LUDHIANA: Internationally renowned scientist Dr. Barry T. Rouse from the University of Tennessee, USA, delivered a captivating talk on ‘How our immune system battles pathogens’ at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. The session explored groundbreaking approaches to managing immune system overreactions that often worsen diseases.
Dr. Rouse explained the critical challenges posed by immune dysfunction in diseases like dengue, hepatitis, and COVID-19. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, he described the phenomenon of a “cytokine storm, ” where an overactive immune response causes widespread tissue damage and multi-organ failure. These revelations shed light on how our body’s defense system, when uncontrolled, can turn into its greatest enemy.
Dr. Rouse detailed how viruses evade detection by altering their appearance or hiding within the body. Despite these challenges, he offered hope with cutting-edge solutions. His discussion included advanced therapeutic interventions. Dr. Rouse demonstrated how the gut microbiome can be harnessed to counter harmful immune reactions.
Dr. L.D. Singla, Director of Human Resource Management Centre, welcomed him and emphasized the importance of global collaborations in advancing veterinary and medical research. Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Vice-Chancellor was commended for facilitating such invaluable interactions, positioning the university as a leader in immunopathology research.
Two distinguished scientists Dr. Shalini Sharma and Dr. Shilpa Sood, from Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Jammu enriched the event by sharing their personal experiences working with Dr. Rouse. Dr. T.S. Rai, Rtd. Prof. eloquently summarized the session, stressing the value of fostering academic exchanges with global experts.
Dr. Paramjit Kaur, Professor of Veterinary Parasitology, expertly coordinated the event.
This post was originally published on here
