Abstract

It is postulated that a suppressed or stimulated state of immune reactivity plays an important role in the induction of an infection process, which triggers the activation of microbiota pathogens. Infection-driven destruction of cells of a macroorganism promotes the release of endogenous low molecular weight nucleic acids, mostly RNA, which, within the first hours/days, are responsible for the stimulation of replication and toxin formation by microflora with subsequent disease exacerbation, and as a result, in a few days, cause an increase in antigenicity, immunogenicity, antibiotic susceptibility of pathogens, and activation of nonspecific and specific resistance of the body, with the resulting immune activation. Concurrently with these processes, the intensification of free-radical lipid and protein oxidation is observed, with the formation of immunosuppressive compounds which are neutralized by enzymatic and nonenzymatic factors of the antioxidant system. Thus, in infection processes homeostasis is achieved by means of a sequential cascade of microbial, immune, and metabolic mechanisms which induce, stimulate, and inhibit the responsiveness of the body.