This paper addresses the difficulties of target extraction from low contrast low resolution infrared images. The extension neural network is integrated with the negative selection algorithm (NSA) in artificial immunity. Based on the specific recognition principle of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in biological immune system, the mature self-extension detectors are calculated to extract infrared target and background. Upon the convergence of clustering process, the output layer of network merges the categories corresponding to the target to be detected. The proposed method, it needs less detectors than the traditional NSA algorithm. Compared with several target detection algorithms, the proposed algorithm has higher detection accuracy and higher time efficiency. INDEX TERMS Artificial immunity, extension analysis, negative selection algorithm (NSA), long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), infrared target extraction.