Why Is It Important To Identify Antigen-Specific Defense

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Task 1:
a) The immune system has two ways of defending the body, nonspecific and specific immunity. There are many barriers in the human body which protect and defend the body from any unwanted, potentially dangerous pathogens that may try to enter. When the body is dealing with a pathogen for the first time, the nonspecific response will be put to use. The biggest barrier that the body has is the skin. The skin contains many layers, the outermost layer of the skin is known as the stratum corneum and it consists of around 15-20 layers of dead skin. The layers of this part of the skin must be constantly replaced, this is due to the fact that the outermost layers constantly shed – this means that the build-up of microorganisms is kept to a minimum. The eyes also have a barrier and these are …show more content…

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What kind of response used and which antigens used? An immediate response takes place, but it may not be particularly efficient. Response is antigen-independent and not antigen-specific. The response is not immediate. Response is antigen-dependent and antigen-specific.
When is maximum response? Immediately May depend on the pathogen, but around about a week.
Which cells are involved? White blood cells (macrophages, natural killer cells, neutrophils, mast cells, eosinophils and dendritic cells). Lymphocytes (B cells and T cells).
Relation between exposure and immunological memory? The same response takes place every time a pathogen is present, meaning that there is no relation between exposure and immunological memory. There is a relation for the adaptive immunity, this is because the T and B cells have memory cells, meaning that if a pathogen attacks the body that has previously attacked the body in the past, the memory cells will remember this and will provide the antibodies required to destroy the antigen rapidly and

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