Recent Developments in Transcriptomic Technologies: Applications to Immunological Systems and Diseases

The immune system is immensely complex. A diverse repertoire of immune cells transits through blood to infiltrate tissues, and immune responses are driven through complex intercellular interactions. Therefore, the study of immunological diseases demands methods capable of disentangling the inherent complexity of the immune system. This chapter explores recent developments in RNA sequencing technologies, including single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), multi-omics integration, and spatial transcriptomics. Each of these technologies is regarded from the perspective of how it has accelerated our understanding of immunological systems and diseases, with their advantages and limitations highlighted.