Jorica Lynn D.

Duronio MLS 2-D

Immunity is the balanced state of having adequate biological defenses to fight infection,
disease, or other unwanted biological invasion, while having adequate tolerance to avoid
allergy, and autoimmune diseases.
1. Types of Immunity
Passive immunity is the transfer of active immunity, in the form of readymade antibodies,
from one individual to another. Passive immunity can occur naturally, when maternal
antibodies are transferred to the fetus through the placenta, and can also be induced
artificially, when high levels of human (or horse) antibodies specific for a pathogen or
toxin are transferred to non-immune individuals. Passive immunization is used when
there is a high risk of infection and insufficient time for the body to develop its own
immune response, or to reduce the symptoms of ongoing or immunosuppressive
diseases. Passive immunity provides immediate protection, but the body does not
develop memory, therefore the patient is at risk of being infected by the same pathogen
later.
Active immunity is when an individual makes specific antibodies themselves in response
to encounter with a 'foreign' antigen. It often involves both the cell-mediated and humoral
aspects of immunity as well as input from the innate immune system. The innate system
is present from birth and protects an individual from pathogens regardless of
experiences, where as adaptive immunity arises only after an infection or immunization
and hence is "acquired" during life.
Adaptive immunity is often sub-divided into two major types depending on how the
immunity was introduced. 'Naturally acquired immunity' occurs through contact with a
disease causing agent, when the contact was not deliberate, whereas 'artificially
acquired immunity' develops only through deliberate actions such as vaccination. Both
naturally and artificially acquired immunity can be further subdivided depending on
whether immunity is induced in the host or passively transferred from an immune host.
'Passive immunity' is acquired through transfer of antibodies or activated T-cells from an
immune host, and is short livedusually lasting only a few monthswhereas 'active
immunity' is induced in the host itself by antigen and lasts much longer, sometimes
lifelong. The diagram below summarizes these divisions of immunity.
Innate immunity, or nonspecific immunity, is the natural resistances with which a person
is born. It provides resistances through several physical, chemical and cellular
approaches. Microbes first encounter the epithelial layers, physical barriers that line skin
and mucous membranes. Subsequent general defences include secreted chemical
signals (cytokines), antimicrobial substances, fever, and phagocytic activity associated
with the inflammatory responses. The phagocytes express cell surface receptors that
can bind and respond to common molecular patterns expressed on the surface of
invading microbes. Through these approaches, innate immunity can prevent the
colonization, entry and spread of microbes.
2. Formed elements in the blood
Erythrocytes are flattened, biconcave discs, about 7 |im in diameter and 2.2 |im thick.
Their unique shape relates to their function of transporting oxygen; it provides an
increased surface area through which gas can diffuse Erythrocytes lack nuclei and
mitochondria (they obtain energy through anaerobic respiration).

Leukocytes contain nuclei and mitochondria and can move in an amoeboid fashion.
Because of their amoeboid ability, leukocytes can squeeze through pores in capillary

walls and move to a site of infection, whereas erythrocytes usually remain confined
within blood vessels. The movement of leukocytes through capillary walls is referred to
as diapedesis or extravasation.

Platelets, or thrombocytes, are the smallest of the formed elements and are actually
fragments of large cells called megakary-ocytes, which are found in bone marrow. (This
is why the term formed elements is used instead of blood cells to describe erythro-cytes,
leukocytes, and platelets.) The fragments that enter the circulation as platelets lack
nuclei but, like leukocytes, are capable of amoeboid movement. Platelets play an
important role in blood clotting. They constitute most of the mass of the clot, and
phospholipids in their cell membranes activate the clotting factors in plasma that result in
threads of fibrin, which reinforce the platelet plug.

3. Inflammation is a protective response that involves immune cells, blood vessels, and
molecular mediators. The purpose of inflammation is to eliminate the initial cause of cell
injury, clear out necrotic cells and tissues damaged from the original insult and the
inflammatory process, and to initiate tissue repair.
4. Phagocytosis in three steps:
Unbound phagocyte surface receptors do not trigger phagocytosis.
Binding of receptors causes them to cluster.
Phagocytosis is triggered and the particle is taken up by the phagocyte.