Innate Immunity Flashcards
Spit some facts about bacteria in the gut
GI tract has on average 1kg of bacteria. Over 400 species. You excrete your own body weight in bacteria every year. 1 gramme of feces contains around 100,000,000,000 bacteria. Access to bloodstream would therefore not be ideal!
What are the two types of immunity a pathogen must face?
- The innate immune system is your first line of defence against pathogens. It is not specific.
- Followed by adaptive immunity, which is specific and can involve memory.
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the mucosal surfaces of the airway and some examples of pathogens and associated diseases that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Inhaled droplets
Pathogen:
Influenza virus
Neisseria meningiditis
Disease:
Influenza
Meningococcal meningitis
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the mucosal surfaces of the GI tract and some examples of pathogens and associated diseases that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Contaminated food or water
Pathogen:
Salmonella typhi
Rotavirus
Disease:
Typhoid fever
Diarrhea
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the mucosal surfaces of the genitourinary system (GU) and an example of a pathogens and associated disease that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Physical contact
Pathogen:
Treponoma pallidum
Disease:
Syphilis
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the epithelia of the external surface and an example of a pathogens and associated disease that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Physical contact
Pathogen:
Tinea pedis
Disease:
Athlete’s foot
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the epithelia around wounds and abrasions and an example of a pathogens and associated disease that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Minor skin abrasions
Punctures
Pathogen:
Bacillus anthracis
Clostridium tetani
Disease:
Anthrax
Tetanus
What is the associated mode of transmission of pathogens entering through the epithelia through insect bites and an example of a pathogens and associated disease that transmit in this method
Mode of transmission:
Mosquito
Mosquito Ticks
Pathogen:
Flavivirus
Plasmodium
Borrelia burgdorferi
Disease:
Yellow fever
Malaria
Lyme disease
What are the three phases of response to initial infection?
Innate Immunity.
Immediate: 0-4 hours
Early induced response.
Early: 4-96 hours
Adaptive Immune Response
Late: >96 hours
Discuss the events of innate immunity in infection.
Immediate: 0-4 hours
Infection
Recognition by preformed, nonspecific effectors
Removal of infectious agent
Discuss the events of early induced response in infection.
Early: 4-96 hours
Infection
Recruitment of effector cells
Recognition and activation of effector cells
Removal of infectious agent
Discuss the events of adaptive immune response in infection.
Late: >96 hours
Infection
Transport of antigen to lymphoid organs
Recognition by naive B and T cells
Clonal expansion of effector cells
Removal of infectious agent
What are the mechanical barriers to infection?
Tight junctions between cells prevents access
Air and fluid flow across epithelium
Movement of mucus by cilia
What are the chemical barriers to infection?
Fatty acids on skin
Enzymes: lysozyme in saliva, sweat and tears.
Low pH in stomach
Antibacterial peptides: defensins (skin and gut) cryptidins (gut)
What are the microbiological barriers to infection?
Normal flora compete for nutrients and attachment (biofilms), and also produce antibacterial substances (colicins).
Provide a summary of the action of the innate immunity
• Once across an epithelial
barrier, in most cases microorganisms are recognised and ingested by mononuclear phagocytes, or macrophages.
What receptors are found on cells within the innate immune system?
• Receptors include:
Mannose receptor, glucan receptor, scavenger receptor, CD14 (LPS), CD11b/CD18 (CR3)
What bactericidal effects and agents are produced by phagocytes in the innate immune system?
- Acidification: pH 3-4, bactericidal
- Toxic oxygen derived products: superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical
- Toxic nitrogen oxides: Nitric Oxide
- Peptides: defensins and other cationic proteins
- Enzymes: Lysosyme, acid hydrolases
- Competitors: Lactoferrin, vitamin B12 binding protein.
What cell is the progenitor to all cellular elements of blood, rbc, platelets and white cells?
hematopoietic stem cell
What are monocytes?
Monocytes: one of the three types of
phagocytic cell of the immune system. Circulate in bloodstream, differentiate into macrophages in tissue
(looks kinda like a heart)
What are granulocytes?
- Also called polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes due to shape of nuclei
- Neutrophils
- Eosinophils
What are neutrophils?
also phagocytic, most numerous and important cell of innate immunity. Neutrophil deficiency leads to overwhelming bacterial infections.
What are eosinophils?
evolutionarily important in parasite defence. Kill antibody coated parasites through release of granule contents
Put out a shit ton of additional facts about neutrophils
- Most common PMN (polymorphonuclear leucocytes), around 99% of all circulating PMN’s
- Overall represents around 70% of all ciculating white blood cells.
- Short time spent in circulation, around 12 hours, once in tissue survive for maybe only 2 days.
- Active phagocytes , but probably only one round. Possible adaptation to prevent growth of parasites that can live in phagocytic cells. Alternatively since antimicrobial products damage host tissues, short lifespan may limit host damage
- Neutropenia = low numbers, may be genetic or the result of medication including chemotherapy
- Chronic granulomatous disease - failure in respiratory burst, superoxide production limited, antibacterial activity impaired
- Alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency, elastase from neutrophils not adequately inhibited, excessive tissue damage during inflammation- pulmonary emphysema
How long fo neutrophils live?
Short time spent in circulation, around 12 hours, once in tissue survive for maybe only 2 days.