Turyalai Tokhi (36891)

Discussion No 2

The Immune System

Instructor: Rahimullah Shinwari

Introduction:
There are several systems within our body that perform different functions in our livelihood and
keep us alive. However, according to an article online one of the most important systems that a
biology student must know about and study in depth would be the immune system. The immune
system plays a critical role in our body, the reason behind the significant importance given to the
immune system would be that it consists of cells. These cells' main duties are to safeguard us
from pathogens within our body, the main objectives of these pathogens are to bring disorder to
our body. Pagthegons within our body can be different species within our body like viruses,
bacteria, fungi, and several others. Organisms are exposed to different things within their
surroundings that can cause harm to them but organisms can protect themselves in different
ways. These protective ways can be through physical barriers or chemical neutralizers. The
immune system is divided into two types, the first one would be adaptive and the second one is
the innate immune system (Pamment, 2019).

Innate immunity:
According to an article online the Innate immune system is a system that all vertebrates possess
and it can be categorized as the external innate immune system and internal innate immune
system.
● Barrier defenses which might be physical, chemical, or mechanical, are part of the
external innate system. The skin serves as a physical barrier by keeping an object outside
the body. A chemical barrier would be the mucus found in our body opening. The
mechanical defense also includes the removal of things from the body by motions such as
sneezing and coughing.
If a pathogen gets beyond the physical and chemical barriers, the innate immune system's
defensive cells are triggered. Innate immunity recognizes a wide spectrum of pathogens and
responds in a non-specific manner. An important point to mention would be that the cells of the
Innate immune system do not require activation. A nonspecific immune cell-like the macrophage
is an example. This cell type emits chemicals called cytokines, which cause an inflammatory
response in the body, inhibiting pathogen growth and preventing tissue infection. Phagocytosis is
a mechanism in which these cells eat and kill invading organisms. Innate immune cells also
release substances that attract cells from the adaptive immune system to the infection site (The
innate and adaptive immune systems 2020).

Adaptive Immunity:
According to an article online by Lumen learning (Boundless anatomy and physiology) after the
innate immune response has begun, adaptive immunity is activated and grows more slowly. With
the help of specialized cells that recognize and destroy pathogens, the adaptive immune system
generates a response that is particular to the pathogen. These cells require activation and respond
to a specific pathogen. The cells of adaptive immunity also form memory cells which can help us
avoid previously fought pathogens in the future. The adaptive immune system's primary cells are
lymphocytes of the B and T cell lineages. B lymphocytes contain receptors on their surface that
identify molecular structures on the pathogen surface. When a B cell receptor attaches to its
ligand, antibodies have released that bind to specific molecules on the pathogen's surface. These
molecules are identified by macrophages, which increases pathogen phagocytosis. The
complement cascade, which is triggered by the antibodies, is a chemical mechanism that kills the
infection. Extracellular pathogens, such as most bacteria, are effectively combated by B cells. T
cells have a receptor that identifies particular molecular structures as well; however, these
structures are delivered to T cells by infected cells. Helper T cells are T cells that have CD4
accessory molecules and release cytokines that aid both B and T cell function. T cells with CD8
accessory molecules are called cytotoxic, or killer, T cells. Chemicals released by cytotoxic T
cells kill infected cells. T cells are powerful against viruses and other intracellular infections.
When exposed to the same pathogen again, the adaptive immune response becomes stronger and
faster. This is because memory cells are produced during an immunological response. If the same
virus is contacted again, these cells are already primed to react.
 Reference:

Boundless. (n.d.). Boundless anatomy and physiology. Lumen. Retrieved November 22, 2021,
from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-ap/chapter/adaptive-immunity/.

Pamment, J. (2019, March 4). The immune system. Course Hero. Retrieved November 22, 2021,
from https://www.coursehero.com/sg/introduction-to-biology/the-immune-system/.

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2020, July 30). The innate and adaptive immune systems.
InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Retrieved November 22, 2021, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279396/.

Picture Reference:

Sharpe, Michaela & Mount, Natalie. (2015). Genetically modified T cells in cancer therapy:
Opportunities and challenges. Disease models & mechanisms. 8. 337-350.
10.1242/dmm.018036.