| | | "Rare Mutation Unlocks Viral Immunity
For only a few dozen people worldwide, living with a rare immune disorder comes with an unexpected advantage: the ability to resist every virus that comes their way.
About 15 years ago, Columbia immunologist Dusan Bogunovic first uncovered this remarkable protection shortly after identifying the genetic mutation behind the condition.
Initially, the disorder appeared to simply make people more susceptible to certain bacterial infections. But as more cases were studied, a surprising benefit became clear. Bogunovic, now a professor of pediatric immunology at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, found that everyone with the mutation, which leads to a shortage of an immune regulator known as ISG15, experiences mild but persistent whole-body inflammation."
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