Immunology can be defined as the study of the natural ways and means that the body uses to keep out disease causing pathogens and/or combat them when they attack (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). There are several similarities and differences between the body immunity’s reaction to a bacterial attack and a viral attack. These similarities and differences are based on the two major categories of immune systems. They include the innate or non-specific immune systems, which are general in nature and the adaptive, also called specific immune systems, which is the body’s reaction to particular attacks by pathogens. The innate immune system is the first point of recourse to pathogen attack with the adaptive being the second point of recourse (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). There is however, an interrelation between the two immune systems. Whereas the human immune systems provides a joint front in the innate prevention of attacks by pathogens through congruent cells, benign bacteria, and proteins, the actual reactions to bacterial and viral attacks is exponentially different.
The innate immune system is the initial point of defense from attack by disease causing antigens (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). With regard to bacteria and viruses, the innate part of the defence is mainly congruent in nature. It entails the movement of pathogen fighting components to the site of infection within the body, increased production of this pathogen fighting components, and creation of a barrier against the spread of the pathogens to the rest of the body. The second phase of the innate immunity is the activation of the complement cascade to identify the specific pathogen or pathogens that have attacked the body (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). This is in preparation for the activation of the adaptive immunity measures in the case the innate measures are not successful. The third step is the activation of the process of removal of any foreign substances or material present in body tissue. This process is undertaken by the white blood cells (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010).
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In a viral infection, interferon are synthesized and lymphocytes activated as an initial and general point of combat for the viruses. In a bacterial attack, over and above the defence efforts made naturally by the benign bacteria found in the body, chemical cytokines are also synthesized. Most pathogen attacks are successfully combated in this phase (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). If however, the innate process is insufficient, the process of antigen presentation is used to trigger the more specialized adaptive immune systems. The last process in the innate system is the creation of a physical and chemical barrier to limit the spread of the pathogens, even as the adaptive system begins (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010).
The main process in the adaptive system involves very specialized categories of white blood cells known as lymphocyte. There are three main categories of lymphocytes. These are the natural killer cells (NK cells), the bursa-derived cells (B cells) and the thymus cells (T cells) (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). Each of the three types of lymphocytes is specifically designed to combat a specific pathogen attack. They, therefore, vary exponentially during a bacterial and viral attack. The NK cells provide immunity by seeking and destroying the pathogens while the T cells use the cell mediated immunity to specifically kill the pathogens (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010). This is mainly more effective in a bacterial attack than in a viral attack. This is because unlike bacteria, viruses are much harder to kill, with some being even almost impossible to kill. Towards viruses, B cells are more effective as they employ the antibody system of attacking pathogens by surrounding and fusing with the pathogens to prevent them from both replicating and attaching themselves from the body tissue (Widmaier, Raff, & Strang, 2010).
It is clear from the foregoing that the body is well equipped to combat the initial wave of attack by both bacteria and virus pathogens. Whereas there are several differences in the components used to fight the two types of pathogens, the general approach by the body is similar. Indeed, during the innate system, there is extreme congruency between combating both pathogens. However, as the process moves to the adaptive system, the body has already established the nature of pathogens. This triggers specialized lymphocyte including NK cells, B cells and T cells than employ different ways of attack. It is worthy of notice that the simpler bacteria are easier to combat than the more complex viruses.
Reference
Widmaier, E. P., Raff, H., & Strang, K. T. (2010). Vander’s human physiology: The mechanisms of body function (12th ed.). New York: Career Publishing (CA).
