Infections and responses part 1 Flashcards
How does the body react when pathogens gain entry to the body?
The immune system takes over to destroy them
What cell is responsible for fighting pathogens?
White blood cells
How are pathogens identified by white blood cells?
They are identified by white blood cells because they have different surface proteins, these surface proteins are called antigens these can also be identified by antibodies produced by the white blood cells
What is another name for white blood cells which engulf the pathogen?
Phagocytes
What is the process of phagocytes engulfing and digesting pathogens called?
phagocytosis
What are white blood cells which identify the antigen on the pathogen called?
lymphocytes
How do lymphocytes destroy pathogens?
They make specific antibodies to destroy the pathogen
How can antibodies destroy microbes?
They can mark them for phagocytosis; they can use cell lysis to make the microbe explode; aggregation attaching lots of them together so they can be destroyed by phagocytosis
How do white blood cells respond when bacteria produce toxins?
They release specific antitoxins to neutralise the effect of the toxin
What happens if a person is infected by the same pathogen again?
The white blood cells make the antibodies much faster
How do white blood cells respond when bacteria produce toxins?
They release specific antitoxins to neutralise the effect
How big are white blood cells compared to red blood cells?
They are a lot bigger
