The immune system helps protect our bodies against diseases caused by pathogens. Pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, invade our bodies and cause infection and/or disease. The immune system’s complex system of cells, tissues, and organs protects us against invaders by attacking them while leaving healthy tissue alone. Doctors and scientists continue to work to learn more about how our immune system protects us from disease, though they already know a great deal.
For example, doctors and scientists know that the immune system is comprised of the innate system and immunity. The innate system includes the immune defenses we are born with, including skin, mucous membranes in our mouth and nose, gastric acid, and saliva. Immunity is the second line of defense that protects us against pathogens that make their way through the innate system. The immune system is housed in the blood as white blood cells or chemicals that are released by cells and tissues. Specialized white blood cells that aid in immunity are neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, monocytes, and basophils; they move throughout the bloodstream and protect against infection caused by pathogens.
The immune system also helps encourage the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This good bacteria is particularly good at fighting off invaders in the intestinal tract. One study found that gut microbiota interacts with both the innate and immune systems; therefore, people takeprobiotics to increase the amount of good bacteria in their systems and boost their immune system so they can better fight infection and disease.
Knowing how your immune system protects the body from disease helps you understand how to strengthen your immune system and the steps you can take to improve your health. To help you better understand the role the immune system plays in fighting disease, we have rounded up 50 top resources that are free of charge. The following articles, guides, videos, multimedia resources, and infographics explain the function of the immune system and offer a great deal of information from leading health organizations, research institutions, medical professionals, and other immune system experts. While we have included a Table of Contents to make it easier for you to find the resources of most interest to you, it is important to note that we have listed our 50 top resources for understanding how the immune system protects the body from disease in no particular order.
