Immune Response Part 2

Adaptive Immunity

This is part 2 of the short series of the human immune system. If you haven’t already, please read part 1 for a more complete understanding.

In part 1 we discussed the Innate Immune System which acts as the first barrier against infection in human. If exists all the time and targets microbes in a non-specific way. If it is foreign, it dies.

In part 2 we are discussing the Acquired Immune System. This system is more complex and more specific. I could easily go down a rabbit-hole on this article so I am going to keep it basic and discuss broad patterns. In the future I will discuss particular parts in greater detail.

The acquired immune system relies on antigens from microbes to form an immune response against foreign invaders. This process is relatively straightforward if you keep it surface level in depth.

When phagocytic cells such as a macrophage or dendritic cell (discussed in Part 1) locate and absorb a microbe, they kill it through the process of phagocytosis. Once they have killed it they expel the waste products. As a sign of their victory over the invader they display a little trophy: an antigen.