How does the immune system fight infection?
Quick Answer
The immune system detects harmful microbes and attacks them with barriers, white blood cells, and antibodies. It also creates memory cells that help respond faster the next time.
The Full Story
The immune system has two main parts: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate defenses include skin, mucus, inflammation, and cells that attack invaders quickly but nonspecifically. Adaptive immunity takes longer to activate but creates targeted responses using B cells, T cells, and antibodies that recognize particular pathogens. After an infection or vaccination, memory cells remain in the body and can respond much faster to future exposure. This is why many diseases cause only one illness or become less severe after immunity develops.
Key Facts
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