2021-07-30 20:21:14
In the previous chapters of this series on the Immune System we have talked about the innate immune response, orchestrated by cells that respond in a generic way against a wide variety of enemies, whether they are bacteria, fungi or viruses. It is a rapid, unspecialized intervention force, made up of molecules from the complement system, sentinel cells and phagocytes, it responds to many types of enemies, although, having a wide spectrum, on some occasions, especially against little-known enemies, it is not as effective as one could wish for.
When these first actions are insufficient to contain the invaders, the immune system collects information about the enemy from sentinel cells that have faced it and transports it through the lymph to the lymph nodes. It is in this place where the information is analyzed and used to instruct and activate the most effective cells against the microbial fight: the lymphocytes.
Lymphocytes are not going to fight against all bacteria or viruses in general, as the cells of the innate immune system do, but rather they are going to “learn” the nature of the enemy they have to fight against and they are going to generate a particular response against it. . It will be an extremely effective response, especially directed at the invading microorganism, but it will be completely ineffective against a different microorganism.
How are lymphocytes activated against enemies? The actions that trigger the bodily mechanism that incites lymphocytes to action depends on the type of lymphocyte in question because there are two main types: B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. The reason they are called that is because B lymphocytes are generated in the bone marrow (bones) and T lymphocytes, although in their early stages of maturation they are also generated in the bone marrow, develop in their final phase in an organ called the thymus (thymus). , in English), which is located in the chest, in front of the heart and behind the breastbone.
In this programme, Jorge Laborda explains who the B lymphocytes are and how they evolve to form a veritable army that is not only capable of producing specific antibodies, that is, weapons specially designed to fight the invader, but that can make its molecular design evolve. and introduce variants of these weapons to find those that are most effective against the enemy.
The content of this chapter and the previous ones that make up this series (whose references we put below) are based on the book entitled “Your defenses against Coronavirus. A brief introduction to the immune system” written by Jorge Laborda, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Castilla-La Mancha. (Albacete), author of the Quilo de Ciencia and Ciencia Fresca podcasts.
CHAPTERS ISSUED
We are surrounded! immune system 1.
The chemical warfare of the Immune System 2.
Alarm, we are attacked! Immune system 3
Adapting to the enemy within. immune system 4.
Reporting on the enemy. immune system 5.
B lymphocytes and antibodies. immune system 6
Antibody test and T lymphocytes. Immune System 7
BOOKS:
Your defenses against coronavirus. A brief introduction to the immune system
Your defenses against coronavirus. A brief introduction to the immune system.
Your defenses against coronavirus. A brief introduction to the immune system.
Deflamed immunology: An introduction to the immune system and its pathologies
Deflamed immunology: An introduction to the immune system and its pathologies
Deflamed immunology: An introduction to the immune system and its pathologies
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