Immunology Handout : For L2 students in biotechnology and biology

Abstract

Immunity, derived from the Latin "immunitas" (im, marking negation; munus, charge, or tax; immunitas, dispensation or exemption from burden), initially referred to the resistance of an organism to an infectious agent to which it is exposed. This definition was later extended to include all reactions aimed at eliminating foreign substances. Currently, immunology is defined as the study of the body's defenses against any situation that is potentially harmful to the host (harmful to health and can even lead to death): i. recognition and elimination of non-self, such as pathogenic microorganisms responsible for infections; and ii. Eliminate stressed, damaged, or pathogenic cells of the "self" (e.g., cancerous, or virus-infected cells)....