“I would challenge any colleague, clinician or research scientist to claim that we have a basic understanding of the human newborn immune system.    It is well established in studies in animal models that the newborn immune system is very distinct from the adolescent or adult.  In fact, the immune system of newborns in animal models can easily be perturbed to ensure that it cannot respond properly later in life.” ------This testimony was given verbally to the United States Senate on May 12, 1999 by Dr Bonnie Dunbar, Professor of Immunobiology with specialise work in vaccine development and autoimmunity for over 25 years, the past 17 at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. ---- Hilary Butler