Question

why is antibody mediated immunity also referred to as hu moral immunity?

which cell type is most responsible for controlling a viral infection?

what are the defense mechanisms (cells) of specific immunity?

Answer 1

1) Humoral immunity is mediated by macromolecules, which are present in extracellular fluids like as secreted antibodies, complement proteins and antimicrobial peptides. This immunity involves substances, which are present in the humors and body fluids. It contrasts with cell-mediated immunity. It involves antibodies, therefore it is called antibody-mediated immunity.

2) Natural Killer Cells (NK Cells) are is most responsible for controlling a viral infection. The innate immune system provides defense mechanism against viral infection and destroys cells if they become infected with virus.

3) The immune system protects organisms from infection with layered defenses of increasing specificity. If pathogens successfully evade the innate response, vertebrates possess a second layer of protection, the adaptive immune system, which is activated by the innate response. The immune system adapts its response during an infection to develop its recognition of the pathogen. This response is then maintained after the elimination of pathogen in the form of an immunological memory and permits the adaptive immune system to mount faster and stronger attacks each time and encounters the pathogen.The adaptive immune system permits for a stronger immune response as well as immunological memory, where each pathogen have a signature antigen. This immune response is antigen-specific and needs the recognition of specific antigens during antigen presentation process. Antigen specificity permits for the generation of responses, which modify to specific pathogens. The ability to mount these modified responses is maintained in the body by the help of memory cells. These specific memory cells help in elimination of infected organism or pathogens.