The microbes that make us sick, went unseen until recent history (around 1900) and a new field of microbiology was born. From this field, came the areas of immunology and virology. Virology, although it's names is specific to viral infection, now covers all infections. While, immunology covers the body's defenses. Typically, the immune system deals with all organic invasions of the body - but in many cases the immune system fails and the body dies when it's consumed by the microbe(s). However, as stated, the problems extend far beyond just viral infections. Other disfuctions of the immune system can cause serious medical conditions such as allergies caused by microscopic material - general organic in nature - in the body. However, immunology does not have the history that virology does, because in many ways - immunology emerged as a field of study from virology. Virology, was developed in the midst of epidemics that threatened the new world. However, vaccines were developed to deal with viral infections, and - later - antibiotics were developed to deal with bacterial infections. This was the beginning of modern medicine and the drug companies. This new field of modern medicine evolved further as vaccines reduced the impact disease and the field of immunology emerged.

As stated, there are many types of infections that can be generally classified as microbes. These are microscopic froms of life that feed off of larger life forms. Typically, the immune system deals with all organic invasions of the body - but in many cases the immune system fails and the body dies when it's consumed by the microbe(s). First, vaccines were developed to deal with viral infections and antibiotics to deal with bacterial infections. Along line there are anti-fungal agents and in general anti-microbial agents to deal with most infections - which we thought we had a good handle on. From about 1950 to 1980, no new serious epidemics arose. However, in 1990 signs of problems began to appear, with the journal "Science" has been warning about the increase in new diseases that are resistant to all drugs. This means that research - which until now has been focused on drug research - has to begin again. With the key focus - once again - on the chemsitry of the body.

However, with the appearance of HIV/AIDS (a virus that destroys the immune system) a whole new problem in dealing with disease has emerged. The only solution seems to be a better (more complete) study of the immune system. This would be a "wide-field" study of the immune system, looking into areas that are not infections, but medical disorders of the immune system. These are disfuctions of the immune system outside of any infection. Although they do include immune system responses to foreign organic objects (like pollen) that are not infections (allergies). Other immune system disfunctions include Asthma, Arthritis and Diabetes.