Which starts first innate immunity or adaptive immunity?

[Stephen Jones]

Hello all,

When a pathogen enters your body and the immune system is activated. Which starts first, the innate immunity or adaptive immunity? I know that the innate is the first one to attack on the pathogen and then the adaptive immunity attacks. But do they start the procedure of recognizing the pathogen at the same time or does the innate immunity starts first?

Thanks a lot.
Stephen

[manuuman]

innate starts first. Innate immunity starts almost immediately upon recognition of the pathogen. The adaptaive branch requires activation and then it kicks in. To activate T cells, they need to have the antigen presented to them. This is done by the innate system (dendritic cells) which after taking up the pathogen, then digest it and present it to T cells.