Question: How does your body fight germs?

Raashid Ali answered on 7 Mar 2019:

Our bodies have a complex system, known as the immune system, which takes care of the protecting the body from germs/organisms and then removing them from the body when they get in. We have various body defences that work to stop the germs getting into our bodies, those germs that do get it are removed by different types of white blood cells, proteins, tissues and organs.

Although each type of lymphocyte fights infection differently, the goal of protecting the body from infection remains the same. A type of white blood cells called leukocytes circulate our bodies to monitor for antigens (germs or foreign bodies).

If antigens are detected then antibodies are formed by B cells which recognise the antigens and lock onto them.

The T cells then get involved and release a group of proteins which in turn causes the release of another type of white blood cells, such as phagocytes and natural killer cells, actually destroy the infectious microorganisms.

The body keeps the antibodies so if the same antigen gets into the body again the antibodies can do their job straight away.