IMMUNOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Skin, tears and mucus are part of the first line of defence in fighting infection. They help to protect us against invading pathogens.

Detailed explanation-2: -“White blood cells are among other places located in the oral mucosa, and they represent the body’s first line of defence against infectious agents. The mucus in the mouth causes the white blood cells to throw out a ‘net’ that traps bacteria”, explains Ole Sørensen from the Division of Infection Medicine.

Detailed explanation-3: -The innate immune responses are the first line of defense against invading pathogens. They are also required to initiate specific adaptive immune responses. Innate immune responses rely on the body’s ability to recognize conserved features of pathogens that are not present in the uninfected host.

Detailed explanation-4: -The mucosal surfaces that form the boundary between the external environment and the underlying tissue are protected by a mucus barrier. Mucin glycoproteins, both secreted and cell surface mucins, are the major components of the barrier. They can exclude pathogens and toxins while hosting the commensal bacteria.

Detailed explanation-5: -The mucus layer provides an essential first host barrier to inhaled pathogens that can prevent pathogen invasion and subsequent infection.

Detailed explanation-6: -The first line of defence is your innate immune system. Level one of this system consists of physical barriers like your skin and the mucosal lining in your respiratory tract. The tears, sweat, saliva and mucous produced by the skin and mucosal lining are part of that physical barrier, too.