Complement and infectious agents.
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.
Cooper
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NR
Department of Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California 92037.
D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*
D003165:Complement System Proteins