Immunity- part 1 ! Flashcards
2 categories of Disease
-> Non-infectious disease
-> Infectious disease
Characteristics of Non-infectious Disease
-> Non-communicable diseases
-> Not contagious
-> Caused by genetics, poor lifestyle choices
Characteristics of Infectious Disease
-> Communicable Diseases
-> Is contagious
-> Caused by pathogens
4 Modes of Transmission
-> Direct Contact
-> Indirect Contact
-> Medium
-> Vectors
Vectors:
-> Living organisms that carry and transmit a pathogen from one infected source to another living organism
Carriers:
-> An organism that is infected by the pathogen and is capable of transmitting the pathogen to others
Requirements of a pathogen to cause disease within a host
- Must enter the hosts interstitial space or cells AND replicate to sufficient numbers
Course Of Disease
- Infection
- Incubation
- Symptoms of Disease
- Recovery
Incubation period
-> The period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms
-> 1-3 days
–> Pathogens may take time to multiply to cause disease
–> Toxins released by pathogen may take time to accumulate before they cause disease
Symptoms of Disease
-> When the pathogen has reproduced in sufficient numbers to cause the disease
-> Symptoms result from the body’s immune system to try and eliminate the infection, or they are the effect that the pathogen has on the body of the host. Patients usually present with fever, headache, muscle ache, blocked or runny nose etc
Recovery
-> Usually the host’s immune system will fight off the pathogen, naturally or with assistance from medication
-> If the pathogen cannot be eliminated, then disability or death is likely
Innate vs Adaptive Response
Innate: Has no memory of pathogen, does not respond any faster on reinfection by the same pathogen. First line and second line of defence
Adaptive: Has the memory of the pathogen, and produces a larger and faster response on reinfection by the same pathogen. Third line of defence
Antigens
Molecules or parts of a molecule that stimulate an immune response in a person’s body through the adaptive immune response
Pathogens
A disease causing organism
What do antigens lead to?
Production of Antibodies ( immunoglobins) and inflammation and a cell-mediated immune response through cytotoxic T cells
How are antigens classed?
self-antigens which are recognised by self receptors
What are MHC markers?
Are proteins that label our own cells are ‘self’ to our immune system
What happens to self antigens that are not foreign
They are usually tolerated by the immune system where as Non-self antigens can be identified as invaders and attacked by the immune system