Immunity

Question 1

What is the body’s first response to infection and how does it help?

Answer 1

Fever. Raising your temperature by just a few degrees is enough to slow the pathogens down.

Question 2

What are phagocytes?

Answer 2

A form of white blood cell.

Question 3

What happens if the virus infects the phagocytes?

Answer 3

They self-destruct

Question 4

What is snot made out of?

Answer 4

The dead phagocytes

Question 5

What is a killer t cell (cytotoxic t lymphocyte/cell) and what does it do?

Answer 5

A type of white blood cell. It makes the infected cells implode then self destruct, destroying the virus inside. One of the reasons you get a sore throat.

Question 6

What is a b cell (b lymphocyte) and what does it do?

Answer 6

A type of white blood cell that produces an antibody (that can be produced at a rate of 2,000 per second). They coat the viruses, slowing them down and making them stick together. This makes them easier to be swept up.

Question 7

What does the pathogen do that makes you feel unwell?

Answer 7

It makes toxins that make you feel unwell, and also destroys the body’s cells.

Question 8

Do painkillers kill pathognens?

Answer 8

No, they can only relieve the symptoms of infection

Question 9

Name 3 roles of white blood cells

Answer 9

1. Antibody production
2. Phagocytosis
3. Antitoxin production

Question 10

Describe the process of antibody production

Answer 10

1. White blood cells produce many different shaped antibodies
2. The antibody that fits the pathogen’s antigen will bind around the pathogen
3. The pathogen cannot move or reproduce and will be destroyed
4. White blood cell engulfs and destroys the pathogen in a process called phagocytosis
5. This specifically shaped antibody will be remembered by the immune system in case of future infection

Question 11

What does a Lymphocyte do?

Answer 11

It produces antibodies or antitoxins

Question 12

What does a Phagocyte do?

Answer 12

It digests a pathogen, by engulfing it and releasing enzymes.

Question 13

What do antibodies do?

Answer 13

They bind to the pathogen and immobilise it, for it to be engulfed. They are a specific shape to the pathogen.

Question 14

What is phagocytosis?

Answer 14

It occurs when a white blood cell engulfs the pathogen in the blood and releases enzymes to destroy the pathogen.

Question 15

What do white blood cells also make and what is their job?

Answer 15

Anti-toxins, they neutralise toxins released from bacterial cells, however only the toxins and not the source itself.

Question 16

Are toxins released from viruses and bacteria?

Answer 16

No, only bacteria, not viruses.

Question 17

Describe the 3 attacks that white blood cells do.

Answer 17

1. Produce antibodies which attach to the bacteria.
2. White blood cells ingest the bacteria.
3. Antitoxins are produced that stop the toxins working