Explain the following statement "the essence of the immune system is the ability to recognize 'self' from 'nonself'.”
Dear Student,
It is true that the essence of the immune system lies in its ability to recognise the self from the non-self. Antibodies are produced when our immune system encounters an antigen. If the antigen present on the cells vary from the antigen present on the body cells, the cells of the immune system will proliferate and produce antibodies against it. For example, antigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus will be significantly different to antigens produced by red blood cells. Antigens expressed on the cells can be lipids, polysaccharides, or peptides and posses unique molecular patterns allowing the immune system to distinguish between cell types of different origin, and between the self and the non-self.
Regards,
It is true that the essence of the immune system lies in its ability to recognise the self from the non-self. Antibodies are produced when our immune system encounters an antigen. If the antigen present on the cells vary from the antigen present on the body cells, the cells of the immune system will proliferate and produce antibodies against it. For example, antigens produced by Staphylococcus aureus will be significantly different to antigens produced by red blood cells. Antigens expressed on the cells can be lipids, polysaccharides, or peptides and posses unique molecular patterns allowing the immune system to distinguish between cell types of different origin, and between the self and the non-self.
Regards,