Complexity Digest 2003.19 - 11

12-May-2003

Innate Immunity: The Unsung Heroes, Nature Bookmark and Share

Excerpts: The fact that innate immune mechanisms can terminate infections should not be surprising - invertebrates and jawless fish survive infections solely on the wits of their innate immune systems. (...). Given this potential, what proportion of infections is terminated by innate immunity? In modern human society, we seem to endure intense and relentless exposure to all manner of infectious agents. Perhaps the very fact that most people are not perpetually sick is testament to innate immunity squelching most of the infections that we contract.