Chapter 7 - Protection from infection Flashcards
define pathogens
disease causing organism (viruses and bacteria)
Communicable disease
A disease passed from one person to another by infection with micro organisms. also called infectious or transmissible disease
Bacteria
single celled organisms with simple structure. Lack nucleus, DNA floats freely in cytoplasm. Effects may include producing toxins or inducing an allergic response depending on species
what are the four types of bacteria
- Cocci (spheres)
- Bacilli (rod shaped with tails)
- Spirilla (twisted)
- vibrio (comma)
Viruses
Infectious agent consisting of a protein sheath surrounding a core of nucleic acid. dependent on living cells for reproduction. Contains DNA or RNA never both
how do viruses spread in the body
infect a living cell and its DNA or RNA induces the cell to manufacture more virus particles. These particles leave host cell and infect others
Bacteriophage
virus that infects bacteria
contagious
disease passed on by direct human contact
vector
an agent (eg insect) capable of transferring pathogens
6 ways a pathogen can be transferred
- Transmission by contact: direct (touching an infected person) or indirect (touching an object touched by an infected person). EG STI’s
- Ingestion of contaminated food/drink. EG Salmonella
- transfer of body fluids. EG. HIV
- Infection by droplets (breathing, talking, sneezing, coughing). EG, COVID
- Airborne transmission. EG, measles
- Transmission by vectors (insects such as mossie). EG, malaria
two types of body defences against disease
- Specific: Directed at a particular pathogen
- Non specific: works against all pathogens
name 8 non specific external defences
- Skin: Impervious barrier, sweat prevents growth of micro organisms, large numbers of bacteria and sebum (oily secretion)
- Mucus: mucous membranes secrete mucus inhibiting entry of micro organisms
- Hairs: trap particles (nose, ear)
- Cilia: hair like projections from cells capable of beating motion that moves micro organisms towards throat to be coughed up
- Acids: Stomach juices highly acidic killing bacteria taken in with food. vagina, urine, sweat
- Lysozyme: enzyme that kills bacteria. found in tears, salvia, sweat.
- Cerumen: ear wax. protects outer ear against infection. contains lysozyme
- Movement of fluid: Flushing action of body fluids helps keep some areas relatively free of pathogens (eg, urine through urethra, tears, sweat, saliva)
what are four protective reflexes that protect against infection
- Sneezing (irritation of nasal cavity)
- coughing (irritation of respiratory tract)
- vomiting (Psychological, stretching of stomach and contraction of abdomen)
- Diarrhoea (irritation of intestines by bacteria)
name the three internal non specific defences
- Phagocytosis
- Inflammatory response
- Fever
Phagocytes
White blood cells able to engulf micro organisms and cell debris
Leucocytes
white blood cells
three types of phagocytic cells (phagocytosis)
- Monocytes and macrophages: when tissue becomes infected, monocytes leaves bloodstream and enter tissue, then differentiate into macrophages
- Neutrophils: granulated WBC, first cells to move into tissue and destroy pathogen. short life span
- Dendritic cells: Antigen presenting cell, characterised by projections from the cytoplasm. Have ability to detect, engulf and process foreign particles
Monocytes
white blood cell found in blood that migrates into damaged tissue and forms macrophages
Macrophage
phagocytic cells important in removing microbes and dying cells through phagocytosis
what is inflammation
response to damage to a tissue. Involves welling =, heat, pain and redness
three purposes of inflammation
- Reduce spread of pathogens (destroy + prevent entry)
- Remove damaged tissue and cell debris
- Begin repair of damaged tissue
Complement system
System of proteins produced by the liver that enhance the activity of antibodies and phagocytes
what are the seven steps of the inflammatory response
- Damage or chemical changes cause activation of mast cells, resulting in release of histamine and herapin into tissue fluid
- Histamine increases blood flow due to vasdilation, making walls of capillaries more permeable. Increased blood flow causes heat, redness and swelling
- Herapin prevents clotting, slowing spread of pathogen to healthy tissues due to clot of fluid
- Complement system proteins and mast cells release chemicals that attract phagocytes (particularly neutrophils) which consume micro organisms
- Pain receptors are stimulated
- Phagocytes fulled with bacteria die forming pus
- Repair of tissue takes place by mitosis
What is a fever
elevation in body temperature above 37ºC due to resetting of body’s thermostat to a higher level than normal, controlled by hypothalamus
what causes a fever
Pyrogens that are released by white blood cells during inflammatory response and act on hypothalamus
what happens in a fever
- Body’s thermostat becomes set at an abnormally high level due to infection
- Body feels cold and responds by shivering and vasoconstriction, increasing body temp
- Fever breaks (crisis points) with sweating and vasodilatation and body temp returns to normal
Benefits of a fever
Inhibits growth of bacteria and viruses, heat speeds rate of chemical reactions (increases body cell repair), inhibits viral replication