Innate Immune System Case Study

1. The innate immune system, also considered the first line of defense, is made up of different mechanisms that protect the host from infecting organisms. This system allows for immediate response to infection, and is found in all classes of plant and animal life. Though the innate immune system does provide immediate defense against an infecting agent, it does not provide long term protective immunity to the host, therefore it does not have memory.

The innate immune system utilizes protective barriers which act as the first line of defense against infection. Those protective barriers include the skin, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory airways and lungs, nasopharynx, and the eyes. The skin does not provide a suitable environment for bacterial growth due to the presence of oil glands in the dermis layer, lack of blood vessels, and the inability to retain moisture (Mayer, online). The …show more content…
The adaptive immune system is more specialized in terms of its defense mechanisms and ability to develop memory of specific pathogens. Once a pathogen has been killed, T-cells and B-cells continue to produce, which allows for a stronger and faster response the next time the body is challenged by that particular pathogen (Mayer, …show more content…
The dimeric form of IgA is secretory IgA. Again these are the main immune-globulins found in mucosal regions of the body. The secretory arrangement of IgA protects the immune-globulin from being broken down by harsh enzymes, like those found in the gastrointestinal tract and allows them to reside in the GI tract. IgM is sometimes referred to as a “natural antibody”, and is the largest antibody in humans. This is the first antibody to appear at the introduction of a pathogen. IgM has 10 weak binding sites and IgG has 2 strong binding sites, which aids in