INTRODUCTION TO IMMUNITY Ability to resist or eliminate harmful foreign microbes and their products is called Immunity.

Types: Innate Immunity: - Inborn resistance to diseases is called innate Immunity and comprises 4 types of defensive barriers i. ii. iii. iv. Anatomic barriers: - Includes skin and mucous membranes. Physiological barriers: - Normal body temperature and Gastric Juice. Phagocytic barriers: - Phagocytes engulf foreign microbes. Inflammatory barriers: -

Adaptive Immunity: - Develops during life of an individual. It may be active or passive. Active Immunity: - Immunity developed in response to antigenic stimulus. Naturally acquired active immunity: - immunity developed in response to natural infections. Artificially acquired active immunity: - immunity acquired by the host in response to the artificial inoculation of antigen. Eg. Vaccination. Passive Immunity: - adaptive immunity developed by the transfer of antibodies from an immune individual to a nonimmune individual. Naturally acquired passive immunity: - Immunity transfer from mother to child. Artificially acquired Passive Immunity: - transfer of antibodies from an immunized donor to non immunized individual. Eg. Injection of anti tetanus serum to man. Innate immunity Present before the onset of infection. It is non specific. Uniform in all members of a species. Does not provide immunological memory. Provided by barriers, phagocytosis, inflammation etc. Adaptive Immunity Does not develop till antigenic stimulus. It is more specific. It varies within individuals of a species. Provides immunological memory. Mediated by lymphocytes and antibodies.

Based on types of responses adaptive immunity is classified in to humoral immunity and cell mediated immunity. i. Humoral Immunity: - is mediated by antibodies released into Humors of the body like Plasma, lymph, tissue fluid. Protects against extracellular bacteria and foreign macromolecules. It involves B cells.

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Cell Mediated Immunity: - mediated by antigen specific T cells. It protects against intracellular bacteria, virus and cancer cells and is responsible for graft rejection.

ORGANS OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM A number of morphologically and functionally diverse organs and tissues have various functions in the development of immune responses. I. Primary lymphoid organs or central lymphoid organs: - Organs in which immature lymphocytes generated in hematopoiesis mature or immunocompetent and become committed to a particular antigenic specificity within the primary lymphoid organs. In mammals mature T cells and mature B cells arise respectively in thymus and bone marrow. In birds mature B cells are produced in bursa of Fabricius.

Thymus: - Site of T Cell development and Maturation. Flat, bilobed organ situated above the heart. Bone Marrow: - Site of B Cell origin and development. II. Secondary lymphoid organs or Peripheral lymphoid organs: Immunocompetent lymphocytes transform into functional cells in Secondary lymphoid organs. Spleen and lymph nodes are highly organized secondary lymphoid organs. These organs trap antigen and provide sites for mature lymphocytes to interact with that antigen. Spleen is specialized in trapping blood borne antigens, whereas lymph nodes are specialized for trapping antigen in lymph collected from local tissues. CELLS IN THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Lymphocytes are central cells. I. Lymphoid cells : - Lymphocytes constitute 99% of the cells in the lymph. B Cells, T cells and Natural Killers. i. B Lymphocytes: ii. T Lymphocytes: iii. Natural killer cells: - Large granular lymphocytes. Exhibit cytotoxic activity against tumor cells and some virus infected cells. II. Mononuclear Phagocytes: -Monocytes in bold and macrophages in tissues. Bone marrow blood Monocytes tissues Wandering Macrophages or fixed macrophages. Capable of digesting mocroorganisms, dead cells, cellular debris etc. Ex: Kupffer cells in Liver, Osteclasts in bone. III. Granulocytes i. Neutrophils: - Phagocytic. ii. Eosinophils: - Phagocyitc, defense against Parasitic organisms. iii. Basophils: - Non phagocytic. Release inflammatory mediators like Histamine and bradykinin. IV. Mast Cells: Bone marrow Blood tissues Release inflammatory mediators like Histamine and bradykinin.

V. Dendritic Cells Membrane extension Resemble dendrites of nerve cells. Most potent antigen presenting cells.

I. II.

III.

SOLUBLE MEDIATORS OF IMMUNITY Complement protein system: - Group of serum proteins. Activate inflammation cause cytolysis and opsonisation. Cytokines: - Low molecular weight proteins. Interact b/w cells and immune system. Interleukins(ILs) are the cytokines secreted by leucocytes. Effect growth and differentiation of various cells of immune system. Interferons(IFNs) are cytokines, helps in regulate immune system. Alpha and Beta interferons produced by virus infected host cells diffuse to neighbouring cells induce them to synthesise antiviral proteins these disrupt viral multiplication. Gamma interferons produced by t Lymphocytes. Antibodies Are antigen binding proteins. Also known as immunoglobulins. ANTIGENS MECHANISM OF CELL MEDIATED IMMUNITY

MECHANISM OF HUMORA IMMUNITY

USES OF ANTIBODIES Neutralising Immobilizing Precipitation and agglutination Activation Opsonisation.

IMMUNOLOGICAL DISORDERS Autoimmunity: - Inappropriate response against self - antigens. Immunodeficiency: - Deficiency in immune response. Hypersensitivity: - Exaggerated immune response that causes damage to the host tissues. Primary Immunodeficiency: - resulting from genetic or developmental defect in the immune system. Secondary: - Result from exposure to various chemical or biological agents. Ex; Durgs and HIV