Andrew N. J. McKenzie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrew McKenzie
FRS FMedSci
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McKenzie in 2017
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Andrew Neil James McKenzie
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| Education | University of London (PhD) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology Autoimmunity Molecular biology |
| Institutions | Laboratory of Molecular Biology University of Cambridge National Institute for Medical Research |
| Thesis | Cellular and humoral aspects of the immune response of the larval stages of Calliphora vomitoria L. (Insecta: Diptera) (1988) |
Andrew Neil James McKenzie is a British molecular biologist. He leads a research group at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB).
Contents
Studying Science
McKenzie studied at the University of London. There, he earned his PhD degree. A PhD is a very high university degree. It means you have done a lot of original research.
His research focused on the immune system of the bluebottle fly. This is a common type of fly. He studied how the fly's body fights off sickness. This included how its cells and body fluids protect it.
Discovering How Our Bodies Fight Sickness
McKenzie's research looks at how our bodies protect us. He studies the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system. These are the two main ways our body fights off infection. Infections happen when germs like bacteria or viruses get into our bodies.
Sometimes, the immune system can cause problems. It can lead to inflammation. This is when a part of your body becomes red, swollen, and painful. It can also lead to pathology, which means a disease or problem in the body.
Immune System Networks
McKenzie has found out how different parts of the body work together. These are like "biological networks." They help our bodies respond to pathogens. Pathogens are things that can make us sick, like germs.
He also studies what happens when these networks don't work right. This can lead to diseases like asthma and allergy. Asthma makes it hard to breathe. Allergies are when your body reacts badly to harmless things, like pollen.
Key Discoveries
McKenzie found a special protein called Interleukin 13. Cytokines are like messengers in the immune system. He discovered that Interleukin 13 plays a big role in allergic asthma.
His work then led to finding new cells called type-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). These cells make a lot of cytokines. They are important for understanding inflammation and infection. Scientists now see them as a new target for medicines. These medicines could help treat diseases like asthma and allergies.
Awards and Special Honours
Andrew McKenzie has received important awards for his work.
- In 2017, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS). This is a very high honour for scientists in the UK.
- In 2011, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci). This is another major award for medical scientists.
