Defense mechanisms against infections
There are two types of defense mechanisms against infections:
- Nonspecific defense mechanisms.
- Two types of barriers:
- Primary barriers: external barriers (physical, mechanical, chemical and microbiological), which prevent pathogens from invading the body.
- Secondary barriers: phagocytes. The innate immune system.
- They are not specific to a particular pathogen.
- No prior contact with the pathogen is necessary to trigger it.
- Its action is immediate.
- Lacks immune memory.
- Two types of barriers:
- Specific defense mechanisms.
- Third barrier: internal defenses. The adaptive immune system, whose immune response can be:
- There is a specific response against pathogens and antigens.
- Its action is triggered after a previous contact with the pathogen.
- Has immune memory.
- Primary immune response: takes 3-4 days to be effective.
- Secondary immune response: if memory cells are present, the response is faster and longer lasting.