How does the immune system fight a virus?

Answer 1

T cells compare non-self antigens to HLA (human leukocyte antigens) molecules with proteins the system already knows are its own. Your T-cells don't react to your HLA because of tolerance but are not tolerant to the HLA proteins of someone else. Thus, when there is a non-self system in your body (i.e.: after a transplant), your T-cells will begin a cell-mediated immune response against it, considering them foreign.

Answer 2

After a white blood cell consumes a virus, it communicates with the rest of the immune system to generate proteins known as antibodies. These antibodies lock themselves onto a virus and disable it. Although a white blood cell does destroy the virus, there aren't enough white blood cells to combat viral infections. It is the antibodies that actually destroy the infection. The white blood cell just gets the process started.

Answer 3

Self and non-self recognition based upon the Major Histocompatibility Complex markers (MHC markers) allow the cells of the immune system to identify antigens (foreign invaders). When the immune system loses the ability to differentiate between self and non-self, autoimmune disorders occur (ex: Rheumatoid arthritis, Grave's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis) in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.

Answer 4

If it did not it would begin to destroy itself. This is what happens in autoimmune disorders. It should only attack non-self cells, etc.

Answer 5

So it won't attack 'self'.

Answer 6

it uses white blood cells