Immunomodulating effects of microorganisms and their products on the immune response mechanisms.

Abstract

The immune defense system of an individual depends on a complex series of interactions among cells and molecules following exposure of lymphoid cells to specific antigen. Much is now known about the major mechanisms of antibody responses and cell mediated immunity at both the humoral and cellular levels. The magnitude and range of the immune response to a specific antigen are regulated by a wide variety of factors, including soluble mediators derived from various cell types which serve as additional signals to the immune response mechanisms. In this regard, microorganisms and their products, including those derived from Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, are known to exert marked influences on the immune response system of animals and man, both in vivo and in vitro2,8,11. Microbial products have been shown to either enhance or suppress the immune response as well as to modify the nature of the response. In addition, many microbial agents, especially viruses, are now known to have the ability to markedly influence the immune response mechanisms, both at the cellular and humoral levels1,3,4,7,9,10. In addition, all other microbial classes, including fungi and yeasts, rickettsiae, and single or multiple cellular parasites, are also known to affect immune competence.KeywordsLymphoid CellDengue Hemorrhagic FeverImmunocompetent CellMicrobial AgentImmune Response SystemThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.