In an attempt to understand why different organisms defend against potential antigens differently, the influence of possible interactions between host-related factors and respective antigen repertoires on the complexity of host defense mechanisms was investigated. A compartmental model coupling these two variables was developed and tested. Data analysis suggests that the more complex the organi...

Hyaluronan is an abundant extracellular matrix component prevalent in the vertebrate intestinal tract. Here we discuss what is known about hyaluronan distribution during homeostasis and inflammatory diseases of the gut and discuss ways in which this glycosaminoglycan can participate in regulating innate host defense mechanisms. These natural responses include mechanisms promoting rapid leukocyt...

The role and pathological significance of apoptosis in an influenza virus-infected host has been hotly debated. Influenza virus-induced apoptosis was primarily thought to be a host defense mechanism to limit virus replication and eliminate viruses from the host; however, the virus has mechanisms not only to overcome but to utilize apoptosis for its efficient replication. Virus-induced apoptosis...

psychodynamic clinicians have long stressed the role of defense mechanisms in diagnosis and treatment of their patients. however, until recently the defense mechanisms were not the focus of extensive empirical research due to methodological limitations. the inclusion of defensive functioning scale (dfs) in dsm-iv has renewed the interest in psychodynamic approaches to clinical diagnosis, partic...

Objective: Individuals suffering from hoarding disorder tend to collect objects, belongings, and riches excessively. They are not able to or do not want to throw away the throng of worthless and useless items they have aggregated. Some psychological factors, especially maladaptive schemas and immature defense mechanisms can play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of hoarding diso...

The detection of harmful stimuli - nociception - has been suggested to rely on evolutionarily conserved neuronal mechanisms. A recent study has shown how the activity of nociceptive neurons in Drosophila larvae triggers a defense mechanism against a parasitoid wasp.