Immune Ethics

The immune system keeps human organisms in balance and shields them from harmful pathogens. However, it may fail to provide complete protection, necessitating vaccines to ensure health and survival. Pharmacological and genomic interventions can activate or modulate immune functions, potentially leading to autoimmune disease or multi-system damage. The Element explores the ethical implications of these interventions, including vaccines against addiction and viruses, immunotherapy for cancer, neuroimmunomodulating agents to prevent or treat neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, and gene editing of immunity to enable xenotransplantation and prevent infectious disease. It also considers the potential outcome of natural competition between humans and microbes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 03 August 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect human organisms from pathogenic threats. It plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis within the body and preventing disease. However, sometimes the immune system cannot provide complete protection on its own, and vaccines become essential to ensure our health and survival.

Immune functions can become dysregulated, leading to autoimmune diseases or multi-system damage. Pharmacological and genomic interventions can be used to activate or modulate immune functions, preventing these outcomes. These interventions have ethical implications that need to be carefully considered.

The Element explores the ethical implications of various immune interventions, including vaccines against addiction and viruses, immunotherapy for cancer, neuroimmunomodulating agents to prevent or treat neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases, and gene editing of immunity to enable xenotransplantation and prevent infectious disease.

It discusses the potential benefits and harms of these interventions, as well as the ethical considerations involved in their development and implementation. The Element also considers the potential outcome of natural competition between humans and microbes, which could have implications for immune interventions and public health.

In conclusion, the immune system is a vital component of human health, and vaccines play a crucial role in protecting us from pathogenic threats. However, the use of pharmacological and genomic interventions to enhance immune functions also raises ethical considerations. It is essential to carefully evaluate the potential benefits and harms of these interventions and to ensure that they are developed and implemented in a responsible and ethical manner.

ISBN-13: 9781009304597