Q. 29 Many microbial pathogens enter the gut of humans along with food. What are the preventive barriers to protect the body from such pathogens? What type of immunity do you observe in this case?

Many microbial pathogens enter the gut of humans along with food. The preventive barriers to protect the body from such pathogens are as follows

(i) the mucus coating of the epithelium lining of the gut helps in trapping microbes entering the body.

(ii) saliva in the rnouth and hydrochloric acid in gastric juice secreted by stomach prevent microbial growth

This type of immunity is innate immunity. It is present from birth and is inherited from parents. The innate immunity remains throughout life.