Department of Orthopaedic

Technology
Year 2, Sem. 1
Subject – Medicine
Topic – Immunity
By
Mr. Oduor Wafulah

11th May, 2023.

Innate & Acquired Immunity
Definitions
❖ Immunity - The resistance exhibited by the host towards injury
caused by microorganisms and their products.
❖ Protection against the infectious diseases is only one of the
consequences of the immune response, which entirely is concerned
with the reaction of the body against any foreign antigen.
❖ Immunology - A branch of biomedical science that covers the
study of all aspects of the immune system in all organisms.
▪ It deals with:
➢ the physiological functioning of the immune system in states of
both health and diseases;
➢ malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorder
(autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities, immune deficiency,
transplant rejection);
➢ the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the
components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo.
 The Immune System
▪ The immune system is the body's defense against infectious
organisms and other invaders.
▪ Each exposure (to the same pathogen) increases the effectivity of
the response
▪ Primary Lymphoid organs of the immune system
I. Thymus
II. Bone marrow
▪ Secondary lymphoid organs
I. Lymph nodes
II. Spleen
III. Skin
IV. Small intestine
V. Liver
3
VI. Tonsils
 Importance of Immunity
Role of Immune System Implications
Defense against Deficient immunity results in
infections increased susceptibility to
infections
Vaccination boots immune
defenses and protects against
infections
Recognizes and responds Immune responses are barriers to
to tissue grafts and newly transplantations and gene therapy
introduced proteins
Defense against tumours Potential for immunotherapy of
cancer
 Types of Immunity
Innate immunity:
Species
a. Nonspecific Racial
Individual
Species
b. Specific Racial
Individual
Adaptive Immunity:
a. Active: Natural
Artificial

b. Passive: Natural
Artificial
 Innate vs Adaptive Immunity
Innate immunity
Naturally occurring
immunity by the genetic
constituents and physiology
of a person
Known as Natural immunity
Generates a non-specific
immune response
Always present in the body
Generates a rapid response
Adaptive immunity
Acquired immunity mediated
by T cells and B cells and
characterized by an
immunological memory
Known as Acquired immunity
Generates a specific immune
response
Generated in response to
exposure to an external factor
Delayed 5-6 days
 Innate vs Adaptive immunity
Innate immunity
Plasma proteins, phagocytes,
physical and chemical barriers are the
components
Temperature, pH, skin, and mucous
membranes are the barriers
Does not develop memory cells
Possesses a less diversity
Less potent
Does not produce allergic reactions
Ex: Redness and swelling caused by Ex: Vaccination against a virus
the white blood cells around a wound
Adaptive immunity
Humoral and cell-mediated
immunity are the components
Lymph nodes, spleen, and
lymphoid tissues are the barriers
Develops memory cells
Possesses a higher diversity
Exhibits a higher potency
Develops allergic reactions;
immediate and delayed
hypersensitivity
 Innate Immunity
• Also known as native immunity
• It's resistance to infections that an individual
possesses by virtue of his or her genetic and
constitutional make up.
• Immunity is inborn; presence since birth.
• It's not affected by prior contact with
microorganisms or immunization.
Classification of Innate
Immunity

A. Specific
❖ Particular to specific pathogen

B. Non specific
❖ Indicates a degree of resistance to infections
in general
 Innate Immunity
Innate (Native) Immunity

Specific Non-specific
Special Special

Racial Racial

Individual Individual
Levels of Innate Immunity
1. Special immunity:
Entire human species is resistance to the plant
pathogen
Mechanism is not clearly understood
Resistance to pathogen, shown by all members of
a particular species.
E.g. anthracis infects human beings but not
chickens
 Levels of Innate Immunity
2. Racial Immunity:
Within a species, different races may show
difference in susceptibility to infections.
Particular races of that species are resistant.
E.g. Negroid species in USA is more prone to
TB than Causcian species
E.g. Genetic resistance Plasmodium falciparum
malaria resistance in Africa
Levels of Innate Immunity
3. Individual – immunity
Resistance to infection varies with different
individuals of same race and species
Its evident from studies on twin – similar degree
of resistance/susceptibility to TB or leprosy
E.g.. Homozygous twins exhibit similar resistance
susceptibility to leprosy and Tuberculosis such
correction is not seen in heterozygous twins.
 Factors influencing the level of
Innate Immunity
• Age
– Very old or very young more suscpetible to infectious disease.
– Hepatitis B virus infection is asymptomatic in newborn as it lacks
developed immune mechanism to express the disease
• Hormones
– Endocrine disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus,
hypothyroidism and adrenal dysfunctions – enhanced
susceptibility to infection
– Increased corticosteroid – decreased anti-inflammatory effect
• Nutrition
– Immune response is reduced in malnutrition patient
 Line of Defense
• First line of defense – Intact skin and
mucosae prevent entry of microorganisms
• Second line of defense – Antimicrobial
proteins, phagocytes, and other cells
 Mechanism of Innate Immunity
i. Epithelial surfaces
ii. Antibacterial substance in blood and tissues
iii. Microbial anta-agonism
iv. Cellular factor in innate immunity
v. Inflammation
vi. Fever
vii. Acute phase proteins
 i. Epithelial surfaces
▪ First line of defence – mechanical barrier
❖ Healthy skin - bacteriocidal property
– High concentration of salt in drying sweat
– Sebaceous secretion
– Long chain fatty acid
– Soaps contribute
❖ Respiratory Mucosa – several innate mechanism of
defense
➢ Nose anatomy – prevents the entry of MCOs, dust
particles
➢ Mucus lining – swept back to pharynx
➢ Mucopolysacharide – sticks the MCOs to the lining
➢ Pulmonary alveoli – pahgocytic cells
 Epithelial surfaces
❖Mouth
– Saliva – inhibitory effect on MCOs
– Digestives juice
– High acidity of stomach
❖Conjunctiva
– Flushing action of lacrimal secretions
– Antibacterial substances – lysozyme (Flemings) :
thermolabile, LMW, basic protein
– It acts by splitting certain polysaccharide component
of cell wall of non-pathogenic bacteria
❖Urine
– Flushing action – bacteria from urethra
– Spermine and zinc (Sperm) – antibacterial activity
– Acidity of adult vagina – inhospitable to many pathogens
 ii. Antibacterial substance in
blood and tissues
❖ Several substances having antibacterial properties
are present naturally in blood
– Beta lysin: thermostable substance active against
anthrax and related bacilli
– Basic Polypeptides: leukins from leucocytes and
plakins from platelets
– Lactic acid: muscle tissue and inflammatory zones
– Lactoperoxidase: present in milk but concepts is
not cleared
– Interferons: activated against viral infections
 iii. Microbial antagonism
❖ Resident bacterial flora which prevents the
colonisation by pathogenic bacteria
❖ Alteration in bacterial flora – leads to invasion
by extraneous microbes
–Followed by oral antibiotics
–Serious disease like staphylococcal or clostridial
enterocolitis
iv. Cellular factor in innate immunity
❖ Phagocytic cells (microphages and macrophages):
ingest particulate matter and MCOs in response to
chemical mediators of inflammations
– Depletion of this cells – chronic granulomatous
diease (agranulocytosis) causes enhanced
susceptibility to infections
❖ Natural Killer Cells (NK): a class of lymphocytes –
non-specific defense against viral infections and
tumors
➢ Activated by interferons
Cellular factor in innate immunity
 v. Inflammation
❖ Important non specific defense mechanism
❖ All the series of events occurring in
inflammations plays a vital role in killing or
inactivating MCOs
❖ Fever : Rise in body temperature – natural
defense mechanism
–Accelerates the physiological processes
–Destroys the infecting pathogens
–It also stimulates production of interferon
Flow chart of Inflammation
 vi. Fever
❖ Rise of temperature fallowing infection is
a natural defense mechanism.
❖ Helps to accelerate physiological processes
❖ It destroys the infecting organisms.
❖ Fever stimulates production of interferons
& helps in recovery from viral infections
 vii. Acute Phase Proteins
❖ Sudden increase in the plasma concentrations of
certain proteins, collectively called acute phase
protein.
❖ This includes
– C reactive protein (CRP)
– Mannose binding protein
– Alpha -1-acid glycoprotein
– Serum amyloid P component
❖ Activates alternative pathways of complements and
❖ interferon pathways
❖ Enhance host resistance, prevent tissue injury and
promote repair of inflammatory lesion
Interferon (IFN)

Figure 21.4
 Adaptive Immunity
Adaptive (Acquired) Immunity

Natural Artificial

Active Active

Passive Passive
A. Naturally Acquired Immunity

❖Types of natural Adaptive immunity

1. Naturally acquired active immunity
2. Naturally acquired passive immunity
 a. Naturally Acquired Active
Immunity
❖ When an individual’s immune system contacts a foreign
stimulus (antigen) such as a pathogen that causes an
infection.
❖ The immune system responds by producing antibodies
and activated lymphocytes that inactivate or destroy the
pathogen.
❖ The immunity produced can be either lifelong, as
with measles or chickenpox, or last for only a few
years, as with influenza.
 2 . Naturally Acquired Passive
Immunity
❖The transfer of antibodies from one host to another. For
example, some of a pregnant woman’s antibodies pass
across the placenta to her fetus.
❖If the female is immune to diseases such as polio or
diphtheria, this placental transfer also gives her fetus and
newborn temporary immunity to these diseases.
❖Certain other antibodies can pass from the female to her
offspring in the first secretions from the mammary glands.
❖Naturally acquired passive immunity generally lasts only
a short time (weeks to months, at most).
❖These maternal antibodies are essential for providing
immunity to the newborn for the first few weeks or
months of life, until its own immune system matures.
❖Protection of the newborn by antibodies from colostrum
is especially important in certain animal species (such as
cattle and horses), which have less antibody transfer
across the placenta than do primates.
B. Artificially Acquired Immunity

❖Types of artificial Adaptive immunity

1. Artificial acquired active immunity
2. Artificial acquired passive immunity
 a. Artificially Acquired Active
Immunity
❖ When an animal is intentionally exposed to a foreign
material and induced to form antibodies and activated
lymphocytes.
❖ This foreign material is called a vaccine and the procedure is
vaccination (immunization).
❖ A vaccine may consist of a preparation of killed
microorganisms; living, weakened (attenuated)
microorganisms; genetically engineered organisms; or
inactivated bacterial toxins (toxoids) that are administered to
induce immunity artificially
 b. Artificial Acquired Passive
Immunity
❖ When antibodies or lymphocytes that have been
produced outside the host are introduced into a host.
❖ Although this type of immunity is immediate, it is short
lived, lasting only a few weeks to a few months.
❖ An example would be botulinum antitoxin produced in a
horse and given to a human suffering from botulism food
poisoning, or a bone marrow transplant given to a patient
with genetic immunodeficiency.
 Active vs Passive Immunity
Active immunity
Induced by infection
Long lasting and effective protection
Effective only after lag period
Exposure leads to immediate
maximal response
Immunological memory present
Negative phase may occur
Not applicable to immuno-deficient
person
Used for prophylaxis to increase
body resistance e.g BCG vaccine
Passive immunity
Conferred by administration of
ready made antibodies.
Short lived and less effective
Effective immediately
Lag time between exposure and
maximal response
No immunological memory
No negative phase
Applicable to immuno-deficient
person
Used for treatment of acute
infection
✓ Summary of Immunity
Questions