Innate Immune System - Pathogen-specificity

Pathogen-specificity

The parts of the innate immune system have different specificity for different pathogens.

Pathogen Main examples Phagocytosis complement NK cells
Intracellular and cytoplasmic virus
  • influenza
  • mumps
  • measles
  • rhinovirus
 yes no yes
Intracellular bacteria
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Legionella
  • Mycobacterium
  • Rickettsia
 yes (specifically neutrophils, no for rickettsia) no yes (no for rickettsia)
Extracellular bacteria
  • Staphylococcus
  • Streptococcus
  • Neisseria
  • Salmonella typhi
 yes yes no
Intracellular protozoa
  • Plasmodium malariae
  • Leishmania donovani
 no no no
Extracellular protozoa
  • Entamoeba histolytica
  • Giardia lamblia
 yes yes no
Extracellular fungi
  • Candida
  • Histoplasma
  • Cryptococcus
 no yes no

Read more about this topic:  Innate Immune System