Immunology

In basic terms, the immune system has two lines of defense: innate immunity and
adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the first immunological, non-specific (antigenindependent) mechanism for fighting against an intruding pathogen. It is a rapid
immune response, occurring within minutes or hours after aggression, that has no
immunologic memory. Adaptive immunity, on the other hand, is antigen-dependent
and antigen-specific; it has the capacity for memory, which enables the host to mount

a more rapid and efficient immune response upon subsequent exposure to the
antigen. There is a great deal of synergy between the adaptive immune system and
its innate counterpart, and defects in either system can provoke illness or disease,
such as autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency disorders and hypersensitivity
reactions. This article provides a practical overview of innate and adaptive immunity,
and describes how these host defense mechanisms are involved in both health and
illness