Defense Against Infectious Diseases Flashcards
Pathogen
a “disease-causing agent” that disrupts the normal physiology of an organism
Antibiotics
-Compounds that kill or inhibit growth by TARGETING or BLOCKING metabolic reactions in prokaryotic cells
-eukaryotic and bacterial cells are prokaryotic so they have different enzymes/metabolic pathways/structures
-Antibiotics disrupt bacterial cells’ ability to make new DNA, to make mRNA, to make proteins, and/ or to make new cell walls (preventing them from growing and dividing), thus, killing them (our cells are not affected)
Which three glands does the skin have?
- Sweat (toxic/pH change)
-Subaceous/oil (limit/prevent bacterial growth)
-ceruminous/wax (trap and inhibit growth)
Antigens (immunoglobulin)
surface proteins on pathogens and foreign bodies that microphages use to identify them
Antibodies
“Y-shaped” proteins that are produced by specialized plasma/ white blood cells that act as tags on antigens to identify them to white blood cells so they get destroyed
Innate immunity
genetic
Acquired immunity
Immunity developed over time
Passive immunity
One organism receives antibodies from another organism/ source.
Active immunity
The immune system is “challenged” by an antigen, responds, and produces memory cells, leading to long-term immunity
Passive immunity example
antibodies from mother to fetus (placenta)
anti-venum
Natural immunities
Active: Response to exposure to infectious agents
Passive: Maternal antibodies
Artificial immunities
Active: Immunization
Passive: antibodies from another source
Vaccine
a substance used to stimulate immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen
monoclonal antibodies
antibodies that are produced and are the exact same
What are monoclonal antibodies used for?
Pregnancy tests, detection/diagnosis of disease, cancer treatments, patients who have been bitten by rabid or venomous animals
