Question

What is innate immunity? How many types of barriers are present in innate immunity, write down their names.

Answer 1

Hint:There are two types of immunity present in organisms, innate and acquired. In this question, we have to describe the innate immunity which is present by birth.

Complete answer:
Immunity is an organism’s ability by which it defends itself from diseases. It prevents development of disease inside the body. There are two types of immunity, innate immunity and acquired immunity. Innate immunity, also called inborn immunity, is inherited from parents and is present by birth. It is not specific, it acts the same for all intruders entering the body. Protection is provided in the form of barriers in this type of immunity. There are four types of barriers present in innate immunity which keeps intruders from entering the body and causing disease. They are-
>Physical barriers- the physical barriers prevent the entry of pathogens and foreign agents into the body. Physical barriers include skin, mucus, digestive tract membranes, and traps of respiratory and urogenital which traps entering microorganisms.
>Physiological barriers- these barriers are physiological secretions. Their function is to prevent growth of microorganisms which are capable of passing the physical barrier. These include sweat, saliva, tears and acid secreted in the stomach.
>Cellular barriers- these barriers destroy and eliminate microbes that enter the body. It is carried out by white blood cells such as leukocytes, monocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophage. They do so by phagocytosis.
>Cytokine barriers- the cells which have been infected by virus starts secreting interferons which prevents the spread of infection. They protect the non-infected cells from infection.

Note:Immunity present by birth is called innate immunity, it is of four types; physical, physiological, cellular and cytokine. This type of immunity is not as strong as acquired immunity.