients with lupus sometimes need kidney transplants?

Humans first journeyed into space in 1961, but even half a century later, questions remain about how spaceflight affects the human body.

The German government is considering approval of a food ingredient that most people try their best to avoid: parasite eggs.

The idea that gut bacteria can either be "good" or "bad" may not tell the whole story.

Cancer vaccines showed promise in two small new studies.

Nobody likes diarrhea. But is the icky and uncomfortable experience actually the body's way flushing bad stuff out of your system?

The case of a young girl who frequently got sick from colds has helped scientists pinpoint a rare genetic mutation that makes people more susceptible to cold viruses.

You may not love your belly fat, but the large sheet of fat that stretches across your abdomen serves a purpose.

The famous Spanish painter Francisco Goya suffered a mysterious illness and lost his hearing in 1793, and now experts may have figured out why.

The people of Sardinia are famous for their longevity, but also have some of the world's highest rates of multiple sclerosis and lupus.

A usually harmless virus may play a role in triggering celiac disease, a new study in mice suggests.

For some people, the arrival of spring brings symptoms of seasonal allergies — sneezing, wheezing, watery eyes and a running nose — which can make this a miserable time of year.

A mystery that has long been bugging us may be solved.

Researchers are turning to the immune system to treat type 1 diabetes at its source.

Armed with new insights into the interactions between cancer and the immune system, research teams are developing novel treatments to harness the full potential of the body's natural defenses.

Just 20 minutes of exercise may help fight inflammation in the body, a new study suggests.

Type 1 diabetes may be triggered by distress signals sent out with cells from the pancreas, new research suggests.