Q.How does chemical mediators act as physiological barriers ?
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Physiological barriers use body secretions with direct antimicrobial chemical action to stop pathogens before an adaptive immune response is needed.
As part of innate immunity, several secretions act chemically against invading microbes: the strongly acidic hydrochloric acid in gastric juice denatures proteins and kills most microorganisms swallowed with food; lysozyme, present in tears, saliva and nasal secretions, enzymatically breaks down the peptidoglycan cell walls of many bacteria; and sebum, the oily secretion of skin glands, along with sweat's slight acidity, creates an inhospitable surface environment for many microbes. Acting alongside physical barriers (skin, mucus) and …
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