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The Immune System and Disease It’s you against the world…
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What is a disease? A disease is any change, other than an injury, that disrupts the normal functions of the body. Some diseases are caused by pathogens, or “sickness-makers”. These are generally called infectious diseases. Pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, materials in the environment, etc. Other diseases can be hereditary. A disease is any change, other than an injury, that disrupts the normal functions of the body. Some diseases are caused by pathogens, or “sickness-makers”. These are generally called infectious diseases. Pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, materials in the environment, etc. Other diseases can be hereditary.
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The Germ Theory of Disease The idea that infectious diseases are caused by microorganisms of different types, or germs.
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Koch’s Postulates Pathogen should always be found in a sick individual Must be able to isolate pathogen and grow in culture in lab. When placed in new hosts, pathogen should cause same disease as original individual When isolated from second host, pathogen should be identical to original pathogen. Pathogen should always be found in a sick individual Must be able to isolate pathogen and grow in culture in lab. When placed in new hosts, pathogen should cause same disease as original individual When isolated from second host, pathogen should be identical to original pathogen.
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Agents of Disease For many pathogens, the human body is the perfect environment for growth - warm, dark and moist with an abundance of nutrients
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Viruses Tiny particles that invade and replicate in cells Can infect nearly every type of organism Tiny particles that invade and replicate in cells Can infect nearly every type of organism
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Bacteria Cause disease by either breaking down tissue for food or releasing toxins that harm the body
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Protists Unicellular eukaryotes that usually exist independently or in colonies and are not usually associated with disease Plasmodium - a protist that causes malaria Trypanosoma - causes African sleeping sickness Unicellular eukaryotes that usually exist independently or in colonies and are not usually associated with disease Plasmodium - a protist that causes malaria Trypanosoma - causes African sleeping sickness
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Worms Flatworms and roundworms are responsible for many human diseases Schistosoma Tapeworms Hookworms Flatworms and roundworms are responsible for many human diseases Schistosoma Tapeworms Hookworms
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Fungi Most are harmless - mushrooms Some cause serious problems Tinea pedis - athlete’s foot Most are harmless - mushrooms Some cause serious problems Tinea pedis - athlete’s foot
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How are diseases spread? Physical Contact Direct indirect Contaminated food and water Food poisoning Fecal-oral Infected animals Animals, such as mosquitos and ticks, can be vectors for disease. Physical Contact Direct indirect Contaminated food and water Food poisoning Fecal-oral Infected animals Animals, such as mosquitos and ticks, can be vectors for disease.
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The Lymphatic System
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How do we fight disease? Antibiotics Compounds that kill bacteria without harming the infected host cells. Work by interfering with cellular processes of bacteria Not effective against viruses Over-the-counter drugs Treat only the symptoms Antibiotics Compounds that kill bacteria without harming the infected host cells. Work by interfering with cellular processes of bacteria Not effective against viruses Over-the-counter drugs Treat only the symptoms
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The Immune System The Immune System is the body’s way of fighting infection through Immunity - the production of cells that inactivate foreign substances or cells.
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Non-Specific Defenses First line of defense - keep pathogens out of body Skin, mucus, sweat, tears Second line of defense Inflammatory response - nonspecific defense reaction to tissue damage caused by injury or infection Fever - A release of chemicals that increase the body’s core temperature. Slows down or stops growth of pathogens Increases heart rate to get white blood cells to infection faster Interferons - proteins that interfere with the growth of viruses First line of defense - keep pathogens out of body Skin, mucus, sweat, tears Second line of defense Inflammatory response - nonspecific defense reaction to tissue damage caused by injury or infection Fever - A release of chemicals that increase the body’s core temperature. Slows down or stops growth of pathogens Increases heart rate to get white blood cells to infection faster Interferons - proteins that interfere with the growth of viruses
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Specific Defenses If a pathogen is able to get past the non-specific defenses of the body, the immune system responds with an immune response - a series of specific defenses that attack a particular disease causing agent. Antigen - a substance that triggers this response If a pathogen is able to get past the non-specific defenses of the body, the immune system responds with an immune response - a series of specific defenses that attack a particular disease causing agent. Antigen - a substance that triggers this response
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Humoral Immunity When a pathogen invades the body, its antigens are recognized by B lymphocytes (B cells) which divide and produce large numbers of B cells and plasma cells Plasma cells release antibodies, which bind to antigens Once exposed to a pathogen, millions of B cells remain capable of producing antibodies specific to that pathogen. When a pathogen invades the body, its antigens are recognized by B lymphocytes (B cells) which divide and produce large numbers of B cells and plasma cells Plasma cells release antibodies, which bind to antigens Once exposed to a pathogen, millions of B cells remain capable of producing antibodies specific to that pathogen.
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Antibody Structure
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Cell-Mediated Immunity Viruses and other pathogens cannot be destroyed by antibodies alone The body’s primary defense against its own cells when they become infected. Also important in fighting fungi and protists Viruses and other pathogens cannot be destroyed by antibodies alone The body’s primary defense against its own cells when they become infected. Also important in fighting fungi and protists
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Acquired Immunity Active Immunity - appears after exposure to an antigen Vaccination - the injection of a weakened form of a pathogen to produce immunity Passive Immunity - antibodies against a pathogen which are produced by other animals are injected into the bloodstream Short-term. Body destroys foreign antibodies Active Immunity - appears after exposure to an antigen Vaccination - the injection of a weakened form of a pathogen to produce immunity Passive Immunity - antibodies against a pathogen which are produced by other animals are injected into the bloodstream Short-term. Body destroys foreign antibodies
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Immune System Disorders Allergies Asthma Autoimmune diseases AIDS Allergies Asthma Autoimmune diseases AIDS
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Preventing the Spread of Infectious Disease Chain of Transmission Reservoir Portal of exit Means of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host Hand washing Cover your cough Healthy diet Exercise and rest Just say no See the doctor Chain of Transmission Reservoir Portal of exit Means of transmission Portal of entry Susceptible host Hand washing Cover your cough Healthy diet Exercise and rest Just say no See the doctor
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