HLSC 1F90 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, Innate Immune System, Adaptive Immune System
10 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Immunology is a very complex topic: it is full of details, evolving, and filled with exceptions (the major concepts and the essence of how we naturally defend against infection are the primary focuses of immunology) Immunology is akin to a team effort (many cell types coordinate their responses) Physiological mechanisms are used by humans and other animals to defend their bodies from invasion by other organisms, without harming themselves. Historically, survivors of epidemic diseases were apparently untouched (immune) when faced with the same infectious disease again and at a later time (ex. a measles outbreak on an island ) Infectious diseases are typically caused by microorganisms: these have the advantage of reproducing and evolving more rapidly than human hosts, and pit enormous populations of its species against individual humans. The human body invests heavily into defense to combat these microorganisms, which collectively form the immune system.
