Specific and nonspecific immunity: concepts, differences. What strengthens immunity

Immunity - the main defender of our body, which helps him to fight disease. What strengthens immunity? What influences its formation? What characterizes specific and nonspecific immunity? Let's find out about this.

Immunity and its role

Did you notice that there are people who get sick several times a year, and some - almost never? Why are some very susceptible to ailments, and others - not? It's all about immunity. This is a kind of guard who provides our defense around the clock. If it is not strong enough, then the body can easily succumb to some disease.

Every minute we are attacked by various microorganisms (protozoa, bacteria, fungi). Immunity fights hard against them, preventing them from entering the body and further development. It provides resistance to toxins, preservatives, chemicals, and also eliminates obsolete or defective cells in the body itself.

Depending on the method of its acquisition, natural and artificial, specific and nonspecific immunity are distinguished. This is a complex holistic mechanism, represented by special organs and cells. Together they constitute the immune system, whose main task is to maintain the constancy of the internal environment and to neutralize foreign elements.

Features of the immune system

Protection of the body ensures the harmonious work of all components of the immune system. Its organs are divided into central and peripheral. The first include the thymus gland, bone marrow, Fabricius bag. They produce immune cells (macrophages, plasma cells, T- and B-lymphocytes) in all parts of the body.

Peripheral organs are lymph nodes, spleen, neuroglia, skin, lymphatic tissue. These are secondary organs that are located in places where antigens can penetrate. They use immune cells to fight "pests".

The formation of protective cells occurs in different ways. Some of them are inherited, and the other part is formed during the life, after the transferred diseases. So, there is a specific and nonspecific immunity. Resistance to foreign bodies the body can develop by natural means or with the help of vaccines. Therefore, immunity is also divided into natural and artificial.

Congenital immunity

Specific and nonspecific immunity is usually called acquired and congenital, respectively. The latter is available from the first days of life. It is transmitted genetically within a single species. Thanks to him, a person can not become infected with certain diseases that are peculiar only to certain animals, for example dysentery of cattle or canine plague.

Innate immunity is present in all living organisms. Nonspecific it named because he does not fight against any specific antigen. It was formed at the beginning of evolution and, unlike the one acquired, has no memory to recognize the type of pathogen. This is our primary barrier, which works immediately after the emergence of a potential threat. One of its manifestations is inflammation.

Nonspecific immunity is considered absolute. Completely destroy it is extremely difficult. However, the creation of immunological tolerance or prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation can significantly weaken it.

Acquired Immunity

The second stage in the fight against foreign microorganisms and substances is specific immunity. It is formed throughout the life of a person and changes with each transferred disease.

When a threat is detected, the acquired immunity begins to actively attack it. Its main feature is the "memorization" of pathogens with the help of antibodies. They are developed in the process of fighting a particular alien organism and can subsequently resist it.

Thus, each new disease causes the production of new antibodies, deposited in the memory of our immune system. Once the "enemy" appears in our body again, the protective cells recognize it and can eliminate it much faster.

Not all pathogens react the same way. Some diseases suffice to recover only once, so that the immune system is larger and "does not close" the pathogenic microorganisms. This is typical of chickenpox, measles, tularemia, whooping cough. Influenza and dysentery are very different. After them, only temporary immunity is produced, which lasts up to four months. And then if the pathogen is the same strain. As you know, the flu has thousands of them ...

Types of specific immunity

The acquired mechanisms of protection appeared much later than congenital ones. They arose in the course of evolution and represent one of the most important adaptations of living beings. Without specific immunity, we would have been sick much more often.

When it is produced in the body (after vaccination or independently), it is called active. Passive it is called, if the ready antibodies fall into the body from external sources. They can be passed on to the baby along with the maternal colostrum, and can be given along with the drugs or the vaccine during medical treatment.

There are also artificial and natural immunity. The first involves direct human intervention, that is, vaccination. Natural immunity is formed in a natural way. It can have both passive appearance (transmitted with colostrum) and active (appears after the transfer of the disease).

Immunity factors

The organism resists viruses, infections and microbes due to various factors. They are cellular, humoral or physiological mechanisms. Nonspecific immunity factors are represented by skin, mucous membranes, enzymes. It also includes the acid-alkaline environment of the stomach and even ... sneezing.

The tools of innate immunity are the first to come into contact with a potential threat. They do everything possible to neutralize it. For example, the secrets of the sebaceous and sweat glands on the skin prevent microbes from multiplying. Saliva and tears destroy them.

Factors specific immunity - a whole set of mechanisms that help to respond to foreign bodies, to neutralize and prevent their reproduction. These include the formation of antibodies and immunological memory, an allergic reaction, the killer capacity of lymphocytes. One of the factors is also immune phagocytosis, in which pathogenic organisms are absorbed by special cells - phagocytes.

What strengthens immunity?

In the course of our life, the immune system is constantly changing and correcting, so it is important to keep it in tone. Yes, very much depends on heredity, but the way of life affects the defenses of the organism directly. Councils for strengthening immunity are fairly standard, the main thing here, perhaps, is the regularity. Here are some rules that must be observed:

• Adhere to a balanced diet.
• Go in for sports.
• Find time to relax.
• Avoid stress and overwork.
• Walk in the fresh air.
• Often laugh and experience positive emotions.