Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Keynote Essay 1: Defining Who We Are: DNA in Forensics, Genealogy and Human Origins
- Section 1 Principles Of Cellular And Molecular Biology
- SECTION 2 MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
- Chapter 8 Genomes and the Environment: An Overview of Molecular Pathology
- Chapter 9 Genetics, Genomics, Health and Disease: General Considerations
- Chapter 10 Chromosome Disorders
- Chapter 11 Mendelian Inheritance
- Chapter 12 Unusual Molecular Processes that Impact on Disease
- Chapter 13 Population Genetics
- Chapter 14 Complex Multifactorial Inheritance
- Chapter 15 Molecular Basis for Phenotypic Variation
- Chapter 16 Medical Genetics
- Keynote Essay 3: Human Cloning: Should We Go There?
- Chapter 17 Neoplasia: General Considerations
- Chapter 18 Oncogenes
- Chapter 19 Mammalian DNA Repair
- Chapter 20 Tumour Suppressor Genes and Inherited Susceptibility to Cancer
- Chapter 21 Carcinoma
- Chapter 22 Leukaemias and Lymphomas
- Chapter 23 Molecular Approaches to the Diagnosis, Prognostication and Monitoring of Cancer
- Keynote Essay 4: Microbes, Molecules, Maladies and Man
- Chapter 24 Molecular Basis of Infectious Diseases: General Considerations
- Chapter 25 Immunology
- Chapter 26 Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- Chapter 27 Tuberculosis
- Chapter 28 Malaria
- Chapter 29 Influenza
- Chapter 30 Oncogenic Viruses
- Chapter 31 Vaccines and Immunisation
- Keynote Essay 5: Drugs and the 21st Century
- SECTION 3 MOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS
- SECTION 4 RESEARCH AND THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
- Glossary
- Contributors’ Biographies
- Source Material And Recommended Reading
- Permissions And Credits
- Index
Chapter 25 - Immunology
from SECTION 2 - MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 June 2019
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- Acknowledgements
- Chapter 1 Introduction
- Keynote Essay 1: Defining Who We Are: DNA in Forensics, Genealogy and Human Origins
- Section 1 Principles Of Cellular And Molecular Biology
- SECTION 2 MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY
- Chapter 8 Genomes and the Environment: An Overview of Molecular Pathology
- Chapter 9 Genetics, Genomics, Health and Disease: General Considerations
- Chapter 10 Chromosome Disorders
- Chapter 11 Mendelian Inheritance
- Chapter 12 Unusual Molecular Processes that Impact on Disease
- Chapter 13 Population Genetics
- Chapter 14 Complex Multifactorial Inheritance
- Chapter 15 Molecular Basis for Phenotypic Variation
- Chapter 16 Medical Genetics
- Keynote Essay 3: Human Cloning: Should We Go There?
- Chapter 17 Neoplasia: General Considerations
- Chapter 18 Oncogenes
- Chapter 19 Mammalian DNA Repair
- Chapter 20 Tumour Suppressor Genes and Inherited Susceptibility to Cancer
- Chapter 21 Carcinoma
- Chapter 22 Leukaemias and Lymphomas
- Chapter 23 Molecular Approaches to the Diagnosis, Prognostication and Monitoring of Cancer
- Keynote Essay 4: Microbes, Molecules, Maladies and Man
- Chapter 24 Molecular Basis of Infectious Diseases: General Considerations
- Chapter 25 Immunology
- Chapter 26 Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- Chapter 27 Tuberculosis
- Chapter 28 Malaria
- Chapter 29 Influenza
- Chapter 30 Oncogenic Viruses
- Chapter 31 Vaccines and Immunisation
- Keynote Essay 5: Drugs and the 21st Century
- SECTION 3 MOLECULAR THERAPEUTICS
- SECTION 4 RESEARCH AND THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF MOLECULAR MEDICINE
- Glossary
- Contributors’ Biographies
- Source Material And Recommended Reading
- Permissions And Credits
- Index
Summary
INTRODUCTION
Immunology can be defined as the study of the reactions of a host when foreign sub stances are introduced into the body. Foreign sub stances that induce immune responses are referred to as antigens and are usually infectious agents. However, antigens may also be harm less environmental substances, such as pollen, which could trigger a response in certain individuals.
Early studies in immunology concentrated largely on the body's ability to protect itself and com bat antigens. As knowledge of the field accumulated, the scope of immunology has broadened significantly to include the study of molecular mechanisms and the genetic basis for the immune response, recognition of the body's response to self-antigens in autoimmune diseases, the phenomenon of hypersensitivity and the manipulation of the immune system to suppress graft rejection and increase immune surveillance against cancerous cells. The defence systems are divided into two broad categories: innate immunity (representing non-specific defences) and adaptive immunity (specific defences).
INNATE IMMUNITY
The innate immune system works on the basis of pattern recognition of several highly con - served structures present on or in different micro-organisms. The innate system present in all classes of plants and animals provides an immediate defence, which is not long-lasting.
The most important line of defence in the body is the physical barrier which is provided by intact skin and mucosal surfaces. The physical barrier is supplemented by:
• Continuous movement, for example the movement of cilia in the respiratory tract
• Commensal bacteria, especially in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT)
• Secretion of antimicrobial substances such as surfactant in the lungs, lysozyme in tears and hydrochloric acid in the GIT.
Once a pathogen has penetrated these physical barriers, it is recognised as foreign. This relies on certain pattern recognition molecules, such as the toll-like receptors (TLRs). These surface receptors bind to a host of diverse microbial pro ducts including components of bacterial cellular membranes such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative cell walls and peptidogly cans from Gram-positive cell walls. Receptor binding results in intracellular signalling and the release of pro-inflammatory mediators.
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- Information
- Molecular Medicine for Clinicians , pp. 289 - 310Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 2008