INTRODUCTION We constantly being attack by infectious agent and yet we still able to resist it.

It is because the response of our immune system. Our immune system is divide into two major subdivisions that is innate immune system and adaptive immune system. Innate immune system is nonspecific and acts as the first line defense against invading organism. Meanwhile, adaptive immune system or specific immune system acts as second line defense that attack specific to the invading pathogen. The response is much slower than innate immunity but it will memorize the pathogen that has been countered and reacts more quickly when the same pathogen is found.

Background The innate immune system serve as first line defense and have anatomic, humoral and cellular barriers features that function as barriers to infection. Anatomic barriers The first line of defense of the body is the skin and other anatomic barriers to invasion. These include tears, saliva, mucus and cilia in the intestinal and respiratory tracts. Humoral barriers If the pathogen able to penetrate the anatomic barriers, acute inflammation takes over which is characterized by edema and phagocytic cells. These humoral factors are found in serum or they are formed at the site of infection. Cellular barriers Part of the inflammatory response is the recruitment of polymorphonuclear eosinophiles and macrophages to sites of infection. These cells are the main line of defense in the non-specific immune system.

Neutrophils: These phagocytes patrol the body searching for pathogens, engulf and kill invading organisms and contribute to damage to healthy tissue during inflammation. Macrophages: These phagocytes engulf and kill microorganisms. They are able to travel outside of the circulatory system by moving across the cell membrane of blood vessels. They contribute to tissue repair and can present antigens to elements of the adaptive immune system. Macrophages also secrete chemicals that kill microorganisms and can provoke inflammation.

Dendritic cells: These phagocytes contact with the external environment. They are very important in engulfing and presenting antigens to cells of the adaptive immune system; they serve as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems. Natural Killer (NK) cells: These, and related cells, nonspecifically kill cells that have been infected by viruses or tumor cells. They are able to differentiate between self and foreign by the presence or absence of MHC-class I molecules. Healthy cells express MHC class I molecules on their surface, but virus-infected and malignant cells greatly reduce their expression, so natural killer cells will eliminate the infected cells. These cells are an active subject of investigation because they are able to differentiate between self and nonself a process that goes awry in autoimmune disease. NKT cells: These cells exhibit characteristics that place them at the border between innate and adaptive immunity. A growing number of autoimmune diseases have been linked to a failure to regulate these cells.

ANATOMICAL BARRIERS A. SKIN The skin, consisting of the epidermis and the dermis, is dry and acidic. These conditions are not favorable to bacterial growth. Normal flora of the skin also inhibits potentially harmful microbes. In addition, the dead, keratinized cells that make up the surface of the skin are continuously being sloughed off so that microbes that do colonize these cells are constantly being removed. Hair follicles and sweat glands produce lysozyme and toxic lipids that can kill bacteria. Epithelial cells also produce defensins and cathelicidins to kill microbes. Beneath the epidermis of the skin are Langerhans' cell which is immature dendritic cells that phagocytose and kill microbes, carry them to nearby lymph nodes, and present antigens of these microbes to T-lymphocytes to bergin adaptive immune responses against them. Finally, T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes are associated with the epidermis and the mucosal epithelium. These cells recognize microbes common to the epidermis and mucous membranes and start immediate adaptive immune responses against these commonly encountered microbes. B. MUCOUS MEMBRANES Mucous membranes line body cavities that open to the exterior, such as the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the genitourinary tract. Mucous membranes are composed of an epithelial layer that secretes mucus, and a connective tissue layer. The mucus is a physical barrier that traps microbes. Mucus also contains lysozyme to degrade bacterial peptidoglycan, an antibody called secretory IgA that prevents microbes from attaching to mucosal cells and traps them in the mucous, lactoferrin to bind iron and keep it from from being used by microbes, and lactoperoxidase to generate toxic superoxide radicals that kill microbes. Resident normal flora of the mucosa also inhibit potentially harmful microbes. In addition, the mucous membrane, like the skin, is constantly sloughing cells to remove microbes that have attached to the mucous membranes. Beneath the mucosal membrane is mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) that contains Langerhans' cells - immature dendritic cells that phagocytose and kill microbes, carry them to nearby lymph nodes, and present antigens of these microbes to T-

lymphocytes to bergin adaptive immune responses against them. Intraepithelial Tlymphocytes and B-1 lymphocytes are associated with the epidermis and the mucosal epithelium. These cells recognize microbes common to the epidermis and mucous membranes and start immediate adaptive immune responses against these commonly encountered microbes MECHANICAL REMOVAL. A. MUCUS AND CILIA Mucus traps microorganisms and prevents them from reaching and colonizing the mucosal epithelium. Mucus also contains lysozyme to degrade bacterial peptidoglycan, an antibody called secretory IgA that prevents microbes from attaching to mucosal cells and traps them in the mucus, lactoferrin to bind iron and keep it from from being used by microbes, and lactoperoxidase to generate toxic superoxide radicals that kill microbes. Cilia on the surface of the epithelial cells propels mucus and trapped microbes upwards towards the throat where it is swallowed and the microbes are killed in the stomach. This is sometimes called the tracheal toilet. B. THE COUGHING AND SNEEZING Remove trapped microbes C. VOMMITING AND DIARRHEA Removing pathogen and toxin in gastrointestinal tract D. PHYSICAL FLUSHING ACTION OF BODY FLUID Fluids such as urine, tears, saliva, perspiration, and blood from injured blood vessels also flush microbes from the body

Conclusion

Recognition of these molecular structures allows the immune system to distinguish infectious nonself from non-infectious self. All of these specialized cells and parts of the immune system offer the body protection against disease. For instance, biotechnology provides to vary unlimited type of artificial antibody to help a person with weak immune system. Although immune system disorders usually can't be prevented, you can help your child's immune system stay stronger and fight illnesses by staying informed about your healths condition and working closely with your doctor.

References 1. http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/immune.html# Accessed on 27thSept2011 2. http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/ghaffar/innate.htm Accessed on 27thSept2011

3. http://www.arthritis.org/innate-immunity.php Accessed on 27thSept2011

4. http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/sosarafova/Assets/Bio307/emrivard/Innate %20Immune%20Response.html Accessed on 28thSept2011 5. http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/immunology/cell_non_spec.htm Accessed on 28thSept2011 6. http://textbookofbacteriology.net/innate_2.html Accessed on 28thSept2011

Appendices

dendritic cell has engulfed some mycabacterium (M) with are residing within vacuoles (CHV).

Leukocyte