Meet your immune system

The trees were dancing and rustling, the sun renders you a walking biblical painting, the plants and insects were chattering, and the birds were singing like the marriage of Figaro overture. Suddenly, game over: you trip upon a stone. “Ouch!” A sharp piece of wood stabs your body. While this pain might be mildly annoying, a team of devastated cells signal code red to a diverse web of other cells. A war has begun! Will you make it? First, delving into the mysterious system that keeps us alive is required.

Ouch, oooo, @#!#$@%!@!! that silly rock! "Is everything okay?" Says a concerned passerby. Their kind words fall on deaf ears. You hear the crowd mumbling. While cursing, complaining, and jabbering at the minor wound you have sustained, your cells are dutifully keeping you alive. What is a cell? A cell is a multi-layered particle born to fight to the last ounce of energy for you. Occasionally, they do their job so well you feel better almost instantly. Let’s take a mini tour of the micro fighters working for our immune system:

You may not appreciate your skin, but you should. The skin encapsulates your body. Therefore, it is crucial for a defense system to exist. Whether you touch an object intentionally or not, a raid of armed bacteria is sure to land on your skin. “Shh! Be careful! A spy cell may be looking at us," hisses the bacterium in command. "Breaching three lines of defense will be mandatory." First: the skin cells. These cells rush from beneath to the surface, ready to fend off any pathogens (another word for bacteria and viruses) and send them wailing for help. In order to do this, dying is necessary, but not very important or special as millions of cells die every day. The dead cells flatten and flatten until nothing but an impenetrable wall exists. The invaders can’t proceed! After the battle disappears deep into the mists, dead cells are replaced by fresh skin cells straight from the marrow of your bones. Have you considered the scenario of the bacteria penetrating the skin?

The skin cells have been defeated and retreated making the pathogens a clear, defenseless path. The bacteria are exhausted but carry on. However, among the plethora of cells, large, muscular, strong cells patrol. Ninjas to the bacteria as they cautiously hack their way through the cell paradise: macrophages. Swallowing up to a hundred victims, this unusual cell is on a full alert mode, keen to gobble up pathogens with an insurmountable number of friends. “Watch me gobble them up!” They say to each other. The bacteria are in trouble! “Help! Show mercy!” They cry. But macrophages show no interest in stopping: a benefit for you supplied for free. The macrophage is only one of the many cells in the defense system with which you were born - this diverse group of cells are called the Innate system. Nevertheless, there are occasions when the macrophage is overwhelmed. When this occurs, won’t you stay in bed all day?

Absolutely naught! The B and Helper T cells stand by the macrophage's side as Adaptive immunity. These cells activate and communicate and, as a perk for your body, the B cells produce antibodies. When the macrophages summon help, a Dendritic cell relays, replies, and rushes off to find the right Helper T cell and activate it. The T cells spring into action, multiplying and splitting into two groups: one to find and activate the weapons factory and one to aid the macrophages in battle. Off they go! T cells have reached the B cells, which supply antibodies: basically, a Russian sniper in the battle of Stalingrad which clings to the pathogen’s body and becomes a target for the immune system. “Hey guys! Check out my brand-new sniper!” Says the antibodies. As the antibodies automatically navigate through the battlefield, the bacteria find themselves clung by antibodies. “I will fight you with my left hand so don’t demand mercy.” “Uh Oh!” the bacteria say. Boom! Crash! Smash! “Yippee! V for victory! All hail cells and the immune system!” After a day’s worth of fighting, the cells retire from the littered battlefield. The war is won.

Though this scenario often occurs, some cases in the world do not follow this outcome. Such occasions involve a weird cell having its wishes granted, resulting in an attempt to overcome the body. This may cause you to be covered in a white blanket. In order to avoid this shivering event, scientists are experimenting with a new vaccine or cure to solve this pesky problem. In the future, we may even be immune to all the possible viruses and bacteria, all thanks to our gallant and determined cells.