Microbialphysiology 2018

Microbial Immunology

Infectious diseases are primarily caused by pathogenic microorganisms, like pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites or nematodes, most of which are a part of the normal flora of our skin and system and are usually harmless- unless they find an “opening window”, which is when the immune system is weak or  compromised, and wreak havoc with the system; hence, these are termed as opportunistic pathogens.  Immunology deals with the immune system, and microbes either target or are targeted by our ever efficient immune system. But, then how do infections still occur? It’s a simple logic. Infections occur, when the microbes under cover, neutralize the antibodies produced by our immune system and/ or when our immune system is compromised.