noun
- plural of nonself; substances or entities that are recognized by an organism’s immune system as foreign or not belonging to the organism itself
Usage: immunology; biology
Examples
- The immune system must distinguish between self and nonselves to function properly.
- Transplanted organs are treated as nonselves by the recipient’s immune system.
- White blood cells identify and attack nonselves that enter the body.
- The recognition of nonselves is crucial for immune defense mechanisms.
- Vaccines work by introducing harmless nonselves to train the immune system.
- Autoimmune diseases occur when the body mistakenly attacks its own tissues as nonselves.