What are the trade-offs in the process of creating a system that can distinguish between self...

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Medical Sciences

What are the trade-offs in the process of creating a system thatcan distinguish between self and non-self? How do you think thesystem balances the need to maximize recognition of potentialthreats with the danger of autoimmunity? Give an example of a waythe immune system might prevent autoimmune responses, and a way amicrobe might exploit that system.

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In immune system the term self refers to the cells or molecules belonging to ones own body which are recognized The term Nonself refers to the foreign molecules or cells Each cell contains surface markers based on which the self and nonselfcells or antigens are identified The immune system uses a complex array of protective mechanisms to control and usually eliminate these organisms and toxins A general feature of the immune system is that these mechanisms rely on detecting structural features of the pathogen or toxin that mark it as distinct from host cells Such hostpathogen or hosttoxin discrimination is essential to permit the host to eliminate the threat    See Answer
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