Question 48

What are interferons? How do interferons check infection of new cells? Ans. Interferons are natural proteins produced by the cells of immune system in response to foreign agents such as viruses, tumor cells and parasites and protect non-infected cells from further infection. Interferons inhibit the viral replication within host cells, activate natural killer cells and macrophages, increases antigen presentation to lymphocytes, and induce the resistance of host cells to viral infection. When the antigen is presented to matching T-cells and B-cells, these cells multiply and remove the foreign substance. M NIT II: UNIT ODEL II:ASSNSWERS TO D TRUCTURAL TRUCTURAL O OESCRIPTIVE RGANISATIONQUESTIONS RGANISATION IN P IN PLANTS ANDA LANTS AND ANIMAL NIMALS 133