Resistance and Immunity

Immunity signifies all those properties of the host that confer resistance to a specific infectious agent.

Immunity
Natural (Innate, nonspecific) Acquired or adaptive (specific) Passive

Active

Differences between natural (innate) and acquired (adaptive) immunity

Innate immunity 1-Present since birth. 2-Doesnt depend on previous exposure to a particular pathogen. 3-Non-specific. 4-Genetically controlled. Adaptive immunity 1- Not present since birth. 2- Depends on previous exposure to a particular pathogen. 3- Specific. 4-Genetically controlled and influenced by hormones and cytokines.

Innate immunity
5- No immunologic memory. 6- Modified by : age, hormones, nutritional status.

Adaptive immunity
5- Involves the development of memory cells. 6- Formed of 2 arms: humoral and cellmediated.

Determinants of Innate Immunity

1- Species and strain. 2- Individual differences. 3- Age and sex. 4- Hormonal factors. 5- Nutritional factors. 6- Racial immunity.

Mechanisms of Innate Immunity

1- Mechanical barriers and surface secretions:
intact skin, mucous membrane.

2- Commensal bacteria: salivary streptococci, vaginal

lactobacilli.

3- Bactericidal substances: present normally in body

fluids and include: a)-Lysozyme b)-GIT secretions c)-Lactenin d)-Oleic acid e)-Spermine and spermidine f)-Bactericidal activity of the blood due to: 1. Complement 2. Natural Abs 3. Properdin 4.Phagocytes

4- Phagocytosis: enhanced by opsonization of particles by

opsonins as: Abs, C3 or C reactive protein (CRP).

5- Inflammatory response: limits the spread of

organisms.

6- Fever: induced by IL-1, IL-6, TNF alpha.

7- Natural killer (NK) cells : non-specifically recognize
and attack tumour cells and virus-infected cells .

8- Toll-like receptors (TLRs).

Opsonization

ADCC by NK Cells

Destruction of Virus-Infected Cells by NK Cells through

Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

Toll-like receptors

They are glycoproteins. They are found on the surface of most body immune cells. They recognize and bind to pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs).

PAMPs:
These are highly conserved structures present in different organisms. They include: 1- Bacterial molecules as peptidoglycan, teichoic acid and LPS. 2- Fungal molecules as zymosan and mannan. 3- Viral molecules as viral nucleic acids and proteins.

Binding of TLRs to PAMPs of bacteria and fungi triggers synthesis of cytokines by immune cells (e.g. IL-2, IL-8 and TNFalpha) which triggers immune defences as inflammation, fever and phagocytosis. Binding of TLRs to viral components triggers synthesis of interferon and blocks viral replication.

Acquired ( Adaptive) Immunity Active

Natural
(Infection)

Passive
Natural Artificial

Artificial

(Immunizing agents)
Clinical Subclinical (Placental transfer, colostrum) (administration of immune sera)

Acquired ( Adaptive) Immunity

Acquired Active Immunity
1- The host actively produces Abs. 2- Immunity is of delayed onset.

Acquired Passive Immunity

1- The host receives preformed Abs. 2- It gives immediate protection.

3- Abs last longer.

3- Immunity is temporary.

Immunizing Agents
Bacterial Vaccines: a) Heat killed: T.A.B for enteric fever. b) Live attenuated: B.C.G. for tuberculosis. c) Bacterial components: Capsular
polysaccharides of meningococci and H. influenzae for meningitis.
d)

Bacterial products: Toxoids of

Diphtheria bacilli for diphtheria, and Cl. tetani for tetanus.

Immunizing Agents
Viral Vaccines: a) Inactivated: Salk vaccine for poliomyelitis. b) Attenuated: Sabin vaccine for poliomyelitis.

c) Recombinant peptide: Hepatitis B vaccine.

Adjuvants:
-

non-specifically enhance the immune response to an Ag.

usually required with non-living vaccines.

e.g. aluminium hydroxide used with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids.