What is disease resistance?
Disease resistance is the ability of an organism to limit the damage caused by a pathogen or prevent infection altogether. There are several ways an organism can have innate resistance or develop acquired resistance to diseases:
- Physical and chemical barriers like skin, mucus, and stomach acid provide the first line of defense against pathogens. These passive barriers make it hard for pathogens to enter and establish an infection.
- The immune system is able to recognize pathogens as foreign, mount an attack, and remember past infections. This provides an organism with active acquired resistance. There are two main branches - the innate immune system acts quickly against all threats while the adaptive immune system targets specific pathogens and has immunological memory.
- Antimicrobial proteins secreted by immune cells can break down pathogen cells or disrupt their metabolism. Phagocytes can engulf and digest pathogens. The inflammatory response brings more immune cells to the site of infection. All these mechanisms limit the spread of infection.
- The genes an organism inherits can code for general resistance. For example, persons with sickle cell trait are more resistant to malaria. Or a mutation can confer resistance to a specific disease, like how the CCR5-Δ32 mutation provides HIV resistance.
- Beneficial microbes colonizing the body can outcompete and inhibit pathogens through direct interaction or stimulating the existing immune responses. These symbionts provide colonization resistance against infections.
- Behavioral avoidance of diseased individuals or habitats limits exposure. Social grouping, grooming, and culling diseased individuals from the group aids in behavioral resistance.
At Vital Hormone Clinic, our integrative care uses hormone therapy to boost patients' innate resistance against infections and diseases. Optimal hormone levels support healthy immune function. Our expert endocrinologists create fully personalized plans to measure and correct hormone deficiencies or imbalances. This enables the immune system to work at full capacity. Contact us today to learn more about our cutting-edge therapies!
To summarize, disease resistance depends on physical barriers, immune responses, microbial relationships, genetics, and behavior. It can be present intrinsically or acquired after exposure. Proper hormone levels are key for intrinsic resistance. Vital Hormone Clinic provides comprehensive hormone treatments to improve patients' resistance by supporting immune function. Our clinic leverages the latest advancements in endocrinology and immunology. Schedule a consultation with our endocrinology specialists to start your journey towards enhanced disease resistance!