Innate Immune System: Fast and Broadly Effective: Bacteria

Innate immune system: Fast and broadly effective
The strength of the innate, general defense is to

be able to take action very quickly. It makes
sure, for example that bacteria that have entered
the skin through a small wound are detected and
partly destroyed on the spot within a few hours.
As the innate immune response is not
specialized for specific pathogens, it does not
need a long start-up phase. Because of this
broad effect, it is only capable to a certain
degree of stopping germs from entering and
spreading in the body.
The innate defense consists of several
elements:
1.Protection from the outside

Skin and mucous membranes:
All external and internal surfaces of the human body are a key element of the innate immune
system. The closed surface of the skin and of all mucous membranes already forms a mechanical
barrier for pathogens, which prevents them from entering. Additionally, chemical substances like
acid, enzymes or mucus prevent the bacteria or viruses from gaining a foothold. Movements
created, for example, by hair-like structures in the bronchi (cilia) or by bowel muscles stop germs
from settling in the body. Tear fluid, sweat, or urine rinsing the urinary organs all have a similar
effect.
2.Protection from the inside
Defense cells and proteins:

If, despite all obstacles, pathogens make it past the skin or mucous membranes and enter the body,
the innate system’s second line of defense comes into action. Inflammatory cells move to the site
of infection, or defense cells that are already there are activated. Soluble protein substances of the
complement system are activated, too, and help to defend the body. This leads to an inflammatory
reaction where blood circulation is increased and the affected area becomes swollen and hot.
Sometimes there is also a fever.
If bacteria or viruses manage to enter the body they can be eliminated directly on the spot by
scavenger cells or phagocytes (from the Greek phagein, meaning: “to eat”). Two types of defense
cells are the most effective ones: macrophages, which are found in the tissue, and neutrophil
granulocytes, which are in the blood and tissue. These cells enclose the pathogens and digest them
in their interior. Scavenger cells can work best if the pathogen has already been marked by
antibodies or proteins of the complement system. This makes the pathogen more “palatable” for
the scavenger cells.
Complement system: Proteins in a chain reaction
Soluble substances support the defense cells of the innate immune system. A total of nine different
enzymes activate one another in a process similar to a chain reaction: one enzyme of the first stage
alerts several enzymes of the second stage, each of which again activates several enzymes of the
third stage, and so on. This process quickly makes the defense reaction a lot stronger, because the
production of these protein substances increases in such large jumps (exponentially).The tasks of
these enzymes:
They mark pathogens, making them more attractive for scavenger cells.They attract other immune
cells from the blood.They dissolve the cell walls of bacteria, so that they lose fluid and minerals
and die.They fight viruses directly by destroying the virus envelopes, or indirectly by destroying
cells infected by viruses.
Natural killer cells: Searching for changed body cells

The natural killer cells are the third important part of the innate immune system. They specialize
in identifying cells that are infected by a virus or that have become tumorous. They do this by
looking for changes in cell surfaces. If natural killer cells find cells with a changed surface, they
dissolve them using cell poisons, also called cytotoxins.
Contribution of innate immune cells to pathogenesis of severe infections

The intestinal microbiome is a
signalling hub that integrates
environmental inputs, such as
diet, with genetic and immune
signals to affect the host's
metabolism, immunity and
response to infection. The
haematopoietic and non-
haematopoietic cells of the
innate immune system are
located strategically at the host–
microbiome interface. These
cells have the ability to sense
microorganisms or their
metabolic products and to
translate the signals into host
physiological responses and the
regulation of microbial ecology.
Aberrations in the
communication between the
innate immune system and the gut microbiota might contribute to complex diseases.
Influenza A viruses (IAVs)
cause respiratory illness of
varying severity based on
the virus strains, host
predisposition and pre-
existing immunity.
Ultimately, outcome and
recovery from infection rely
on an effective immune
response comprising both
innate and adaptive
components. The innate
immune response provides
the first line of defence and
is crucial to the outcome of
infection. Airway epithelial
cells are the first cell type to
encounter the virus in the
lungs, providing antiviral and chemotactic molecules that shape the ensuing immune response by
rapidly recruiting innate effector cells such as NK cells, monocytes and neutrophils. Each cell
type has unique mechanisms to combat virus-infected cells and limit viral replication, however
their actions may also lead to pathology.
REFERENCES
1.Thaiss, C. A., Levy, M., Itav, S. & Elinav, E. Integration of innate immune signaling. Trends
Immunol. 37, 84–101 (2016).
2.Thaiss, C. A., Levy, M., Suez, J. & Elinav, E. The interplay between the innate immune system
and the microbiota. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 26, 41–48 (2014).

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Innate immune system: Fast and broadly effective

The strength of the innate, general defense is to

1.Protection from the outside

2.Protection from the inside

Defense cells and proteins:

Natural killer cells: Searching for changed body cells

Contribution of innate immune cells to pathogenesis of severe infections

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