All components of the innate immune response are the result of germ-line genes of the host organism.  Some of these defense structures are always active, such as barriers, mucus, and cilia, but the molecular responses become active when a host cell or protein comes into contact with the invading foreign entity.  Some of these elements work in tandem with the adaptive immune response by activating antigen-specific cells.

Components of the Innate Immune Response

- Inflammation in COVID-19

-Innate response process 
1. Virus enters through the nasal system by inhaling...it starts to replicate
2. Detected by nasal swabs 
3. It reaches the respiratory tract where it comes into contact with the innate immune response
4. Cytokine is part of the process by acting as chemical messengers. They regulate the immune response. 


Innate Immune Response to COVID-19

The innate immune response recognizes molecular patterns that are shared by foreign microbes and potential toxins and works via genes in an organism's germ line to eliminate these threats.  This is an organism's first line of immune response, and because a large number of cells in an organism express genes related to innate immunity, the response is very quick.  

Michigan State University

Smith College

The mechanisms by which an organism eliminates pathogenic microbes and allergenic or toxic proteins, collectively known as antigens, in order to maintain normal function.  

Immune Response

Chaplin, D. D. (2010). Overview of the immune response. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 125(2), S3-S23.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2923430/
doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.12.980

Overview of the Immune Response

Innate Immune Response

Adaptive immunity is defined by two important characteristics: specificity and memory. Specificity refers to the adaptive immune system’s ability to target specific pathogens, and memory refers to its ability to quickly respond to pathogens to which it has previously been exposed. These elements synergistically work with the innate response in order to completely control antigens.

Adaptive Immune Response

Regulators of Immune Responses

Infection by SARS-CoV-2, as is with other viral infections, induces a two-phased immune response in the human body, described in the figure below: 
- Innate (rapid, natural, non-specific) 
- Adaptive (slow, acquired, specific)

Those two branches of the immune system cooperate with one another, and can be distinguished based on the cell-types involved (immune response vs white blood cells). However, the adaptive system is further broken down by the type of mechanism:

- Cell-mediated
- Antibody-mediated

Current research around COVID-19 immunity aims at uncovering the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and the host's immune response, with questions related to pathogenesis, severity, and intervention.

Immune Response to COVID-19 

Many pediatric patients with MIS-C have had fever and mucocutaneous manifestations similar to those of Kawasaki Disease (KD), a rare childhood illness that causes inflammation in the walls of blood vessels and coronary-artery aneurysms. Although the cause of KD remains unknown, an active or preceding infection has been suspected. Some of the KD–like features of MIS-C are also seen in toxic shock syndrome, which has been associated with other viruses.


Relationship Between MIS-C, Kawasaki Disease (KD), and Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

- RV Type 2
- RV Type 9
- RV Type 14 
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Coronavirus type 229E


The Immune Response and Respiratory Viruses

Research suggests that stress affects immunology mainly through autonomic nerves innervating lymphoid tissue, hormone-mediated alteration of immune cells, or adoption of coping behaviors.

Stress and Immunology

Mindfulness mediation has been tied to a stronger immune system. A study found that participants who practiced mindfulness meditation exhibited a stronger response to flu vaccinations than participants who did not practice meditation. 

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