The immune system Flashcards
Pathogen
Disease causing agents that include bacteria, fungi, viruses, fungi and protozoans.
Infection
The invasion of an organisms body tissues by pathogens
Innate responses
responses by the body that target any pathogen (Non-specific)
adaptive responses
Reponses by the body that only respond to a certain pathogen (specific)
Inflammation
Inflammation is the bodies response to a tissue injury or infection. It is characterised by localised redness and swelling, heat and pain. The function of inflammation is to stop the spread of pathogens and infection.
interferons
block viral replication and slow tumour growth
complement
A group of proteins in body fluids that stimulate inflammation, attracts phagocytes and enhances phagocytosis and antibody action
natural killer cells
A small proportion of lymphocytes that are involved in specific defences
phagocytosis
engulfment and digestion of pathogens, foreign particles and debris.
Antigens
Proteins, polysaccharides, glycoproteins, or glycolipids that can illicit an immune response.
cytokine
small proteins involved in cell signalling
immunoglobin G (IgG) is found in
Found in tissue fluid and plasma
IgA is found in
exocrine gland secretions
IgM is found in
plasma
IgD is found in
the surface of most B lymphocytes
IgE is found in
The surface of basophils and mast cells
Cocci
Spherical shaped, singular bacteria
diplococci
spherical shaped, bacteria found in pairs
streptococci
spherical shaped, found in chains
Stpahylococci
Spherical shaped, found in groups
bacilli
rod shaped
vibrio
crescent shaped
spirochetes
spiral shaped bacteria
gram positive bacteria
bacteria which retain a stain once rinsed with a solvent after staining
gram negative bacteria
bacteria which do not retain a stain once rinsed with a solvent after staining.
Aerobic bacteria
Bacteria which grow and replicate only in the presence of oxygen
anaerobic bacteria
bacteria which can function without the presence of oxygen
binary fission
the process of cell division that bacterial cells undertake
mycelium
the networks formed by fungal cells
protozoa
single celled parasites
ectoparasites
parasites which live on the host
helminths
parasitic worms
