Have you ever seen the most wanted photographs in police stations or barracks? Did you know that you also have a list of public enemies in your organism? Do you know who are the agents specialized in their search and capture?
Just as in our cities we have different security agents and Police, who have different competencies and different ways of acting, in our organism we have B Lymphocytes and T Lymphocytes.
These cells don't know what to do from birth. Both types begin their formation to become law enforcement agents in the bone marrow, the main university of blood cells. After the first stages of the academy, some agents are selected to continue their training in the marrow, where they'll specialize in the ninja art of antibody production. Others will be sent to complete their training in the Thymus, a school specialized in hand-to-hand (or membrane-to-membrane) techniques.
After graduating, B lymphocytes, along with some phagocytic cells, patrol the body looking for suspects. When they find a cell that looks "not from around here," they approach to ask for ID, and if you don't know what the phagocyte does, read Part I, but I'll tell you it doesn't end well for the intruder. But as you may know, pathogens don't usually attack one by one, and the positive side is that they're all clones and look the same. So the agent who has found a criminal inspects them and makes a composite sketch that they take running to the lymph nodes, which are the posts where T Lymphocytes stand guard after graduating from the Thymus.
Once it's detected that they've breached the defensive walls and the enemy is inside the fortress, security agents prepare to end each and every one of the enemies, without mercy!
First, of course, there's some bureaucratic paperwork in the lymph node and the B lymphocyte office. But after these procedures, T lymphocytes rush out to locate the enemy's clones, because they already know what they look like. And B lymphocytes, trained in the ninja art of antibodies, manufacture sticky antibodies, but with a special glue created from the composite sketch that only sticks to the enemy's face - how about that? That's what millions of years of security strategy refinement gets you.
Despite the time it takes to respond due to the procedures required by the general directorates of B and T lymphocyte corps, there's a great advantage in preventing future attacks. Some of these agents will become obsessed with the enemy, like the typical movie police inspector who can't stop working on a closed case, always carrying the composite sketch in their pocket. No matter how much their superiors insist they collaborate in other investigations, they'll always be watching. And the day that pathogen dares to enter your organism again, they'll be waiting.
As you can see, immunology is an exciting topic. Soldiers, agents, enemies, spies, weapons...
Police Stations and Barracks: The Marrow and Thymus
Just as in our cities we have different security agents and Police, who have different competencies and different ways of acting, in our organism we have B Lymphocytes and T Lymphocytes.
These cells don't know what to do from birth. Both types begin their formation to become law enforcement agents in the bone marrow, the main university of blood cells. After the first stages of the academy, some agents are selected to continue their training in the marrow, where they'll specialize in the ninja art of antibody production. Others will be sent to complete their training in the Thymus, a school specialized in hand-to-hand (or membrane-to-membrane) techniques.
Patrolling the City
After graduating, B lymphocytes, along with some phagocytic cells, patrol the body looking for suspects. When they find a cell that looks "not from around here," they approach to ask for ID, and if you don't know what the phagocyte does, read Part I, but I'll tell you it doesn't end well for the intruder. But as you may know, pathogens don't usually attack one by one, and the positive side is that they're all clones and look the same. So the agent who has found a criminal inspects them and makes a composite sketch that they take running to the lymph nodes, which are the posts where T Lymphocytes stand guard after graduating from the Thymus.
911 What's Your Emergency?
Once it's detected that they've breached the defensive walls and the enemy is inside the fortress, security agents prepare to end each and every one of the enemies, without mercy!
First, of course, there's some bureaucratic paperwork in the lymph node and the B lymphocyte office. But after these procedures, T lymphocytes rush out to locate the enemy's clones, because they already know what they look like. And B lymphocytes, trained in the ninja art of antibodies, manufacture sticky antibodies, but with a special glue created from the composite sketch that only sticks to the enemy's face - how about that? That's what millions of years of security strategy refinement gets you.
I'll Never Forget You!
Despite the time it takes to respond due to the procedures required by the general directorates of B and T lymphocyte corps, there's a great advantage in preventing future attacks. Some of these agents will become obsessed with the enemy, like the typical movie police inspector who can't stop working on a closed case, always carrying the composite sketch in their pocket. No matter how much their superiors insist they collaborate in other investigations, they'll always be watching. And the day that pathogen dares to enter your organism again, they'll be waiting.
This Isn't Over
As you can see, immunology is an exciting topic. Soldiers, agents, enemies, spies, weapons...