Immune system
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| + | An '''immune system''' is a [[system]] of biological structures and [[biological process|processes]] within an [[organism]] that protects against [[disease]] by identifying and killing [[pathogen]]s and [[tumor]] cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from [[virus]]es to [[parasitic worm]]s, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own healthy [[cell (biology)|cells]] and [[biological tissue|tissues]] in order to function properly. Detection is complicated as pathogens can [[evolution|evolve]] rapidly, and [[Adaptation|adapt]] to avoid the immune system and allow the pathogens to successfully infect their [[host (biology)|hosts]]. | ||
| - | '''Suicide''' ([[Latin]] ''sui caedere'', to [[kill]] one[[self]]) is the act of intentionally taking one's own life. The term "suicide" can also be used to refer to a person who has killed himself or herself. Suicide may be caused by psychological factors such as the difficulty of coping with [[clinical depression|depression]] or other [[mental illness|mental disorder]]s. It may also stem from social and cultural pressures. | + | ==See also== |
| - | Nearly a million people worldwide commit suicide annually. While completed suicides are higher in men, women have higher rates for [[Parasuicide|suicide attempt]]s. Elderly males have the highest suicide rate, although rates for young adults have been increasing in recent years. | + | *[[Clonal selection]] |
| - | + | *[[Hapten]] | |
| - | Views toward suicide have varied in history and society. Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism generally condemn suicide as a dishonorable act and some countries have made it a [[Legal views of suicide|crime]] to attempt to kill oneself. In some cultures committing suicide may be accepted under some circumstances, such as Japanese committing [[seppuku]] for [[honor]], Islamic [[suicide attack]]s, or the [[self-immolation]] of Buddhist monks as a form of protest. | + | *[[Human physiology]] |
| - | ==In relation to mental disorders== | + | *[[Immunoproteomics]] |
| - | + | *[[Immunostimulator]] | |
| - | Studies show a high incidence of [[mental disorder]]s in suicide victims at the time of their death with the total figure ranging from 98% to 87.3% with [[mood disorder]]s and [[substance abuse]] being the two most common. A person diagnosed with [[schizophrenia]] may commit suicide for a number of reasons, including because of depression. Suicide among people suffering from [[bipolar disorder]] is often an impulse, which is due to the sufferer's extreme [[mood swing]]s (one of the main symptoms of bipolar disorder), or also possibly an outcome of [[delusions]] occurring during an episode of [[mania]] or [[psychotic depression]]. [[Major depressive disorder]] is associated with a higher than average rate of suicide, especially in men. | + | *[[Original antigenic sin]] |
| - | ==In animals== | + | *[[Antigen#Tumor antigens|Tumor antigens]] |
| - | ==In other species== | + | *[[Immune system receptors]] |
| - | "Suicide" has been observed in [[salmonella]] seeking to overcome competing bacteria by triggering an [[immune system]] response against them. Suicidal defences by workers are also noted in a Brazilian ant ''Forelius pusillus'' where a small group of ants leaves the security of the nest after sealing the entrance from the outside each evening. | + | *[[Polyclonal response]] |
| - | + | *[[Plant disease resistance]] | |
| - | [[Pea aphid]]s, when threatened by a [[ladybug]], can explode themselves, scattering and protecting their brethren and sometimes even killing the lady bug. Some species of [[termite]]s have soldiers that explode, covering their enemies with sticky goo. There have been anecdotal reports of [[dog]]s, [[horse]]s, and [[dolphin]]s committing suicide, but with little conclusive evidence. There has been little scientific study of animal suicide. | + | *[[Immune network theory]] |
| - | + | ||
| - | == Namesakes == | + | |
| - | *[[Suicide (band)]] | + | |
| - | == See also == | + | |
| - | *[[Suicide]] as an [[arts theme]][http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_art] | + | |
| - | *[[Assisted suicide]] | + | |
| - | *''[[Straight to Hell: 20th Century Suicides]]'' | + | |
| - | *''[[Night Falls Fast: Understanding Suicide]]'' | + | |
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An immune system is a system of biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells. It detects a wide variety of agents, from viruses to parasitic worms, and needs to distinguish them from the organism's own healthy cells and tissues in order to function properly. Detection is complicated as pathogens can evolve rapidly, and adapt to avoid the immune system and allow the pathogens to successfully infect their hosts.
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See also
- Clonal selection
- Hapten
- Human physiology
- Immunoproteomics
- Immunostimulator
- Original antigenic sin
- Tumor antigens
- Immune system receptors
- Polyclonal response
- Plant disease resistance
- Immune network theory
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Immune system" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
