Strengthen Your Immune System! Your Guide to The Ultimate 2021 New Year ’s Resolution
Optimizing your immune system has perhaps never felt as critical as it does going into 2021. In 2020, we saw the emergence of the novel pathogen SARS-CoV-2, and the spread of its resulting disease, COVID-19. While this virus is novel, your immune system is anything but. In fact, your immune system has evolved over millions of years into an extremely complex and intricate network of cells and molecules that keep you alive on a daily basis. And, fortunately, there are steps you can take to help it function to the best of its ability.
Immune System Basics
All immunity can be broken down into two categories: innate and adaptive. Innate immunity is your body’s first line of defense. It involves a variety of cells that perform a variety of functions. These include ciliated respiratory epithelial cells that can physically push pathogens away, macrophages that engage in phagocytosis to engulf pathogens, granulocytic types of phagocytes such as neutrophils and basophils that secrete enzymes to destroy pathogens, and a type of lymphocyte known as the natural killer cell.[1] When innate immunity is unsuccessful at clearing a pathogen, it signals adaptive immunity to assist in the process. Adaptive immunity involves the activation of T and B lymphocytes, cells designed with the capacity to target pathogens in a manner specific to the pathogen at hand.
Immune system cells that protect the human body against pathogens
The Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2
When an individual co...
Source: GIDEON blog - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kristina Symes Tags: News Tips Source Type: blogs
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