Chapter 28.4, Problem 3QTC

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The mechanism by which the immune cells distinguish between the good and bad bacteria.

Introduction:

One of the features of the immune system is distinguishing between self and foreign molecules. Cells of the body have major histocompatibility complex molecules (MHC class I) on their surface that present the various identification markers to cells of the immune system. Any cell displaying an alternative tag is destroyed by the immune system. There are histocompatibility complex molecules (MHC class II) on the surface of special cells such as dendritic cells that present external molecules to immune cells.