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What is the Immune System?

What is the Immune System?

Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity

Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity

The human immune system is a complex defense mechanism that protects the body from harmful pathogens and foreign substances. It comprises two crucial components: innate and adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity is the body's natural, nonspecific defense system that acts quickly to protect against pathogens. It incorporates physical barriers like skin and mucous membranes and cellular elements such as phagocytes and natural killer cells. This part of our immune system provides an immediate,...

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

Special Features of Adaptive Immunity

The adaptive immune system, a crucial component of the overall immune response, offers a highly specialized defense against pathogens. It involves specific cell types and features, enabling it to combat infections effectively and efficiently.
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response

The T and B lymphocytes of the adaptive immune system develop from common lymphoid progenitor cells in the bone marrow. These progenitors give rise to precursors that eventually develop into both T and B lymphocytes. As these precursors mature, they gain the ability to detect and respond to foreign antigens in the body, a process known as immunocompetence. Additionally, these precursors acquire self-tolerance, a process that ensures they do not react to self-antigens. This intricate system...

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

Published on: November 21, 2014

The evolution of adaptive immune systems.

Max D Cooper¹, Matthew N Alder

¹Division of Developmental and Clinical Immunology, Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, Pediatrics, and Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. max.cooper@ccc.uab.edu

|February 25, 2006

Summary

Adaptive immunity evolved in vertebrates using two distinct methods for generating diverse antigen receptors. Jawed vertebrates use gene segment rearrangement, while jawless vertebrates utilize leucine-rich-repeat modules for variable lymphocyte receptors.

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Last Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood

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Published on: November 21, 2014

Characterization of Thymus-dependent and Thymus-independent Immunoglobulin Isotype Responses in Mice Using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay

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T and B Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Analysis using Next-generation Sequencing

T and B Cell Receptor Immune Repertoire Analysis using Next-generation Sequencing

Published on: January 12, 2021

Area of Science:

Immunology
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics

Background:

The adaptive immune system, characterized by a diverse repertoire of antigen receptors on lymphocytes, is a hallmark of vertebrate evolution.
This system provides a survival advantage by enabling recognition and defense against pathogens.
Jawless vertebrates (lampreys and hagfish) and jawed vertebrates exhibit distinct strategies for generating antigen receptor diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore the evolutionary pathways of adaptive immunity in vertebrates.
To compare the molecular mechanisms of antigen receptor diversification in jawed and jawless vertebrates.
To understand the convergent evolution of adaptive immune systems.

Main Methods:

Comparative genomics analysis of immune system genes.
Phylogenetic analysis of immune system evolution.
Molecular characterization of lymphocyte receptor assembly.

Main Results:

Jawed vertebrates assemble antigen receptors via recombinatorial rearrangement of immunoglobulin and T cell receptor gene segments.
Jawless vertebrates generate receptor diversity through the assembly of leucine-rich-repeat genetic modules, encoding variable lymphocyte receptors.
Convergent evolution of these distinct adaptive immune systems involved modification of innate immune components.

Conclusions:

Vertebrate adaptive immunity has evolved through at least two independent genetic strategies for generating antigen receptor diversity.
The study highlights innovative genetic mechanisms employed by different vertebrate lineages to achieve immune system complexity.
Understanding these divergent evolutionary paths provides insights into the fundamental principles of immune system adaptation.