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Related Concept Videos

Complement System01:27

Complement System

The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a membrane...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Humoral Immune Responses01:36

Humoral Immune Responses

Overview
Antibody Actions01:26

Antibody Actions

Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
Neutralization
Antibodies can bind to pathogens, preventing them from infecting host cells. This process...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...

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Discrimination between host and pathogens by the complement system.

Michael K Pangburn1, Viviana P Ferreira, Claudio Cortes

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, Tyler, TX 75708, USA. michael.pangburn@uthct.edu

Vaccine
|April 24, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Complement activation relies on recognizing pathogens via antibodies or MBL/ficolins, or by lacking control proteins. Genetic studies increasingly link complement recognition molecules to various human diseases.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Complement activation is crucial for pathogen defense.
  • Recognition of pathogens involves direct interaction or antibody opsonization.
  • Complement control proteins prevent self-damage but their absence can lead to activation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms of pathogen-specific complement activation.
  • To highlight the role of complement recognition molecules in disease.
  • To underscore the importance of complement system components in immunity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of genetic data.
  • Utilizing knockout animal models.
  • Investigating complement activation pathways.

Main Results:

  • Pathogen recognition triggers complement activation.
  • Antibodies, MBL, and ficolins are key recognition molecules.
  • Absence of complement control proteins facilitates alternative pathway amplification.
  • Genetic and animal studies reveal links between complement proteins and diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Complement activation is tightly regulated by recognition and control mechanisms.
  • Complement recognition molecules are vital for host defense.
  • Dysregulation or deficiencies in complement components are implicated in various human diseases.