Basic immunology

IMMUNITY

The term Immunity is derived from the Latin word Immunitae, which referred to the protection from the legal prosecution offered to Roman Senators during their tenure in office. Refers to the resistance exhibited by the host towards injury caused by microorganisms and their products.

○ Protection against infectious diseases
○ Distinguishes self from non-self
○ Eliminate potentially destructive foreign substances from body

 

Immunology

Natural (‘innate’) immune system

–Skin, tears, saliva, mucus, acids

–Property of all living creatures

 

Adaptive (‘acquired’) immune system

–Specialist cells, cytokines, antibodies

–Specific and has ‘memory’ –Specialised mucosal lymphoid tissue