“Autoimmune diseases affect as many as 800 million people around the world – about one in 10 of us. From multiple sclerosis and lupus to type one diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, these conditions all share a common trait: the body’s own immune system turns against itself. Current treatments aim to suppress that response, but dialing down the entire immune system comes at a steep cost: it leaves patients vulnerable to other illnesses and often requires daily, invasive care. A revolution is now afoot, as researchers are developing a new approach that targets only the specific part of the immune system that’s gone rogue. These treatments are known as ‘inverse vaccines’ because they suppress a particular part of the immune system, rather than amplifying it, as existing vaccines do.”From The Guardian.