The Immune System

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Running header: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
The Immune System

Curtis Jones
ITT-Technical Institute
SC2730
March 3, 2015
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

The Immune System
The bodys defense against infectious organisms and other invaders is the immune
system. Each and every day, it defends people against germs and microorganisms. It is made up
of a special network of cells, proteins, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body.
Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system attacks organisms and
substances that invade body systems and cause disease.
The immune response system recognizes pathogens and acts to remove, immobilize, or
neutralize them. The immune system is antigen-specific, which responds to specific molecules
on a pathogen. It also has memory, which its defense to a pathogen is encoded for future
activation. Several components are relied upon to fight an infecting pathogen. T cells, which are
lymphocytes that circulate between the blood, lymph, and lymphoid organs to trigger a systemic
immune response with antigen-receptors on the T cell membrane. B cells, which are also
lymphocytes, however they activate the primary immune response when antigens bind to their
receptors, causing the B cells to proliferate. Daughter cells of the B cells later differentiate into
antibody-releasing plasma cells. B cells also comprise the immune systems memory.
The immune system is comprised of two parts, the innate and the adaptive, both working
closely together and taking on different tasks. The innate immune system is for general defense
and the adaptive immune system for specialized defense. Both parts of the immune system work
on different levels and use cellular and humoral defense strategies. First there is special defense
cells in the different tissues that are directly involved in eliminating pathogens. Second, both the
innate and the adaptive immune system also need several soluble substances found in the blood
and other body fluids such as proteins, enzymes, antibodies, and short amino acid chains.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

The Immune System
The immune responses to antigens may be categorized as primary or secondary
responses. The primary immune response of the body to antigen occurs on the first occasion it is
encountered. This response can take up to 14 days to resolve, depending on the nature of the
antigen and the site of entry. The primary response also leads to the generation of memory cells
with a high specificity for the inducing antigen. B cells with the help of T cells, produce highaffinity and antigen-specific antibodies. The secondary response of both B cells and T cells is
observed following subsequent encounter with the same antigen and is more rapid leading to the
activation of previously generated memory cells.
Immunizations work by tricking the body into believing that it is experiencing a full-scale
invasion of an infectious agent so that the immune system can fortify its defenses. When a
person receives a vaccine, a killed or weakened part of a germ that is responsible for infection is
introduced to the body and the immune system responds by producing protective substances
called antibodies to attack the intruder. Thereafter, a memory of this invasion remains so
that the immune system can quickly recognize and neutralize disease-causing agents when they
appear. Because the germ has been killed or weakened before it is used to make the vaccine, it
can not make the person sick. Therefore, immunizations expose people safely to germs, so that
they can become protected from a disease but not come down with the disease.
Regardless of whether immunity is naturally or artificially acquired, it can be active or
passive. Active immunity is created when the persons own immune system activates T cells, or
produces antibodies or other defenses against an infectious agent. Naturally acquired active
immunity occurs when a person is exposed to a live pathogen, develops the disease, and becomes
immune as a result of the primary immune response. Artificially acquired active immunity can
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
be induced by a vaccine. Passive immunity is created when ready-made antibodies are

introduced into the body, antibodies not made by the hosts own immune system. Artificially
acquired passive immunity is a short-term immunization by the injection of antibodies that are
not produced by the recipients cells. Naturally acquired passive immunity occurs during
pregnancy, in which certain antibodies are passed from the maternal into the fetal bloodstream.
It is important to know that all medicines or medical procedures have both risks and
benefits. The risk of side effects is very small compared to the benefits that immunizations
provide. The disease that you are being protected against by receiving an immunization is far
more dangerous than nearly any possible side effects. It is better to prevent a disease rather than
getting the disease. Most side effects from immunizations are mild and short-lived. It is quite
common to have redness or swelling around the injection site. Young children or infants may be
irritable or unwell with a slight temperature. In much rarer cases, some people may have an
allergic reaction soon after the immunization.
In my opinion I truly believe in immunizations. I feel that immunizing my children is
very important. I would rather them have some mild side effects than to have them ever get
really sick against a certain disease and them possibly passing it on to someone else.
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

References
(2015) Immune System Kids Health from
http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/immune.html
(2012) How Do the Innate and Adaptive Immune System Work Together? PubMed Health from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0041935/
(2014) Immune Responses: Primary and Secondary Wiley from
http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0000947.html
How Does Immunization Work? Unicef from
http://www.unicef.org/immunization/index_how.html
J. Black (2012) Microbiology Principles and Explorations 8th edition. Basic Principles of
Adaptive Immunity and Immunization pages 490-491

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1

Running header: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

The Immune System

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

be induced by a vaccine. Passive immunity is created when ready-made antibodies are

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

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