Question 1

how does your immune system "remember" pathogens during the second exposure?

Accepted Answer

Immunity: there are several types of immune responses to pathogens involving T and B cells and other mechanisms involved in memory of the immune system that help it recognize a pathogen and attack it

Question 2

what could the immune system produce that attaches itself to a pathogen and marks the pathogen for death?

Accepted Answer

Few dif. things: Antibodies are proteins made by certain immune cells that seek out and bind to pathogens. Once bound, antibodies can activate other proteins in your blood called complement, which can poke holes in the bug and kill it. Sometimes, complement can bind to the bug on its own. If the bug survives that, both antibody and complement can act as handholds for immune cells to grab onto the bug and eat it.

Question 3

our body has strong immune system to fight with a number of foreign pathogen to prevent illness or desease. so why is it that we still become ill?

Accepted Answer

Immune reaction: Part of getting ill is that viruses like influenza constantly mutate and evolve to get around the immune system.  The other part of feeling ill is a consequence of reactions caused by the immune system while actually fighting infections!

Question 4

if cold symptoms are your immune system's response to a pathogen, does suppressing the response with otc cold/flu meds just prolong the illness? or is there benefit to taking these meds?

Accepted Answer

Cough suppressants : can prolong or worsen problems, need to able to clear the lungs with coughing, if possible. The other agents can help make the cold more tolerable, probably not lengthening the time of infection.

Question 5

how can the immune system respond to bronchitis?

Accepted Answer

Remarkably: In an immunocompetent individual, the immune system in general is adequate enough to overcome bronchitis.  It may need little more than a week or two and some over the counter medications to help the symptoms.

Question 6

how much time does the immune system take to respond to bronchitis?

Accepted Answer

Bronchitis: As with any infection, it may take a couple of weeks to fight a novel pathogen, or more quickly if it is from one that has attacked before. Bacterial bronchial infections should be treated with an antibiotic as it helps to hasten the resolution. If the infection is from a virus, it will usually resolve on its own. Asthma, smoking, or structural problems can complicate the problem.

Question 7

what are two specific ways in which the immune system will respond to a disease in order to restore homeostasis?

Accepted Answer

Homeostasis?: I am not sure what you mean by hemeostasis specifically in this question, but the immune system fights infection from viruses, bacteria and allergy. The different components IgG, M, and A and their subclasses rise and fall according to the body's need.

Question 8

what occurs if the immune system did not respond to the influenza virus or a cold virus?

Accepted Answer

Live or let die: This would be highly unusual since there are reserve system in the body to fight against virus.   If you have absolutely no immune response, then you will have to wait till the virus dies out or kills you in the interim.  However this scenario would be a highly unlikely one.

Question 9

does the covid vaccine respond well in patients with low wbc- low lymphocytes? neutrophil ct is stable i have congenital neutropenia. i received 2 pfizer vaccines and a booster. im still in fear my immune system is too low to respond to the vaccine?

Accepted Answer

: You should continue to take COvid precautions- wearing a mask and avoiding crowds etc. The vaccines boost your immune system and provide you protection so you did the right thing. Also stay in touch with your MD.

Question 10

how does the immune system fight off germs?

Accepted Answer

Heard to simplify.: Like a complicated orchestra plays a difficult score. Different germs produce different responses. There are is nonspecific and specific immune responses. Even the skin oils, saliva, stomach acid tears and sweat are important here. It is much to difficult to quickly answer which is why i taught a course taking 20 hours on the subject to medical students.

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Doctor answers about:

How does the immune system respond to pathogens

A member asked:

How does your immune system "remember" pathogens during the second exposure?

A member asked:

What could the immune system produce that attaches itself to a pathogen and marks the pathogen for death?

A member asked:

Our body has strong immune system to fight with a number of foreign pathogen to prevent illness or desease. so why is it that we still become ill?

A member asked:

If cold symptoms are your immune system's response to a pathogen, does suppressing the response with otc cold/flu meds just prolong the illness? or is there benefit to taking these meds?

A member asked:

How can the immune system respond to bronchitis?

A member asked:

How much time does the immune system take to respond to bronchitis?

A member asked:

What are two specific ways in which the immune system will respond to a disease in order to restore homeostasis?

A member asked:

What occurs if the immune system did not respond to the influenza virus or a cold virus?

A member asked:

Does the covid vaccine respond well in patients with low wbc- low lymphocytes? neutrophil ct is stable i have congenital neutropenia. i received 2 pfizer vaccines and a booster. im still in fear my immune system is too low to respond to the vaccine?

A member asked:

How does the immune system fight off germs?

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