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Related Concept Videos

Introduction to Innate and Adaptive Immunity01:21

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 Immunity01:20

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 Response01:23

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...
Development of Immunocompetence01:22

Development of Immunocompetence

The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview

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Generation of Human Alloantigen-specific T Cells from Peripheral Blood
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Published on: November 21, 2014

Origins of adaptive immunity.

Clifford Liongue1, Liza B John, Alister Ward

  • 1School of Medicine & Strategic Research Centre in Molecular and Medical Research, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, Victoria, Australia.

Critical Reviews in Immunology
|March 15, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Adaptive immunity evolved gradually over a long period, not rapidly. While whole-genome duplications were crucial, other genetic events and co-option of existing molecules also played vital roles in its emergence.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary immunology
  • Molecular evolution
  • Vertebrate immunity

Background:

  • Adaptive immunity, characterized by specific antibody- and cell-mediated responses with immunological memory, is a defining feature of higher vertebrates.
  • The "big bang theory" posits a rapid emergence of adaptive immunity, driven by coincident whole-genome duplications.
  • This perspective challenges the rapid origin, proposing a more gradual evolutionary process.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the evolutionary origins of adaptive immunity.
  • To propose an alternative model for the emergence of adaptive immunity based on molecular and genetic events.
  • To integrate the role of whole-genome duplications with other genetic mechanisms in adaptive immunity evolution.

Main Methods:

  • Review of key molecules and molecular processes underlying adaptive immunity.
  • Analysis of genetic events contributing to the evolution of immune system components.
  • Comparative examination of evolutionary trajectories in higher vertebrates.

Main Results:

  • Adaptive immunity likely emerged through a longer evolutionary journey rather than a sudden "big bang."
  • Whole-genome duplications provided essential genetic material, but were not the sole driver.
  • Other genetic events and the co-option of pre-existing molecules were also critical for generating key adaptive immunity components.

Conclusions:

  • The evolution of adaptive immunity is a complex process involving multiple genetic events over extended evolutionary timescales.
  • A nuanced model, incorporating gradual changes and diverse genetic mechanisms, better explains the origin of adaptive immunity.
  • Understanding this evolutionary path is key to comprehending the sophistication of vertebrate immune systems.