Innate immunity

Innate immunity

Innate immunity is the natural phenomenon of resistance to infection which an individual possesses right from the birth.

The innate defense mechanisms are non-specific in the sense that they are effective against a wide range of potentially infectious agents. It is otherwise known as non-specific immunity or natural immunity.

A number of innate defense mechanisms are operative non-specifically against a large number of microorganisms as shown in the Table 8.1 and Fig. 8.2.