nonspecific defenses confer immunologic memory?

Answer 1

The immune system can be broadly divided into two parts the innate and the adaptive immune systems:

The innate immune system (non specific defenses) which provide protection against invading organisms without prior exposure. Macrophages are a classic example of an innate immune cell, these phagocytic cells are capable of engulfing and digesting invading microorganisms. Innate immune cells are non-specific because they have receptors that recognise broad groups of pathogens or their components; for example lipopolysaccharide (LPS) a component of gram positive bacteria or viral single stranded RNA. Innate immune cells are not classically thought to possess memory of pathogens they have encountered.

New evidence about macrophages suggests that Chromatin modifications in macrophages can provide a form of short-term memory that alters their response to pathogens, which have been encounter previously (1).

This should not be confused with adaptive immunological memory produced as a result of gene rearrangements in T and B cells. These rearrangements allow the creation of specific T and B cell receptors that can recognise disease specific epitopes. This form of memory is long term and is produced in response to antigenic challenge. Adaptive immunological memory is specific to the pathogen the immune system encountered.

Answer 2

No. Nonspecific or innate immunity like its name suggest would attack any foreign particles (proteins and the like) each and every time whilst the Specific immunity or acquired immunity confers immunologic memory in that it takes time to produce effect (due to gene selection of antibodies) and once form (an antibody-secreting cell or plasma cell) will produce antibodies that attack the intruder. Besides plasma cells being produce, a memory cell with receptors specific to the intruder will circulate and when it encounters it in future, the effect will almost be immediate.

Answer 3

The innate immune system is not believed to harbor any form of memory in the way that B & T cells form memory populations. However, there is some new intriguing research show that NK cells may be able to harbor some level of memory to certain antigens. But, for the sake of simplicity, the answer is no.

Answer 4

"The moon rose red in the east" is an easier phrase for a spy to use.