Lesson 3: Defence against disease Flashcards
What are pathogens?
organisms that cause disease
What are the different types of pathogens?
- bacteria
- fungi
- protists
- viruses
- prions
How is bacteria harmful?
Produce toxins that damage body cells.
How is fungi harmful?
Digest living cells to destroy them. Some also produce toxins.
How is protist harmful?
Take over cells and break them open.
How are viruses harmful?
Use host cells to replicate before bursting out and destroying cells.
How are prions harmful?
causes degeneration of the nervous system
What color is gram positive bacteria after gram staining?
blue-purple
What color is gram negative bacteria after gram staining?
red
What are the two main defence mechanisms against pathogens?
non-specific and specific
What is non-specific defence?
response is the same for all pathogens
What is specific defence?
response is specific to each pathogen
What are some physical and chemical barriers against pathogens?
Skin - phyiscal barrier but also produces sebum which inhibits growth of pathogens
Mucous membranes - traps pathogens and uses lysozymes to destroy them.
Skin flora - large population of natural and helathy bacteria that outcompete pathogens for surface area.
How does blood clot?
- Damaged cells release chemicals that stimulate platelets to adhere to damaged area.
- damaged cells and platelets release chemicals called clotting factors that convert prothrombin (clotting protein) into thrombin.
- Thrombin is an active enzyme that catalyses the conversion of soluble fibrinogen (another clotting protein) into insoluble fibrin which is a fibrous protein that forms a mesh-like network to stabilize the platelet plug.
- More and more cellular debris becomes trapped in the fibrin mesh until stable clot is formed.
What is the difference between innate and adaptive immune systems?
- Innate: present from birth, provides rapid, non-specific defences against pathogens. Mediated by phagocytes.
- Adaptative: Develops during our lives, slower, specific and mediated by lymphocytes (antibodies)
What is the role of phagocytes?
engulf and destroy pathogens
What are the two main types of phagocytes?
neutrophils and macrophages
What are the stages of phagocytosis?
The pathogen releases chemicals that attract a phagocyte.
The phagocyte recognises the pathogen’s antigens as non-self. This causes the phagocyte to bind to the pathogen.
The phagocyte engulfs the pathogen.
The pathogen is now contained within a vacuole known as a ‘phagosome’.
The lysosome, containing lysozymes, fuses with the phagosome to form a phagolysosome.
The phagocyte presents the pathogen’s antigens on its surface to activate other cells in the immune system. The phagocyte is then referred to as an antigen-presenting cell (APC).
When is the adaptive immune system needed?
Innate immune system is unable to control an infection.
what are the two main types of lymphocytes?
B lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
Where do B lymphocytes mature?
bone marrow
Where do T lymphocytes mature?
thymus gland
What system plays a role in the immune response of the body?
lymphatic system
Where can you usually find lymphocytes after maturation?
Some of them remain in circulation while others are concentrated in the secondary lymphoid organs
What response are T lymphocytes involved in?
cellular response