<P> Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph. D., found that a bacterium transmitted by a tick bite, and which causes Lyme disease, stimulates an immune attack by the NKT cells; a major discovery considering this is the first disease - causing microorganism (and only the third substance on earth) known to naturally activate NKT cells . </P> <P> The Center for Infectious Disease is home to the world's largest database on how the immune system responds to infectious diseases, the Immune Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (IEDB). The IEDB is groundbreaking because it contains antibody and T cell epitope data curated from scientific literature, presented collectively to facilitate basic research . The database interface is designed to be intuitive and easily searched and to propel the dissemination of immune epitope information . The database is freely available to researchers worldwide and was created to aide in the development of new and more effective vaccines . </P> <P> Kimishige Ishizaka, M.D., Ph. D., the Institute's first Scientific Director, received worldwide recognition in 1966 for his discovery of the IgE protein, an antibody that plays a key role in allergic disease . Today, scientists use molecular tools to unravel the remaining mysteries of allergic reactions, seeking to develop tools to treat and prevent allergies . "Ten to 20 percent of the population of industrialized countries suffers from some form of allergies," said Institute scientist Toshiaki Kawakami, M.D., Ph. D. "There is a huge need to understand this disease and to find therapeutic interventions ." </P> <P> Asthma accounts for one - quarter of all emergency room visits in the U.S. each year . It might come as a surprise to many that asthma results from the good intentions of the body, gone bad . Asthma can occur when T cells, the body's disease - fighting cells, respond to a stimulus and cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes, making breathing difficult . Michael Croft, Ph. D., and Institute President Mitchell Kronenberg, Ph. D., are studying ways to stop the overzealous response from the immune system's T cells, which occurs due to contact with an external allergen such as those from pollen . </P>

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