Antiviral drugs are the antimicrobial drugs which are used to treat viral infections. These drugs are specially designed against the virus and its replication process. Some antiviral drugs act against one specific virus, while some drugs may act against many viral agents. Antiviral drugs do not usually destroy the virus directly. They mainly inhibit the
Antifungal drug is a drug used against fungal infection. It kills the fungus or inhibit the growth of fungus. Fungal infection is also called mycoses. Fungus and human cell both are eukaryotic. So many cell parts are similar in both. For this reason antifungal drug making is difficult. The drug should act on fungus but
Antibiotics are a group of antimicrobial chemical compounds that are used to treat bacterial infections. It acts selectively on bacteria without causing much harm to the human host. They are used when bacteria enter into the body and produces infection. Antibiotics may be obtained naturally from microorganisms such as moulds and fungi. Some antibiotics are
Cytokines are small soluble protein molecules which are produced by immune cells and some other body cells. It is used as chemical messenger between cells. It help in sending signal from one cell to another cell. These molecules mainly control immunity, inflammation and formation of blood cells. Cytokines are produced by T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes,
Complement pathway is a part of innate immune system of body. It is also called complement cascade. It consists of more than 50 proteins which are present in blood and also attached on the cell surfaces. These proteins normally remain in inactive condition. When any foreign invader, pathogen or damaged cell is detected, these proteins
Nosocomial infection is an infection acquired from hospital or health care centre. It occurs during treatment of a patient. It is also called hospital-acquired infection or healthcare-associated infection (HAI). The word nosocomial is derived from Greek word nosokomeion. It means hospital. This term is used when the infection was not present in the patient before
Passive immunization is a type of immunization in which already formed antibodies are given to a person. It gives immediate protection against disease, toxin or venom. In this method, the body does not produce its own antibody for protection. This immunity may be naturally acquired. In natural passive immunization, the maternal antibodies are transferred from
Lymph nodes are small bean shaped or kidney shaped organs present in the lymphatic system. It is an important part of the body immune system. These are found throughout the body and about 800 lymph nodes are present in human body. The size of lymph node is generally about 1 to 2 cm. They are
Major Histocompatibility Complex II (MHC II) molecules are protein molecules present on the surface of some immune cells. These are mainly found on professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). The cells include dendritic cells, macrophages and B cells. MHC II molecules are different from MHC I molecules because MHC I is present on almost all nucleated
Type IV hypersensitivity is also called Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity (DTH). It is a cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction. It is due to T lymphocytes. It is not due to antibody. It is called delayed type because the reaction appears late. Usually it appears after 48 to 72 hours. Sometimes more time also needed. This delay is due
