It's one of medicine's biggest mysteries — why sometimes our immune system attacks our own bodies. Autoimmune diseases affect as many as 50 million Americans and millions more worldwide. They're hard to diagnose and treat, and they're on the rise. A Massachusetts woman's journey with one named lupus — called the disease of 1,000 faces for its baffling variety of symptoms — offers a snapshot of the burden. Now researchers are decoding the biology behind these debilitating diseases in hopes of eventually treating the causes, not just the symptoms.

An American biochemist whose research has helped scientists make inroads on treating coronavirus and HIV has won this year's Wolf Prize, a major Israeli award in the arts and sciences. The Wolf Fund said Professor Pamela Björkman of Caltech has "unlocked the secrets of how the immune system identifies and battles pathogens, developing game changing approaches to combat some of humanity's most formidable viral enemies." Eight others also received the state-funded prize, which has been awarded annually for 47 years. Many of the award winners have gone on to receive Nobel prizes.

Americans 50 and older can get a second COVID-19 booster if it's been at least four months since their last vaccination, a chance at extra pro…

Two years into the pandemic Jackie Hansen still left home only for doctor visits, her immune system so wrecked by cancer and lupus that COVID-…

COVID-19 vaccines are saving an untold number of lives, but they can't stop the chaos when a hugely contagious new mutant bursts on the scene,…

A pandemic-weary world faces weeks of confusing uncertainty as countries restrict travel and take other steps to halt the newest potentially r…

COVID-19 has now killed about as many Americans as the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic did — approximately 675,000.

COVID-19 booster shots may be coming for at least some Americans but already the Biden administration is being forced to scale back expectatio…