defence against pathogens

Question 1

why care about pathogens

Answer 1

COVID-10
misinformation
vaccine hesitancy

Question 2

do antibiotics kill viruses

Answer 2

no

Question 3

why shouldn’t you stop taking antibiotics if you feel better and you still have some left

Answer 3

the virus can still be present and then you feel sick after stopping

Question 4

what are human pathogens

Answer 4

Microorganisms that cause disease in humans

Question 5

how many human pathogens and give examples

Answer 5

1400 known human pathogens: viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and helminths (worms)

Question 6

how many deaths are due to pathogens

Answer 6

14% of deaths are due to pathogens: 16 million people/year

Question 7

what are bacterial pathogens

Answer 7

prokaryotes

Question 8

what % of bacteria are harmful to humans

Answer 8

<1%

Question 9

what is the treatment for bacterial pathogens

Answer 9

antibiotics

Question 10

why do microbes make antibiotics

Answer 10

to compete for resources and outcompete other microbes acting as a chemical warfare

Question 11

what are fungal pathogens

Answer 11

eukaryotes and the sister kingdom to animals

Question 12

what type of people do most fungal pathogens infect

Answer 12

immunocompromised individuals

Question 13

how are fungal pathogens treated

Answer 13

antifungal medicines

Question 14

why do antifungal meds cause more side effects

Answer 14

fungal cells are similar to human cells and some drugs can harm human cells

Question 15

what are viruses

Answer 15

non-living
obligate parasites that are non cellular

Question 16

can viruses reproduce

Answer 16

yes they reproduce and evolve

Question 17

how to treat viruses

Answer 17

no antibiotics
antivirals and vaccines

Question 18

what are the three lines of defence

Answer 18

1. surface barriers
2. innate immune systems
3. adaptive immune systems

Question 19

what are the three physical barriers

Answer 19

skin, mucous membranes, chemicals

Question 20

why do we shed millions of skin cells a day

Answer 20

remove microbes that have attached

Question 21

how do microbes wash away

Answer 21

sweat and oil from skin

Question 22

what type of barrier does skin have

Answer 22

waterproof to toxins and invaders

Question 23

what does the mucous membrane do

Answer 23

trap microbes to prevent entry

Question 24

what is the mucous membrane lined with

Answer 24

cilia to sweep contaminated mucous to the throat

Question 25

how are contaminated mucous cells expelled

Answer 25

by swallowing, coughing, or sneezing

Question 26

how to chemicals slow bacteria growth

Answer 26

acidic conditions in the skin, stomach, vagina, and urinary tract

Question 27

what chemical enzymes kill some bacteria

Answer 27

saliva and tears

Question 28

what is the innate immune system also called

Answer 28

inherited non specific system

Question 29

why is the inherited non specific system non specific

Answer 29

because it doesn't remember bacteria it just fights off any foreign bacteria

Question 30

what is the process of destroying bacteria for the innate immune system

Answer 30

Detection by receptors on a macrophage target broad range of pathogens (Receptors encoded in genes) Signal release of cytokines Recruit neutrophils to leave bloodstream and enter infected tissue destroy bacteria

Question 31

what are neutrophils

Answer 31

first responders to a pathogen attack - 70% of white blood cells (wbc)

Question 32

what do neutrophils do

Answer 32

Leave bloodstream to enter damaged tissue Consume bacteria by phagocytosis

Question 33

how to cells distinguish self from non self

Answer 33

Every cell in your body has molecules in the plasma membrane that signal ‘friend’

Question 34

what is MHC

Answer 34

major histocompatibility complex markers coded by MHC genes Key to not killing yourself

Question 35

what groups of people have not-unique MHC's

Answer 35

identical twins

Question 36

what is the difference between adaptive immune system and innate immune system

Answer 36

you are born with an innate immune system that kill any foreign bacteria adaptive immune system remembers bacteria and kills the specific ones

Question 37

what cells signal to the adaptive immune system

Answer 37

macrophages

Question 38

what is an antigen

Answer 38

nonself substance that triggers an immune response

Question 39

what are antibodies

Answer 39

receptors to these pathogens: acquired during your lifetime - label pathogen for destruction

Question 40

what are B lymphocytes

Answer 40

WBC make antibodies to new antigen - primary immune response - takes 1-2 weeks

Question 41

what are T lymphocytes

Answer 41

WBC kill cells infected by antigens

Question 42

what are memory cells

Answer 42

WBC induce secondary immune response in 1-3 days to that same antigen: protection for up to a lifetime

Question 43

when are B and T cells programmed

Answer 43

during development to respond to one type of antigen via a unique receptor

Question 44

what happens when an antigen fits into a B or T cell receptor

Answer 44

Triggers immune response to that antigen

Question 45

what is active immunity

Answer 45

our own immune system protects us

Question 46

what is passive immunity

Answer 46

when we are protected from a pathogen by immunity gained from someone else e.g. maternal antibodies via the placenta and breast milk

Question 47

how do vaccines offer 'immunity'

Answer 47

harmless antigens are introduced to stimulate the adaptive immune response

Question 48

how many autoimmune disorder are there

Answer 48

At least 80 disorders; 7.5% of americans

Question 49

what causes autoimmune disorders

Answer 49

Lymphocytes that cannot distinguish between self and non-self

Question 50

what are some examples of autoimmune disorders

Answer 50

Coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, MS, rheumatoid arthritis

Question 51

what is the treatment of autoimmune disorders

Answer 51

address the deficiencies caused by the disorder drugs to depress the immune system