From birth, the body is attacked by thousands of microbes, some of which are pathogens responsible for diseases can be very serious. To remedy this, the immune system allows the body to defend itself by identifying and eliminating the agents that cause infections. Part of this mechanism is innate (already present at birth) while the other, more specific learning needs in contact with various microbes..

One mechanism of defense is the most common inflammatory reaction responsible for fever, pain, increase the number of white blood cells and dilation of blood vessels in the affected area. This reaction serves to isolate and destroy microbes but also a warning signal indicating that something is wrong.

In the journal Science, an international study involving pediatric hospitals in several countries reported a strange disease in which the innate immune system is working improperly. The study describes 9 cases of children severely infected by common bacteria, particularly staphylococci and pneumococci, but that did not respond to infection in general ing an inflammatory response. In the absence of fever or biological signs, so they consulted late, at a stage when the infection was widespread. Of the nine children three, aged one to eleven months, died.

The most curious is that the affected children were able to react effectively against other microbes and responded normally to various vaccines inoculated according to the standard calendar. This means that their immune system is able to detect other microbes and stimulate antibody production. Genetic analysis finally revealed a deficiency in a gene known as MyD88, essential in the immune response.

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