LAUSR

The primary role of the immune system is to provide protection from infection and to detect and destroy abnormal cells. The immune system consists of innate and adaptive immunity alongside the complement system. The innate immune system is present at birth and is not altered by future exposures to foreign antigens during one's lifetime. This is the first line of defense upon exposure to micro‐organisms that are present at the location of infection or injury with an immediate nonspecific inflammatory response. On the other hand, the adaptive immune system changes during one's lifetime in response to different antigen exposures. Activation and sensitization of the adaptive immune system leads to antigen‐specific T lymphocytes (cellular immunity) and B lymphocytes (humoral immunity). Activation of the immune system requires the recognition of molecules as being foreign to the body. Pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are highly conserved molecular components unique to micro‐organisms that are not found in the human body. The antigen presenting cells (APCs) of the innate immune system have germline‐encoded pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) that recognize PAMPs.[1] Binding of PAMPs to PRRs leads to the destruction of the pathogen via phagocytosis and activation of transcription factors that stimulate cytokine release and triggers the inflammatory response with activation of the