Lecture 6A - Immunity and Response to Infection Flashcards
What are many new drugs and vaccines aimed at?
either diminishing or enhancing the immune response
What are the two types of immunity?
specific and non specific
Within the two types of immunity, what are the subdivision?
external and internal
What are the gut and interior of the lungs classed as?
external as they are lined with epithelial tissues in contact with the outside world
What is non specific immunity?
designed to oppose the entry and spread of all pathogens
What is specific immunity?
targeted against particular agents causing illness, usually proteins but can be other small molecules as well
External non specific barriers against disease?
society
behaviour
social distancing
wearing face covering/masks
safety glasses
How is society an external barrier?
clean water and sewage treatment is the single most important factor for increased life span during the last 2 centuries, hygienic food preparation and preservation have also helped
How is behaviour an external barrier?
the concept of germs as a transmissible agent of disease has lead to adoption of methods of hygiene such as washing hands, use of condoms, deep cleaning in hospitals
External defences?
skin and the mucous membranes of nose, mouth, ears, eyes, gut and urogenital tract are all points of vulnerability through which transmission of disease can occur
What is the skin an example of?
an inherent, non-specific physical defence agains disease
Ears?
we produce wax
Respiratory tract?
mucus, surfactant (contains anti-viral lipoproteins)
alveolar macrophages which resident outside the body
Intestine as defence?
pH of 1 in the stomach
pH of urogenital tract?
4.5, fights against disease and keeps tract healthy
How do eyes produce defence?
through tears
maternal foetal defence?
transmission of antibodies across the placenta and through mothers milk
What is our microbiome?
a biofilm of healthy bacteria in the gut can help reduce the changes of pathogenic bacteria invading the mucosal epithelium and expanding in number
What does the skin secrete?
sebum
What do secretions such as mucus do?
traps invaders and is continuously wafted out of the lungs by thousands of cilia
How infections spread?
acquisition during foetal life or at birth
contact (usually onto hands)
coughing
faecal
sexual
blood and blood products
insect or animal bites
food/water borne
injury
What can happen if a benign bacterium penetrates the body wall?
it can cause severe infection
e.g. appendicitis
Internal non-specific immunity?
the second line of defence
phagocytic cells
pyrogens
chemical mediators
complement proteins
What are phagocytic cells?
omnivorous scavengers that detect foreign cells, proteins and particles and engulf and phagocytose them
What are pyrogens?
peptides secreted by leukocytes and other cells
they act on the hypothalamus to raise body temperature and cause symptoms of fever
What might raised temp do?
inhibit iron uptake by the bacteria, which can slow bacterial growth
What are chemical mediators of inflammation?
e.g. interferons
interfere with viral replication and are used in multiple sclerosis and have also been tried in COVID-19
What are complement proteins?
recognise foreign proteins and cells and trigger their destruction (also part of specific immunity)