The Immune System--Our Best Defense

Immune system cells provide both general responses to infections and responses precisely targeted to the specific infecting virus or bacteria. The infection-specific cells, called lymphocytes, work to attack and remove infecting pathogens. 

Another important defense tool of the immune system consists of specialized proteins called antibodies, or immunoglobulins, that are produced by lymphocytes and can recc nize and bind to proteins on the surfaces of microorganisms, resulting in their destruction and removal from the body. The disease-fighting lymphocytes that produce antibodies are able to remember previous exposure to a protein or other substance and respond quickly if it reappears in the body. Vaccination and other immunizations that prevent disease cause the immune system to develop the appropriate set of specific lymphocytes and antibodies that can quickly attack an infection. 

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