Type of Immunity, Essay Example

Which type of immunity is most important against bacterial infections? Explain your answer.

Adaptive immunity is the most effective against bacterial infections because it confers specific immunity. Through this process, the immune system degrades bacteria into molecules that are presented as antigens, and antibodies are made to specifically target these molecules. Innate immunity is not fully effective against bacterial infections because macrophages do not specifically target infections and the bacteria have ways of getting around this immune function.

How does the action of interferon differ from the action of antibody as a defense against viruses?

Interferons are signaling proteins that are released as a defense against viruses. They differ from the action of antibodies because they activate natural killer cells and macrophages which are a part of the innate immune system.

Describe the activation of the 3 complement system pathways.

The three pathways that activate the complement system include the classical complement pathway, the alternative complement pathway, and the lectin pathway. The classical component pathway is initiated by antigen-bound antibody molecules. Specifically, the binding of Fc region to the C1 component triggers this pathway to initiate. The alternative complement pathway occurs when C3b protein directly binds the microbe, opsonizing and killing the pathogen. The lectin pathway starts with mannose-binding lectin or ficolin binding to certain sugars, which are characteristic of certain types of bacteria.

In a person that has been diagnosed to be AIDS positive which immune system pathways are functioning which ones are partially working and which ones are not functioning at all? Give reasons for your answer.

In individuals that have been diagnosed with AIDS, CD4+ T-cells have been destroyed by the virus, which impairs the adaptive immunity of those diagnosed with it. However, these individuals have a partially operating innate immune system.

What are the differences and similarities between NK and T8 cells?

T8 cells differentiate into effector cells and NK cells function in cell-mediated, cytotoxic adaptive immunity.

CMI and Humoral immunity do not work together at the same time yet they do cooperate to fight off Antigens. Explain this statement giving examples supporting your answer.

CMI and humoral immunity do not work together at the same time, but they do work towards the game goal to fight off antigens. Humoral immunity is non-specific and destroys pathogens by ingesting them in macrophages and are then broken up. The adaptive immune system can then use components of these broken up macrophages to use for antigen presentation, which can help trigger the more specified attack of similar pathogens.