Immunocompetence
Immunocompetence
Immunocompetence (pronounced: im·mu·no·com·pe·tence) is a term used in medicine and immunology to describe the ability of the body to produce a normal immune response following exposure to an antigen. The term is derived from the Latin words 'immunis' meaning exempt, and 'competentia' meaning meeting together or agreement.
Definition
Immunocompetence refers to the body's ability to identify and defend against harmful pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. It is a measure of the health and effectiveness of the immune system. An immunocompetent individual is capable of developing an immune response or immunity to an antigen.
Related Terms
- Immunodeficiency: A state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent.
- Immunosuppression: Reduction of the activation or efficacy of the immune system.
- Immunocompromised: A state in which the immune system is not functioning normally, often due to disease, medication, or genetic condition.
- Antigen: A substance that induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
- Pathogen: A bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
See Also
References
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Immunocompetence
- Wikipedia's article - Immunocompetence
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