Defending the host against pathogens and toxins is the major function of the immune system, a task essential to any organism. Composed primarily of individual cells rather than forming into organs, the cells of the immune system spread throughout the body.
The immune system is able to distinguish its own molecules from foreign molecules. There a number of key stages involved an immune response; pathogen, recognition, activation and initiation, regulation, and the generation of immunological memory. The immune system of the vertebrate is divided into two basic branches; innate and adoptive immunity. Even though they have different roles they normally act together in fighting an infection.
The nonspecific immune system is also known as the innate immune system. It is the first line of immunological defense against infection. Referred to as a ‘natural immunity’ and providing a broad range of protection by the molecules and receptors of the immune system. A diverse set of molecules are generated that are able to recognize practically any invading pathogens. If there is a second attack the response is rapid, hence the reason for vaccines.
The innate system is largely composed of eosinophils, monocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, tor-like receptors (TLRs), along with a chain of soluble intermediaries such as a complement system.
The adaptive or specific immune system mainly attacks the specific invaders. It consists of highly specialized cells called thymus-derived T
The innate immune system is effective to a certain degree. That said, if the environment is regulated then the body is less likely to get ill. Innate immunity is effective as once the patient matures his immune system will mature due to the B and T memory cells. The memory cells will help the body prepare for the virus once it has arrived. The memory cells will send specialised lymph nodes to the invading pathogen. The B and T memory cells are key to immunity of a virus.
Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen's appearance in the body. Adaptive immunity refers to antigen-specific immune response.
a. This function is mediated by T cells and B cells (memory cells) in our body via adaptive immunity. The adaptive immune system evolved in early vertebrates and allows for a stronger immune response as well as immunological memory, where each pathogen is “remembered” by a signature antigen. The adaptive immune response is antigen-specific and requires the recognition of specific “non-self” antigens during a process called antigen presentation. Antigen specificity allows for the generation of responses that are tailored to specific pathogens or pathogen-infected cells. The ability to mount these tailored responses is maintained in the body by memory cells. Should a pathogen infect the body more than once, these specific memory cells are used to quickly eliminate it. So basically killer T cells will identify antigens present on foreign cells. These antigens are not found in any of the cells inside our body. Therefore, T cells will identify them and kill them.
Defense mechanisms are said to be specific because depending on which one they focus on one specific part of the body or a specific type of pathogen.
Innate Immune System – Nonspecific and abrupt first response; comprised of epithelial surfaces (physical barriers), neutrophils, and macrophages.
The immune system is made up of several types of cells that work together to fight infections. Lymph cells (called lymphocytes) are the main type of cell in the adaptive immune system. There are 2 types of lymph cells: T cells and B cells. When B cells respond to an infection, they change into plasma cells. The plasma cells are found mainly in the bone marrow—the soft, inner part of some bones. The plasma cells
The body’s protection against viruses, bacteria and other types of invasions is our immune system (Tortora, 2014).
Innate immunity refers to antigen-nonspecific defence mechanisms that a host uses immediately or within several hours after exposure to an antigen. This is the immunity that you are born with, and is the initial response by the body to eliminate
The immune system is comprised of two responses: the adaptive immune response and the innate immune response. The first line of defence against invading organisms is classified as the innate immune response and the second line of defence and protection against re- exposure to the same pathogen is known as the adaptive immune response.
The immune system consists of a defense system that guards the body against invasion from infections and other diseases. Normally, a healthy person's immune system has the capability to differentiate between its own cells and cells that represent threats to the health of the body. (Craft and Kanter, 2002). Autoimmune disease refers to a broad range of over 80 acute, long-lasting diseases that affect nearly every organ in the body. (Wrong Diagnosis.com, 2000).
The immune response is made up of first, second, and third line defenses. The first two defenses are considered innate responses. These responses are non-specific and typically in place at birth. The first line of defense against pathogens includes the skin and mucous membranes. If a pathogen makes it past these defenses the second and third line of defense step in. The second line of defense includes phagocytes, fever, natural killer cells, inflammation, and antimicrobial proteins. In many cases these first two layers of innate defense are enough to ward off infection.
The immune system can broadly be divided into two categories: the innate immune system and the acquired or adaptive immune system. The innate system acts like the first line of defense, it works by recognizing a broad range of pathogens on the basis of their patterns and certain molecules that are different from those found in the organism e.g. the human innate immune system will recognize peptidoglycans that are found in bacteria but not humans. The innate system consists of physical barriers like the skin and mucosal membrane and other cells like natural killers and cytokines. It is thought, as of now, that the innate immune system has no memory. The acquired or adaptive immune system on the other hand is much more specific. (Warrington, Watson, Kim, & Antonett, 2011) Rick M Maizels et al state that the reason natural selection has favored so much variation in the immune response is because in order to survive, the organism must illicit a strong response against a large number of invading pathogens. Had this response not been a highly evolved one, our immune system would not have been able to fend of many complex pathogens which can themselves evolve rapidly to encounter the hosts’ immune system. (Maizels & Nussey, 2013)
Our immune system is made up of two parts that work together to keep us healthy. The first part is called the innate immune system, it is made up mostly of ‘scavenger’ and ‘killer’ cells that fight off bacterial infections and give the body a general defense against harmful substances. The second part of the immune system is called the adaptive immune system. This part
There are major components that makes up the immune system spread throughout the body. The major organs involved in the body 's immune response are the: bone marrow, thymus, circulatory, lymphatic system, dermis and mucosal tissues that work together in varied and complex interactions to provide the body with immune functions.
The immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body. One of the important cells involved are white blood cells, also called leukocytes, which come in two basic types that combine to seek out and destroy disease-causing organisms or substances.