For Sophie Strand, the immune system is a complex, dynamic network, not just of cells and organs, but of stories and biomes intricately woven into the fabric of our very being. It operates as a living, breathing narrative that integrates the history of the microbial world with human evolution, acting as an intimate dialogue between self and other, familiar and foreign. In her eyes, it is not merely a defensive barricade but an inquisitive collaborator, ever vigilant yet remarkably adaptive, shaping and being shaped by the myriad encounters with flora, fauna, and planetary rhythms. The immune system, then, is a testament to life's resilience and interconnectedness, an ongoing symphony of symbiosis that underscores the shared journey of all living things.

See also: nervous system, bacterial cell, mycelium, ecosystem