The immune system (B1.1.2 How our bodies defend themselves against infectious diseases)

Question 1

Does the body only have one way of protecting itself against pathogens?

Answer 1

No. The body has different ways of protecting itself against pathogens.

Question 2

How do white blood cells help defend ourselves against pathogens?

Answer 2

• Ingesting pathogens.
• Producing antibodies.
• Producing antitoxins.

Question 3

What are antibodies?

Answer 3

Proteins which destroy particular bacteria or viruses.

Question 4

What is the role of antitoxins?

Answer 4

Counteracting the toxins released by pathogens.

Question 5

Can any types of antibodies destroy any types of pathogens?

Answer 5

No.

The immune system of the body produces specific antibodies to kill a particular pathogen.

Question 6

What does the production of antibodies against a particular pathogen lead to? (Rather than the fact that the pathogens are destroyed)

Answer 6

Immunity from that pathogen.

Question 7

How does vaccination work?

Answer 7

• Dead or inactive pathogens are injected into the body, stimulating antibody production.
• The body is able to rapidly produce large numbers of specific antibodies, immunising itself against pathogen.

Question 8

Why does vaccination against the measles virus will not protect a child against rubella virus?

Answer 8

• Because the antibodies produced by white blood cells to kill measles virus are specific.

Question 9

What is the good thing about a large proportion of the population being immune to a pathogen?

Answer 9

The spread of the pathogen is very much reduced.