Early alterations of the innate and adaptive immune statuses in sepsis according to the type of underlying infection.

Introduction: Although major changes of the immune system have been described in sepsis, it has never been studied whether these may differ in relation to the type of underlying infection or not. This was studied for the first time.

Methods: The statuses of the innate and adaptive immune systems were prospectively compared in 505 patients.

Effect of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus in the human immune system.

Background: The pandemic by the novel H1N1 virus has created the need to study any probable effects of that infection in the immune system of the host.

Methodology/principal Findings: Blood was sampled within the first two days of the presentation of signs of infection from 10 healthy volunteers; from 18 cases of flu-like syndrome; and from 31 cases of infection by H1N1 confirmed by reverse RT-PCR. Absolute counts of subtypes of monocytes and of lymphocytes were determined after staining with monoclonal antibodies and analysis by flow cytometry.