Innate Immunity

Innate immunity is the non-specific immune response of the body and its first line of defense. This is a generic immune response and its memory is short lived. The innate response is generated very rapidly and is mainly mediated via neutrophils, macrophages, basophils and mast cells. Unlike the adaptive immune system found only in vertebrates, the innate immune system is found in plant, insects, fungi and primitive multicellular organisms. The main outcome of the innate immune response is the recruitment of immune cells to the site of infection, production of soluble pro-inflammatory mediators and the activation of the adaptive immune response.