Table of Contents
What is the Immunity System?; Types of Immunity and Their Functions
The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body against infections and other diseases. There are two types of immunity: innate and adaptive.
Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense. It is present at birth and does not change over time. Innate immunity includes the skin, mucous membranes, and other barriers that keep harmful organisms from entering the body, as well as the body’s natural killer cells, which destroy infected or cancerous cells.
Adaptive immunity develops over time in response to specific infections or diseases. It is more specific than innate immunity and can remember and respond to specific antigens. Adaptive immunity includes the T cells and B cells that destroy infected cells and the antibodies that neutralize toxins and other foreign substances.
Innate Immunity
Innate immunity is the first line of defense against infection. It is present in all body tissues and organs and involves a variety of mechanisms that protect against infection, including physical barriers, inflammation, and the activity of white blood cells.
The Function of Innate Immunity
Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense against infection. It includes the skin, mucous membranes, and innate lymphoid cells. These cells recognize and respond to pathogens quickly, without the need for prior exposure. Innate immunity also includes the innate immune system, which is responsible for detecting and responding to pathogens.
Adaptive Immunity
Adaptive immunity is the branch of immunity that is acquired during the lifetime of an individual, in contrast to innate immunity which is present at birth. The two main types of adaptive immunity are antibody-mediated immunity and cell-mediated immunity.
The immune system is able to adapt to new challenges and remember previous infections. This allows the immune system to mount a faster and more effective response the next time it encounters that same pathogen.
Adaptive immunity is mainly mediated by lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. Lymphocytes can be divided into two main types: B cells and T cells.
B cells are responsible for producing antibodies, which are proteins that bind to and neutralize pathogens. T cells are responsible for destroying infected cells and regulating the immune response.
Adaptive immunity can be further subdivided into two main types: humoral immunity and cell-mediated immunity.
Humoral immunity is mediated by antibodies, which are produced by B cells. Antibodies bind to pathogens and neutralize them, preventing them from causing infection.
Cell-mediated immunity is mediated by T cells. T cells recognize and destroy infected cells, as well as cells that have been transformed by cancer. T cells also play a role in regulating the immune response.
Active Immunity
Active immunity is the result of the body producing antibodies in response to a foreign antigen. It is specific to that antigen and can protect the body from disease. Active immunity can be acquired naturally, through exposure to a disease, or artificially, through vaccination.
The Function of Active Immunity
Active immunity is the body’s natural response to an infection or disease. The body produces antibodies to fight the infection or disease. These antibodies stay in the body and can protect against future infections. Active immunity can be acquired through natural exposure to a disease, or through vaccination.
Passive Immunity
Passive immunity is the transfer of immunity from one person to another, without involving the person’s immune system. It can be conferred through the transfer of antibodies, either from mother to child during pregnancy or through breast milk, or through the injection of antibodies or immune globulins from another person. Passive immunity is short-lived, lasting only a few weeks or months.
The Function of Passive Immunity
Passive immunity is the transfer of immunity from one person to another. This can be done through the transfer of antibodies, which are proteins found in the blood that fight infection, or through the transfer of white blood cells, which are the cells in the body that fight infection. Passive immunity provides immediate protection against a disease, but it does not last as long as active immunity, which is the immunity that is developed when a person is infected with a virus or bacteria.
