Innate Immunity

Innate immunity is the immune response of an organism that does not require prior sensitization to an antigen from either an infection or vaccination. The innate response is characterized by a rapid response to pathogens and is mediated by numerous cell types that include basophils, mast cells, neutrophils, and macrophages. This response is generally not antigen-specific and does not generate immunological memory, but does set the stage for an appropriate adaptive immune response to deal with the threat. The primary outcome of innate immune activation includes production of soluble pro-inflammatory mediators, recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection, activation of the complement cascade and activation of the adaptive immune response.