title: Complement and infectious agents.
abstract: The complement system mediates numerous host defense reactions. These include the production of an acute inflammatory response, which aids in the localization and destruction of an infectious agent; the elimination of pathogens by opsonization and phagocytosis or by extracellular killing; and immunoregulation, which enhances the generation of specific immune responses. These actions and their mechanisms are considered here.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D003165:Complement System Proteins