Microbiology and Immunology 3300B Lecture : Immunology Notes

• School: Western University
• Department: Microbiology and Immunology
• Course: Microbiology and Immunology 3300B
• Professor: Rodney Dekoter

Document Summary

Humoral immunity means immunity due to proteins circulating in the blood, such as antibodies (in adaptive immunity) or complement (in innate immunity). There is a beginning and end to an immune response. First there is establishment of infection with the entry of the microorganism. When numbers of the pathogen increase and exceed the threshold level of antigen required for an adaptive immune response, the adaptive response is initiated. The adaptive response doesn t get involved until the innate response can t contain the infection. After 4-7 days effector cells and molecules of the adaptive response start to clear the infection. When the infection has been cleared and the level of antigen falls below the response threshold, the response ceases. Antibody, residual effector cells, and immunological memory provide lasting protection against reinfection. In the absence of innate immunity, there is rapid growth of pathogen.