Factors of Disease

Question 1

Gender

Answer 1

• Genetic and hormonal differences in immunity based on gender
• Some differences are consistent throughout life (genetic)
• Some may change based on age or reproductive status (hormones)
• Difference in behavior can influence exposure to disease causing agents
• Gender differences in animals aren’t as clearly defined
  
  • Based manly on studies comparing neutered vs. intact animals

Question 2

Women vs Men

Answer 2

• Women generally have stronger innate and adaptive immune responses
  
  • Female mice produce more immunoglobulin, respond more vigorously to vaccination, and generate more autoantibodies than males
• In Women, response to seasonal flue vaccine is twice as storng
• 80% of autoimmune disease occurs in women
• Men have a 2-fold increased risk of death from malignant cancer

Question 3

Inflammation

Answer 3

• An integrated, multisystemic host response to remove adverse stimuli
  
  • Involves: vascular system, circulating cells, and fixedcells located throughout the body
• Initiated by infectious agents, damaged tissue, irritants, nn-infectious immunologic stimuli, and metabolic abnormalities, among others
• Can be benefitial, but also has detrimental aspects

Question 4

Immunity

Answer 4

• Mechnism for recognition and response to foreign material or altered self-tissue
• Innate immunity - generalized response
• Adaptive/acquired immunity - a trgeted response directed agianst a specific substance/antigen
• Generally beneficial to the host, but has detrimental aspects

Question 5

Protective barriers

Answer 5

• Anatomic barriers
• Cheical barriers
• Mechanical barriers
• Physiologic barriers

Question 6

Anatomic barriers

Answer 6

• Epithelium - skin, mucus membranes
• Endothlium - blood vessel, limphaticss, Blood-brain barrier

Question 7

Chemical Barriers

Answer 7

• Low ph and amp (bet defensins) and chemicals (pepsin, lysozyme), IgA
• Saliva, gastric acid, mucus, tears, urine acidity, sweat ad sebum, anti-microbial peptides in secretions, pancreatic enzymes, bile

Question 8

Mechanical barriers

Answer 8

• Mucus, mucociliar apparatus, epithelial shedding (Keratin and GI mucosa), Flushing action (tears and uring), peristalsis and excretion, eyelashes and eyelids

Question 9

Physiologic Barriers

Answer 9

• Coughing
• Sneexing
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting

Question 10

Microbiota

Answer 10

• Normal flora
• Entire collection of microorganisms that live within a certain environment
  
  • Includes commensal, symbioti, and potentially pathogenic microorganisms
  • Major locations are GI tract, skin, respiratory, traact, ad genitouinary tract

Question 11

Microbiorme

Answer 11

• Genetic material of all the microbes living within that environmetn
• Contain diverse and many undiscovered organisms

Question 12

Factors Influencing the Microbiome

Answer 12

• Genetics/heredity
• Co-evolution between hos and microbes
• Host mechanisms/ physiology
  
  • Many interactions between host immune responses and the microbiome
• Died, mdeications, antimicrobials, prebiotics, probiotics, etc
• Age
  
  • Microbiome diversity decreases with age