fundamental concepts in immunology Flashcards
what is the role of the immune system?
Protects body from invading microorganisms
Has many components – must be controlled and co-ordinated
2000bc
As early as 2000 BC, disease, pestilence, and epidemics were recorded in Egypt.
back in the olden times what was disease caused by?
disease was regarded as a punishment from God or gods. God struck down those with evil in their hearts, it was a penalty and the ultimate price was death
where is inoculation or variolation stems from?
invention of medicine in ancient China.
what did inoculation involve?
inserting scabs from patients under the skin of healthy individuals or blowing dried scab material up the noses of the individuals with a silver tube
what causes small pox?
the Variola major virus
how does small pox affect an indivdiual?
It enters the body through the lungs and is carried in the blood to the internal organs and skin where it multiplies
what are the symptoms of smallpox
Symptoms are flu-like and include high fever, fatigue and headache and backache, followed by a rash with flat red sores.
how did we eradicate the small pox
No animal reservoir
Lifelong immunity
Subclinical cases rare
Effective vaccine
Major commitment by governments
who is von behring (1854~1917)
discovered the antitoxin and the principles of antiserum therapy
He established one of the first corporations to product immunologic products.
Robert Koch (1843~1910
for his investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosis
Paul Ehrlich (1854~1915).
“side-chain theory,” proposing that cells have side chains or receptors that can bind to specific antigens. This theory laid the groundwork for understanding the immune response and the basis for antibody-antigen interactions
