IMMUNITY AND ITS KINDS (2021-07-09 Biology – Human Health and Diseases (L-7) Immunity and its Kinds)

- Immunity is the ability or the capacity of an organism to defend/ fight against diseases/ disease causing germs/
pathogens. It prevents the entry of the disease-causing organisms.

- Immune System is a defense system or protective system to fight against diseases.

Immune system is of two kinds:

(i) Innate Immunity – (Non-Specific Immunity)
▪ Protects against wide range of disease-causing germs.
▪ Inborn – Present from birth (by genetic constitutional makeup of the organism).
▪ Also called as First line of defense.
▪ Barriers:
• Which stop the entry of germs in the body.
• Types of barriers:
o Physical Barriers:
▪ Also known as anatomical barriers.
▪ Covering on the body.
▪ Skin, Mucous Membrane

o Physiological Barriers:
▪ Stomach has HCl, which is a strong acid and will not allow the survival of
germs.
▪ Mouth has saliva, which contains Lysozyme, which will destroy the germs.
▪ Eyes have tears, which also contain Lysozyme, that destroys the germs.

o Cellular Barriers: (If cells have somehow entered the body)

▪ Leucocytes (WBC), Phagocytes – they engulf the bacteria and destroy the
germs.

o Cytokine Barriers:
▪ Viral Infected cells (cells infected by virus) produce interferons which further
protect the healthy/ uninfected cells from getting infected.

(ii) Acquired Immunity – (Specific Immunity) [Pathogen-(Antigen) Specific]

▪ Acquired during lifetime.
▪ Long Lasting.
▪ Supplements the innate immunity.
▪ Has mechanism to distinguish between self and non-self-cells. (Cell’s surface has got Glycoproteins,
which are recognized by the body as its own or foreign).
▪ Response is generated for the first time it is called Primary Response.
▪ Secondary Response is brought up by Memory Cells.
▪ Example: Vaccination, Immunization.
▪ Antibodies:
• Produced by Lymphocytes – Specific against antigens.
• Immunoglobulins (Ig) - Globular proteins.
▪ Antigens:
• (Antibody generation) Proteins/ Polysaccharides/ Glycoproteins present on the organism’s
body (Pathogen).
▪ The Antibody and Antigen react to which result the Antigen is killed or declared harmless.
▪ Lymphocytes: (Produced in the bone marrow)
• Known as stem cells in the bone marrow.
• Types of cell in Acquired Immunity are of two types: (Granular Lymphocytes)
o B - Lymphocytes – B Cells
▪ These release the antibodies.
 ▪ They mature in the bone marrow.
▪ The immunity caused due to the B – Cells is known as Humoral Immunity.
o T - Lymphocytes – T Cells
▪ T- Cells are produced in the Thymus.
▪ T – Cells themselves do not produce antibodies but help the B – Cells to
produce the antibodies.
▪ T – Lymphocytes produce cells. And the immunity that is due to the T-Cells is
known as Cell Mediated Immunity.
• Production of B & T Cells in the bone marrow is known as Hematopoiesis.
• Some of the immature lymphocytes are destined to become Thymocytes which move to the
Thymus gland and in it they mature and form T-cells.
• In the Lymph Nodes the antibodies by the lymphocytes are produced in spleen (Lymphocytes
are mainly produced in the Spleen).

Humoral Cell Response (Humoral Immunity) Cell Mediated Response

Made up of B – Lymphocytes/ B – Cells. Made up of T – Lymphocytes/ T – Cells.
Defends against Pathogens that invade body fluids. Defends against Pathogens as well as foreign substances
that invade the host cells.
Does not react against transplant or cancerous cells. Reacts against transplant or cancerous cells.

B – Lymphocytes
Form the Humoral Immunity.
Processed in the bone marrow (B – Cells).
These release antibodies in the lymph which then enters the
blood.
Defend the body against the invading germs i.e. Bacteria and
Viruses.
They do not attack the transplants and cancerous cells.
T – Lymphocytes
Form the Cell Mediated Immunity.
Processed in the Thymus (T – Cells).
These are the whole cells which attack the antigens.
Defend the body against the pathogens and their secretions.
They attack the transplants and cancerous cells.