Cell Mediated Immunity Flashcards, test questions and answers
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What is Cell Mediated Immunity?
Cell Mediated Immunity (CMI) is an important part of the immune system that helps protect against infections and diseases. It involves the activation of specialized white blood cells, called T-cells, which recognize foreign substances in the body and attack them before they can cause harm. This type of immunity is most effective against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other parasites. Unlike humoral immunity, which involves antibodies produced by B-cells in response to foreign antigens, CMI does not produce antibodies.CMI begins when a foreign antigen enters the body and stimulates specific T-cells that have receptors capable of recognizing it. The activated T-cells then multiply rapidly and secrete chemicals called cytokines that help activate other parts of the immune system such as macrophages and natural killer cells to destroy any pathogens present. Cytotoxic T-cells also attach to infected or abnormal cells directly and kill them by releasing a toxic protein called perforin into their cell membranes. In addition to killing invading pathogens directly, CMI also plays an important role in memory formation so that if these same pathogens enter the body again at another time they can be quickly eliminated before they cause any harm.Overall, Cell Mediated Immunity is a vital component of our immune system that helps protect us from infection by attacking foreign agents directly or activating other parts of our immune response once they are identified as dangerous. Without it we would be far more vulnerable to disease caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites.