Host defense mechanisms against pathogens
1General Pathology and Immunology, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. roberto.accolla@uninsubria.it
Background And Purpose:
The body is under constant assault by potentially harmful microbes. Both innate and adaptive immune responses counteract the action of pathogens.
Method:
Review of the pertinent literature.
Results:
The innate response is focused mainly on physically eliminating the pathogens, mostly by phagocytosis, while the adaptive response reacts specifically to, and neutralizes, a given pathogen and maintains a memory of it for safer and faster elimination on subsequent encounters.
Conclusion:
The basic mechanisms of pathogen elimination by the immune system and some mechanisms of evasion of the immune response by pathogens are discussed.
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