Immunity

Aman Ullah
 Definition
• immunity is described as the ability of the
body to recognize, neutralize, or destroy
harmful foreign substances in our body
• The complex group of defense responses
found in humans and other advanced
vertebrates that helps repel disease-causing
organisms (pathogens)
• In normal language immunity is term as host
defense system
 Types of Immunity
• Our immune host defenses can be divided into
two major categories:
1. Innate (natural)
2. Acquired (adaptive)
 Innate Immunity
• Exists prior to exposure to the microbe (antigen)
• Nonspecific and includes host defenses such as
barriers to infectious agents:
1. Skin and mucous membranes
2. Certain cells (e.g., natural killer cells)
3. Certain proteins (e.g., the complement cascade
and interferons), and
4. Involves processes such as phagocytosis and
inflammation
 Innate Immunity
• Does not improve after exposure to the
organism, in contrast to acquired immunity
• Innate immune processes have no memory
unlike acquired immunity
• Innate arm of our host defense performs two
major functions:
1. Killing invading microbes
2. Activating acquired (adaptive) immune
processes
 Innate Immunity
• Neutrophils, only kill microbes
• Macrophages and dendritic cells, perform both functions
i.e., they kill microbes and present antigen to helper T
cells, which activates acquired immune processes
• Although innate immunity is often successful in
eliminating microbes and preventing infectious diseases,
it is, in the long run, not sufficient for human survival
• Components of the innate arm have receptors called
pattern recognition receptors that recognize a
molecular pattern present on the surface of many
microbes and—very importantly—that is not present on
human cells
 Adaptive (Acquired) Immunity
• Occurs after exposure to an agent, improves upon
repeated exposure, and is specific
• Mediated by antibody produced by B lymphocytes and
by two types of T lymphocytes, namely, helper T cells
and cytotoxic T cells
• Acquired immunity have long-term memory for a
specific antigen
• Acquired immunity can be active or passive
• Macrophages and other antigen-presenting cells such
as dendritic cells play an important role in both the
innate and the acquired arms of the immune system
• Note that the acquired arm can be activated only after
the innate arm has recognized the microbe
 ACTIVE & PASSIVE IMMUNITY
• Active immunity is resistance induced after contact with
foreign antigens, e.g., microorganisms
• Contact may consist of clinical or subclinical infection,
immunization with live or killed infectious agents or their
antigens, or exposure to microbial products (e.g., toxins and
toxoids)
• Host actively produces an immune response consisting of
antibodies and activated helper and cytotoxic T lymphocytes
• Advantage of active immunity is that resistance is long-term
• Disadvantage is its slow onset
 ACTIVE & PASSIVE IMMUNITY
• Passive immunity is resistance based on antibodies
preformed in another host
• Advantage of passive immunization is the prompt
availability of large amounts of antibody
• Disadvantages are the short life span of these antibodies
and possible hypersensitivity reactions if globulins from
another species are used
• Passive-active immunity involves giving both preformed
antibodies (immune globulins) to provide immediate
protection and a vaccine to provide long-term protection
• These preparations should be given at different sites in the
body to prevent the antibodies from neutralizing the
immunogens in the vaccine
overview of the functions and interactions between many
of the important members of the innate and acquired arms
of the immune response
 Some Facts
• The main function is to prevent or limit infections by
microorganisms
• The first line of defense against microorganisms is the
intact skin and mucous membranes
• If microorganisms breach this line and enter the body,
then the innate arm of the immune system (second line
of defense) is available to destroy the invaders
• Components of the innate arm are preformed and fully
active, they can function immediately
• The ability of the innate arm to kill microorganisms is not
specific e.g. a neutrophil can ingest and destroy many
different kinds of bacteria
 Some Facts
• Highly specific protection is provided by the
acquired (adaptive) arm of the immune
system (third line of defense), but it takes
several days to become fully functional