Is it possible for the human body to fight food intoxication

Is it possible for the human body to fight food intoxication or food infection? If yes, how? If any, what defenses are in place? Explain.

Solution

Food intoxication and food infection are two different terms. Food infection means the food has been infected by some microorganisms like food borne bacteria, virus and fungi. Food intoxication means food has been intoxicated with some harmful chemicals or toxins.

Human body has different immune strategies against pathogenic microorganisms at several levels. Immune cells such as B-cells, T-cells, macrophages etc take part in preventing these infections.

But, here I suppose the question is related to intoxication. When the food borne bacteria produce toxins, our body pulls fluids into intestine to wash the bacteria quickly or expes the bacteria by vomiting. Stomach acids can inactivate bacteria. Some of the bacteria like Salmonella gets killed by our immune system by producing oxygen radicals.

Many toxins such as botulinum have severe affects on nerve cells. immune system secretes antibodies that bind botulinum toxin and neutralizes its biological activity. This results in attenuation of the toxic effect on neuromuscular junction.