DSBS 214
Infection and Host Defense
Course Director: Dr. Sally ElHaddad
Assist. Prof. Periodontology and Oral Medicine
Basics of
Immunity
Immunology
It is the science that study the structure and
function of the immune system and it is a very
important branch of the medical and biological
sciences
Immunity:
▪ “Protection against disease”
▪ It is mediated by a collection of molecules,
cells, and tissues collectively called the
immune system
Immune system:
▪ Functions to protect the body against antigens
(microbes, viruses, cancer cells, and toxins)
▪ It has the ability to discriminate between individual`s
own cells and harmful invading organisms
Immune response: It is mediated by cells and
molecules of the immune system to the foreign
substances
Immunity
Innate Adaptive
(non-specific) (specific)
Innate (non-specific)
Rapid defense (within hours)
The first line of defense against a wide variety
of pathogens, present from birth
The mechanisms do not distinguish between
invaders (non-specific)
No immunological memory
Components of the Innate Immune System
Physical, mechanical, chemical barriers
Blood proteins
Various cellular components
Physical, mechanical, chemical barriers
Blood Proteins; Complement
• Plasma protein that works in conjunction with
antibodies to help destroy certain target cells
• Series of >30 proteins, circulating in the blood
and tissue fluids
Blood Proteins; Complement
1. Lysis of the invading microbe
2. Attract microbe-killing scavenger cells that
ingest, or phagocytose the invader
3. Enhancing phagocytosis , opsonization
4. Immune clearance where they remove
immune complexes
5. Generation of the classical inflammatory
response
Cellular Components
Epithelial
Phagocytic and Natural
cells endothelial killer cells
cells
Innate
lymphoid Platelets
cells
Phagocytic cells
▪ They participate in not only the
phagocytosis but also the inflammatory
process
▪ They are able to secrete cytokines
Phagocytic cells
Granulocytes (neutrophils,
eosinophils, basophils, mast cells)
Monocytes/macrophages Dendritic cells
Granulocytes
• Effector cells that predominate during the early
or acute phase of the innate immune response
• Identify, ingest, and destroy microbial
pathogens
Neutrophils
• Most abundant and
effective during the
inflammation and
phagocytosis
• The first cell line that
is recruited at the
inflammation site
Eosinophils
• They are less
abundant than
neutrophils
• Degranulation and
release of
histamine
Mast cells
• Located in tissues,
mainly in mucosa,
• Their granules
contain heparin,
serotonin, and
histamine
• Release a variety
of cytokines
Monocyte/macrophages
▪ Circulate in peripheral blood and transformed
into tissue macrophages
▪ They release and stimulate cytokine secretion
Dendritic cells
• Considered to be
professional APC
• Reside in and
patrol the skin and
mucosal surfaces,
thus playing an
important role in
the innate immune
system
Natural killer (NK) cells
Exhibit an immunomodulatory role due their
cytotoxic activity
Involved in antimicrobial defense by controlling
tumoral growth and maintaining the
immunological homeostasis
When this nonspecific response is
overwhelmed, a more specific
approach is required which leads to
the recruitment of adaptive immunity
Substance that is capable of
stimulating an immune response
Adaptive immunity
Occurs a few days after the innate immune
response is initiated
Specific response
It recognizes specific features on the surface
of a pathogen
Creation of “memory” that will allow for
protection from future exposure of same
pathogen
Adaptive
Immunity
Humoral Cellular
• Specificity
• Diversity
• Immunological memory
• Immune tolerance
Antibodies
IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, IgM
Adaptive Cell- mediated Immunity
Cytotoxic T-lymphocytes
Elimination of intracellular pathogens that are inaccessible
to the circulating antibodies of the humoral response
Acquired Immunity
Active Passive
Natural Natural
Artificial Artificial
