response to infection Flashcards
what happens if the body’s defence mechanisms against invading organisms are overcome?
the invaders may cause disease
infectious diseases
diseases that are spread from one person to another
pathogens
disease causing organisms
most common pathogens that affects the body
bacteria and viruses
+ fungi and animal parasites also affect the body (not main focus)
bacteria structural characteristics
- cell wall
- no nucleus (prokaryotes)
- flagellum present
- DNA in the form of plasmids
majority of bacteria is…
non-pathogenic
uses of bacteria
- essential to life e.g. decomposition of organic material
- industrial processes
location of bacteria
live in skin & inside intestines
effects of bacteria
producing toxins & inducing allergic responses
how to identify bacterium
grown on an agar player/growth medium in specific conditions → stained → viewed under microscope
viruses definition
microscopic infectious agents
virus structure
all contain genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA (but never both)
- consist of a protein sheath surrounding a core of nucleic acid
- some also have an external lipid envelope
reproduction of viruses
totally dependent on living cells for reproduction, infect a living cell and it’s DNA/RNA induces the cell to manufacture more virus particles, new virus particles leave the host cell → infect others, cells become damaged/changed or die
viruses: living or non-living?
not living things - cannot reproduce by themselves
why are symptoms from a virus affecting specific tissues?
viruses differ in the type of cell they invade, symptoms relate to the affected tissue
what happens when a virus infects bacteria?
bacteriophage is made
contagious disease
communicable disease may be spread by the transmission of pathogenic organism from one person to another
vectors
intermediate host of the pathogen that spread the infectious disease e.g. fleas, mosquitoes
ways of transmission of pathogens
- transmission by contact
- ingestion of food or drink
- transfer of body fluids
- infection by droplets
- airborne transmission
- transmission by vectors
transmission by contact w. examples
- spread of pathogen by physical contact
- direct = actually touching infected person
- indirect = touching an object that has been touched by infected individual
- e.g. skin infections, STIs
ingestion of food or drink w. examples
- contaminated with pathogens
- e.g. salmonella food poisoning, dysentery
transfer of body fluids w. examples
- when blood or other fluids from an infected person comes into contact with mucous membranes (nose, throat, mouth, genitals, bloodstream) of another uninfected person
- via a needle stuck; break in the skin
- e.g. HIV, Hep B and C
infection by droplets w. examples
- tiny droplets of moisture containing pathogenic organisms are admitted when breathing, talking, sneezing or coughing
- may be breathed in by others; settle on food or utensils to be later ingested with food
- e.g. Ebola, COVID-19, mumps, cold, flus
airborne transmission w. examples
- moisture in exhaled droplets evaporate, most bacteria are killed, but viruses and some bacteria remain viable → cause infection when inhaled
- particles are lighter → remain viable for greater distance than those transmitted by droplets
- e.g. measles, chickenpox
transmission by vectors w. examples
- animals such as insects, ticks or mites
- some vectors transfer the pathogen directly
- some may spread the pathogen to food or water → injected (e.g. houseflies)
- Many vector-borne disease are spread by specific vector
- e.g. malaria is spread by mosquitoes; lyme disease spread by ticks
non-specific defences
defence of the body that acts against all pathogens
specific defences
directed against a specific pathogen
external defence: skin
- covers outside of the body
- good at stopping entry of microorganisms (provided there are no cuts/abrasions)
- special protection at openings in skin (mouth, eyes, anus)
- normal bacteria occupy skin → pathogens find it difficult to establish
what do External defences do?
stop pathogens and foreign particles from entering
additional mechanisms of the skin
Sebum and sweat
sebum
oily, waxy secretion from sebaceous glands; kills pathogenic bacteria
sweat
liquid produced by sweat glands; contains salts and fatty acids that prevent growth of many micro-organisms
external defence: mucus
Mucous membranes secretes mucus = slippery, stringy substance
- Traps particles → inhibits entry of microorganisms to the organs of the body
- Eg, digestive, urinary and reproductive tracts
mucous membranes
epithelial tissue that secretes mucus and lines many body cavities
external defence: hair
- Found in the nasal cavity and ears
- Hairs + layer of mucus = trap up to 90% of particles inhaled when breathing
external defence: cilia
- Cilia = hair like projections from a cell; beat rhythmically to move material across a tissue surface
- Mucous membranes lining the nasal cavity and trachea have
cilia - Beating of the cilia moves mucus (containing trapped particles and micro-organisms) towards the throat → coughed or swallowed
external defence: acids
Stomach juices are strongly acidic (HCI)
- Kills many of the bacteria taken in with food or those contained in mucus swallowed from nose or windpipe
- Vagina has acid secretions → reduce growth of microorganisms
external defence: lysozyme
lysozyme = enzyme that kills bacteria
- found in tears, saliva and perspiration
external defence: cerumen
cerumen = ear wax
- Protects the outer ear against infection by some bacteria
- Slightly acidic
- Contains lysozyme
external defence: movement of fluid
Eg. Urine flowing through urethra = cleansing action
- Prevents bacterial growth
- Helps stop bacteria reaching the bladder and kidneys
what are protective reflexes?
Involuntary reflexes that help protect the body from injury
examples of protective reflexes
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
sneezing
- Stimulus = irritation of the walls of the nasal cavity
- Irritation = Fumes; dust particles
- Forceful expulsion of air carries mucus, foreign particles and irritating gases out through nose and mouth
coughing
- Stimulus = irritation of lower respiratory tract (bronchi and
bronchioles) - Air is forced out of the lungs to try and remove the irritant
- Air drives mucus and foreign matter up the trachea → throat
and mouth
vomiting
- Contraction of abdominal muscles and diaphragm expels stomach contents
- Psychological stimuli, excessive stretching of stomach and bacterial toxins = induce vomiting
diarrhoea
- Irritations cause increased contractions of the muscles of the wall of the intestines → irritant removed ASAP
- Material doesn’t stay in the large intestine long enough for water to be absorbed
- Irritants = bacteria, viruses or protozoans
what attacks organisms that overtake the external defences
Organisms that penetrate our external defences are attacked by phagocytes
phagocytes
Phagocytes = specialised WBC (leucocytes)
what do phagocytes do?
engulf and digest micro-organisms and cell debris
- Eliminates many pathogens before an infection has the chance to take hold
different types of cells that are phagocytic
- Monocytes and macrophages
- Neutrophils
- Dendritic cells
Monocytes
type of leucocyte found in the blood that migrates into damaged tissues (infected or inflamed) - form macrophages
Macrophages
large phagocytic cell; derived from monocyte
what do macrophages do?
- Some move through tissues looking for and destroying pathogens
- Some are fixed; only deal with pathogens that come to them
- Important in removing microbes and dying cells through phagocytosis
neutrophils
- Granulated leucocyte (granules visible in their cytoplasm)
- Lobulated nucleus