Health, Disease & Development Of Medicines 💉 Flashcards
What are antigens
The molecules on the outer surface of all cells and viruses
What do antigens do?
They help the body to recognise wether the pathogen is foreign or not
How is an immune response triggered
The pathogens are recognised due to the antigens on their outer surface
What are Phagocytes
A type of white blood cell
What do phagocytes do
They engulf and destroy any pathogen by the process of phagocytosis
What are antibodies produced by
Lymphocytes (type of white blood cell)
What are the 3 steps in non-specific immune response (PHAGOCYTOSIS)
- The body recognises the PATHOGEN has entered the body due to its ANTIGENS
- The PHAGOCYTE engulfs the PATHOGEN
- The PATHOGEN is destroyed. This is called PHAGOCYTOSIS
Recall the 4 steps of a SPECIFIC IMMUNE RESPONSE
- The body recognises a PATHOGEN has entered the body due to its ANTIGENS
- Specific LYMPHOCYTES are activated
- The lymphocytes divide and produce ANTIBODIES
- The ANTIBODIES attach to the antigens and destroy the pathogen
What are memory lymphocytes and what do they do
If the same kind of pathogen tries to infect you again the memory lymphocytes cause a much faster secondary response.
This means you are immune to that specific pathogen
What are pathogens
Microorganisms that can spread a disease
What are the 4 main pathogens that cause diseases
Bacteria
Fungi
Viruses
Protists
What is the difference between a communicable and a non-communicable disease
Clue in the name… Communicable diseases are passed from infected people to other people. Non-communicable diseases are not passed on (they are caused by genes or lifestyle)
Non-communicable diseases are usually due to…
Genetic disorder
Poor diet/nutrition
Lifestyle choices (eg: alcohol or drug abuse)
Give 2 examples of genetic disorders.
Turner syndrome (a condition that affects women and their development due to a X chromosome missing)
Sickle cell anaemia (malformation of red blood cells meaning haemoglobin levels in the blood are low)
Give an example of a disease resulting from lifestyle choices.
Liver disease
Give 3 examples of diseases resulting from poor diet/nutrition.
Scurvy - lack of vitamin C - leading to gum disease, anemia and skin problems
Rickets (bone deformities, especially in children due to insufficient calcium - more ‘laitages’ - & vit D (sunlight and oily fish)
Anaemia (low red blood cell count due to insufficient iron levels from nutrition - eat red meat and spinach!)
How do you measure the amount of fat on the body?
Using the BMI - body mass index
What formula gives a BMI score?
Weight (kg) divided by height^2
What is a virus
A pathogen that invades the cells of a human, replicates and releases toxins that makes the person ill.
Describe the lytic cycle of a virus
- Virus attaches to a cell and injects genetic material
- Viral genetic material forms a circle
- New viral genetic material and proteins are produced and assembled
- Cell lyses releasing viruses.
Describe the lysogenic cycle of a virus
- Viral genetic material inserts itself into the bacterial chromosome
2. Bacteria reproduces normally REPLICATING VIRAL GENETIC MATERIAL at each cell division - Cell and viral genetic material may reproduce many times
(Occasionally the viral genetic material separates from the bacterial chromosome causing a lytic cycle)
Give three examples of a viral disease
Measles
HIV
Tobacco mosaic virus
Name four ways in which pathogens get into the body
droplet infection
contaminated food or water
through a break in the skin
direct contact
What physical barriers does the body and plants have to prevent microorganisms getting in
Body:
Skin
Scabs
Eyelashes
Plants:
Leaf cuticle
Cell wall
What chemical defences does the body have to stop microorganisms getting in
Stomach acid- produces acid - low pH- kills microorganisms
Tears- contain antibacterial chemicals (lysozymes)
Mucus from lungs- traps bacteria and is then coughed up and swallowed - destroyed in the stomach
What are polyclonal antibodies
A collection of many different types of antibodies
What are monoclonal antibodies
A collection of a single type of antibody that is isolated and cloned
Why do scientists use antibodies
Antibodies have specific targets which enables testing for specific molecules
What are monoclonal antibodies used for
pregnancy testing kits
diagnostic tools for AIDS
industrial production of interference (chemical used to treat cancer)
How are monoclonal antibodies produced
- Lymphocytes can divide several times to make clones of itself
- once it starts to make antibodies it becomes a B lymphocyte and can’t divide anymore
- To get around this problem a B lymphocyte is fused with a cancer cell creating a HYBRIDOMA
- Detergent is added to the mixture to break down cell-surface membranes and help both cells to fuse
What risk would be associated with injecting monoclonal antibodies from hybridomas into humans?
Because we are using lymphocytes from mice the body may think it is foreign and there may be issues with the immune response
What are the symptoms of cardiovascular disease
Chest pain
weak arms/legs
Breathlessness
fatigue
swollen limbs
How can Cardiovascular disease be treated
A narrowed blood vessel can be widened by inserting a small mesh tube at the narrowest part to hold it open
This unblocks the arteries and allows the heart to be supplied with oxygen and nutrients again
Define Health
A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being
What is HIV in simple terms
Destroys white blood cells leading to the onset of AIDS
How are STI’s spread
Communicable disease passed through sexual contact
How can spread of STI’s be prevented or treated
Contraception methods can be used to prevent
Chlamydia can be treated with antibiotics
What are the stages in the development of a medicine
Discovery
Preclinical testing
Tested on animals
Tested on healthy human volunteers (stage 1 clinical trials)
Tested on diseased human volunteers (stage 2 clinical trials)
Administration
