IMMUNITY

PROGRAMME : B.S.N. 1st YEAR

SUBJECT :MICROBIOLOGY

STUDENT : ASSUMPTA BRITTO.

FACULTY : DR.SUJATHA
VARADHARAJULU.

DATE :12/02/11
 Immunity
Definition The resistance offered by the host to the harmful effect of
pathogenic microbial infection is called immunity.

Types of immunity.

1. innate ( native immunity).

A)Non Specific immunity.
a) Species.
b) Racial.
c) Individual.

B) Specific Immunity.
a) Species.
B) Racial.
c) Individual.

2. Acquired(Adaptive)Immunity).

A. Active Immunity.
a) Natural
b) Artificial
B) Passive Immunity
a) Natural
b) Artificial
Innate Immunity
Innate Immunity is which may be genetically passed on from one generation to other
generation.
Innate immunity can be divided into following types.
1.Species Immunity. The mechanism of species immunity may due to
physiological and biochemical differences between tissue of host species which
determine whether or not pathogen can multiply in them. e. g.
Poliomylelitis,measles .occur only in man .Many time same species of bacteria
produce different types of infection in different animals. g. Salmonella typhi
produces typhoid fever in man whereas mice is resistant.
2. Racial Immunity. Species different races show differences in susceptibility
To infection, e.g, Negroes are resistant to yellow fever and malaria and high
resistantance of Algerian sheep to anthrax.
Individual Immunity. Individual in population shows variation in their
response to microbial infection. There are 3 factor influencing level of innate
immunity in an individuals . 1. Age old persons are highly susceptible to
infection due to gradual waning of their immune responses .2. Hormonal

Influence Endocrine disorders,e.g. diabetes mellitus is susceptibility to

infection because of increased carbohydrate level in tissue. 3. Nutrition
Defective nutrition depresses all types of immune response and thus increasing
the risk of infection.

Mechanism of innate immunity

The defence mechanisms of body are related to body coverings are
1. Epithelial surfaces; The intact skin mucous membrane covering the body
protect it considererably against invasion by microorganism.
2. Tissue defenses. If barrier of body is over come by the organism, a number of
factors in normal tissue and body fluid.
There are 2 factors
a) Humoral factors.
b) Cellular factors.
a)Humoral factors .1. Lysozyme; It is bactericidal enzyme found in nasal and
intestinal secretion, seminal fluid and lacrimal secretion. 2.Beta lysin It is relatively
thermostable substance substance active against anthrax bacillus. 3. C- reactive
proteins; Infection or injury leads to a sudden increase in plasma concentrations of
certain protein called C- reactive protein .
b) Cellular Factors . 1 phagocytosis Natural defence against invasion of blood
and tissue by bacteria or others foreign particles is mediated by phagocytic cell which
ingest and destroy them. 2. Inflammation. Tissue injury or irritation initiated by
entry of bacteria or of other irritant leads to inflammation .3. Fever. It is a natural
defence mechanism. It may actually destroy the infecting organism
Acquired Immunity. The immunity acquired during the life time of an
individual is known as acquired immunity.

There are 2 types

1. Active
2. passive.

1 Active immunity.It is the resistance developed by an immunity as a result of

antigenic stimulus .
Active immunity may be ;
 A) Natural Active immunity This is acquired after one infection .
B) Artificial Active immunity.It may be acquired artificially by inoculation
of bacteria , viruses or their products as under;
e.g. smallpox, B.C.G, .T.T. D.P.T.,
2. Passive Immunity.
Immunized by prepared antibodies and body cells do not take any active part in the
production of immunity
It is of the following types.
Natural passive immunity. During intra uterine life transmission of antibodies
from the mother to fetus can occur through placenta Breastfed infants resist
establishment of entero viruses in alimentary tract.

Artificial passive immunity. Is the resistance passively transferred to a

recipient by the administration of antibodies. Passive immunization is indicated
for immediate and temporary protection. Artificial passive immunization may
also be employed for the suppression of active immunity.e.g. Use of Rh immune
globulin during delivery to prevent immune response to the Rhesus factor in Rh
negative women with Rh positive babies.