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Introduction to immunology

Introduction to immunology-serology
The term immunity, derived from the Latin “immunis” (exempt), was
adopted to designate this naturally acquired protection against diseases
such as measles or smallpox.
The emergence of immunology was closely tied to the development of
microbiology, the work of Pasteur, Koch, and many other pioneers of the
golden age of microbiology resulted in the rapid identification of new
infectious agents.
This was closely followed by the discovery that infectious diseases could
be prevented by exposure to killed or attenuated organisms, or to
compounds extracted from the infectious agents.
The impact of immunization against infectious diseases such as tetanus,
measles, mumps, poliomyelitis, and smallpox, to name just a few
examples, can be grasped when we reflect on the fact that these diseases,
which were significant causes of mortality and morbidity, are now either
extinct or very rarely seen
Immunity
Immunity is defined as resistance to disease, specifically infectious
disease
The human immune system
Is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to
defend the body against attack by “foreign” invaders?
The immune response
 Is the coordinated reaction of the immune cells , molecules and
organs (the immune system components ) to infectious microbes or
foreign invaders.
The immune system properties
 The immune system distinguishes self from no self
 Eliminates potentially harmful no self molecules and cells from the
body.
 Recognize and destroy abnormal cells that derive from host tissues
(immuno- surveillance)
 Any molecule capable of being recognized by the immune system
is considered an antigen (Ag).
Types of the immune system
 They are tow main systems
1- Innate immune system (non specific system)
It is the first system which response and fights against invading
organisms and harmful invaders entering the body and considered
the first line defense, act from the start of an infection called also
non-specific (no memory) response to antigen
2- Adaptive immune system (Specific immunity)
It is the specific immune system more complicated in its work, that
work as long lived protect system from any invaders considered the
second line defense and affords protection against re-exposure to
the same pathogen
Some aspects about the immune system
 The main function of the immune system to learn the body what is
myself and what is not my self
 The target of immune system is pathogen recognition and pathogen
removal.
  The innate and adaptive immune systems both function to protect
against invading organisms, they differ in a number of ways.
 These two systems of the immune system have separate functions,
there is relationship between these systems
 Each one of the immune system has both cellular and humoral
components by which they carry out their protective function
The innate system or nature immunity Properties
 First line of defense against invading organisms
 It is temporary not Provide protection against re-exposure to the
same pathogen
 Immediate react to an invading organism
 innate immunity does not recognize every possible antigen
 not antigen specific and reacts equally well to a variety of
organisms
 Don’t demonstrates immunological memory disciplines
Parts of the innate immune system
a) Physical or mechanical barrier :
Normal intestinal transit and normal flow of bronchial secretions
and urine, which eliminate infectious agents from the respective
systems that’s organs as Skin, tears, saliva, mucous , urine all try
to remove the foreign invaders
b) Biochemical factors
These are chemical secretions produced by the body that inhibit microbial
growth these mechanism are as:
 acidity of the stomach fluid and other secretions
 The antibacterial substances (e.g., lysozyme, defensins) present in
external secretions;
  The growth of microorganisms is inhibited in the gastrointestinal
tract by hydrochloric acid and bile salt, which are secreted by the
stomach and liver, respectively
c) Cellular factors:
 Many cells and molecules share in the innate immune system in
such way to protect the human body as:
 Blood cells (White blood cells , Neutrophils, macrophages)
 Complements (group of proteins help to destroy bacteria)
 Interferon (viral infected cells produce molecules called the
interferon that prevent replication of the infecting virus.)
The adaptive immune system (specific immunity)
 The specific immune response, also called acquired or adaptive
immunity, is a defense system that protects the body against
pathogenic microorganisms and other type of disease such as
cancer
 Has a slower dynamics and high degree of specificity and makes
more potent response on secondary exposure to the same pathogen
agent.
 The adaptive immune system allows the body to
 Recognize,
 Remember,
 And respond to a specific stimulus
The adaptive immune system Properties
 It is a second line of defense
 Provide protection against re-exposure to the same pathogen
 Requires some time to react to an invading organism
 antigen specific ( reacts only with the organism that induced the
response
  Demonstrates immunological memory
The immune system functional compartments
 The Phagocytic system (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils,
macrophages, and dendritic cells)
 The B-lymphocyte system
 The T-lymphocyte system and natural killer cells
 The Complement system

What is the relation of immunology to other disciplines?

1. Antigencity of pathogenic organisms (Bacteria, Virus, Parasite).
2. Pathogenicity
3. Allergic
4. Immunological disease.
5. Clinical immunology :(Pharmacology, toxicology, medicine,
obstetrics and gyneacology)
Characteristic and determination of innate and acquired immunity
Innate immunity Acquired(Adaptive)

Non specific Specific

No change with repeat exposure mechanical Memory
barriers
Bactericidal substances
Natural flora

Humeral immunity: Humeral immunity:

Acute phase protein Antibody (Abs)
Interferon
Lysozyme
Complement

Cell mediated immunity: T-Lymphocyte

Natural killer (N.K) cells
Phagocytes:
Phagocytosis(engulf of particles)