The non-adaptive innate immune system sometimes gets overlooked in light of the highly sophisticated adaptive immune system. However, without the somewhat crude innate immune system we wouldn't even survive long enough for the adaptive immune system to start reacting to the infection! By acting without delay the innate immune system quickly alerts the adaptive immune system to the infection and curbs and controls it until a more powerful and selective force is produced by the adaptive immune system.
In this part we are going to explore the innate immune system and learn how pathogens are recognised and eliminated and which cells and components are part of innate immunity.
| Aims: |
|---|
| To help you understand how the innate immune system distinguishes and recognises "non-self", i.e. pathogens, from host cells. |
| To help you understand the importance of "damaged self" and danger signals in relation to the induction of an inflammatory response. |
| To introduce the different innate immune cells and factors and how they fight pathogens with their special features. |
| Learning Outcomes: |
|---|
| Explain why we mount immune responses to microorganisms but not our own cells and molecules. |
| Compare and contrast "effector functions" involved in host defence of different innate immune cells. |
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to:
- The Innate Immunology Authors: Emily Swindle, Julie Cakebread, Kesta Durkin, Liz Miles, Paul Noakes, Veronica Hollis, Kathy Potter, Angelica Cazaly (curriculum designer), Ian Bailey, Judith Holloway (Programme director/curriculum designer)
- The Editor: Angelica Cazaly
- The eLearning Team: Sunhea Choi, Matthew Hammerton and Mimi Lee