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Home Q & A Board Biology-Related Homework Help Cell Biology
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rla0705 rla0705
wrote...
11 years ago
I know that phagocytes are part of the innate immune system. Therefore they are not aware of the specific antigen in which an invading pathogen is presenting. Therefore how do they recognise the pathogen? If they recognise it via common receptors on the pathogen..then what is the point of the specific immune system if all pathogens have 'common receptors' ?!

i'm a little bit confused. if they can recognise them without the help of antibodies..then what was the point of the specific immune system?
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wrote...
#1
11 years ago
A phagocyte recognizes the cells of the bod (self). It's receptors match the antigens on the cells from the same body. Whatever pathogen or damaged cell does not have these antigens, the phagocyte will kill it.
Now, phagocytes are not that many to stop a major infection. Here comes the specific immunity. Specific immunity is given by antibodies that bind with a pathogen specifically. These antibody-pathogen complexes attract a different kind of white cell which is in great numbers. This cell, sends a signall to the phagocytes and they come in great numbers to the infection spot.
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