Maternal and Child Health Activity

Maternal and Child Health Activity () lina sami almasarweh lecture 1 Immunology: •The most important function of the immune system is resisting against any foreign body, so people who have immune deficiency are always exposed to various infections. Conversely, stimulating immune responses against microbes through vaccination is the most effective method for protecting individuals against infections. Immunity is defined as resistance to disease, specifically infectious diseases. The collection of cells, tissues, and molecules that mediate resistance to infections is called the immune system, and the coordinated reaction of these cells and molecules to infectious microbes comprises an immune response. It is important to understand that the immune system will resist any foreign body, even if this body does not belong to microbes or viruses, for example: if any cell of your body turned into a cancer cell, the immune system will kill it. Therefore, the immune system can harm your body. Immunology is the study of the immune system, including its responses to microbial pathogens and damaged tissues and its role in disease. History of Immunology :- Pasteur is renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization, he was responsible for disproving the doctrine of spontaneous generation. Robert Koch was one of the main founders of modern bacteriology. He identified the specific causative agents of tuberculosis, cholera and anthrax and gave experimental support for the concept of infectious disease (germ theory), which included experiments on humans and other animals. • Paul Ehrlich and others, recognized that a specific antigen elicited the production of a specific antibody. Ehrlich hypothesized that these antibodies were specialized molecular structures with specific receptor sites that fit each pathogen like a lock and key. Thus, the first realization that the body had a specific defense system was introduced.