DETECTIVE STORY section

When approaching this book, I realized that explaining the enormous complexity of the immune system, and its interaction with the nervous and other systems, would be overwhelming for many. A short detective story makes the immune system complexity clear and approachable. You will realize how easy it is to memorize the basics of your immune system and other body systems.

Start the journey by reading leisurely the short story of detective Therese and her colleagues, fighting crimes in the city of Boston. This is a metaphor for your immune system in the context of other biological systems. This story introduces you to the notion of a police force always vigilant to protect the citizens, representing our immune system protecting our bodies from infections, cancer and other immune-mediated diseases.

Therese is the lead detective working on these crimes, and she represents the T cell, a blood cell orchestrating the entire immune system.

 

The team of four detectives represent the essential cell types of the immune system.

 

The serial killer is a metaphor for an infectious agent killing healthy cells.

 

Cancer cells are healthy cells turned destructive, like the mafia, a criminal organization with good citizens turning criminals that undermine the very fabric of society.

Autoimmunity occurs when immune cells attack healthy cells, like corrupt police officers hurting instead of protecting citizens.

 

The police and detectives are integrated into the city administration and services, representing our cells, tissues, organs, and body systems.