how do Vertebrates defend against viruses.

Question

osanseviero · Answer

vertebrates have an adaptive inmune system that eliminate pathogenic challenges (germs, microbes, etc)

anonymous · Answer

vertebrates have variety of defences against viruses. Some of these will target specific types of viruses while some will be non specific, i.e acting against all sorts of varieties.

Our body can train white blood cells to synthesize specific antibodies against specific viruses that it has been exposed to; via natural infection or vaccination. However these antibodies are very type specific. Some of them will last life long, and also remain effective.

A very important non specific protection against viruses is production of interferons. Interferons are a group of substances that are incuded in cytokines and are produced by variety of body cells. How do they act and why are they effective against such a wide variety of viruses are some questions that are still not well understood. But in general interferons are found to interfere with replication of the virus inside the host cell.