Mucosal immunity in the lung and upper airway

The mucosal surfaces of the lungs and upper airways are common sites for in fection. Extensive studies of the mechanisms associated with immune respons es in the respiratory tract have found that understanding the: system is ch allenging and involves many complex interactions to prevent and eliminate i nfection. Immune protection against diseases transmitted through the respir atory tract requires an understanding of the important aspects associated w ith beneficial, detrimental or ineffective immune responses. Two critical a spects of an immune response against a pathogen are that of the inductive s tage, either induced by vaccination or primary infection. and the effector stage, the ability to recognise, respond to and eliminate the infection wit hout detriment to the host. An immunisation strategy must not only have a m easure of the induced antigen specific response. but this response must als o be protective. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.