The Immune System and Disease Bacteria and viruses are all around us, so

why are we not sick all of the time?

• Our bodies have a series of defenses that
guard against disease.
• The immune system is the body’s main
defense against pathogens (disease
causing agents).
• The immune system is made up of two
defense mechanisms against disease:
– Nonspecific defense – similar to fortress walls
– Specific defense – similar to security guards

Chapter 40.2, 40.3

First Line of Defense Second Line of Defense

Keeping Pathogens Out The Inflammatory Response
• Pathogens must enter the body to cause
• The inflammatory
disease. response is a nonspecific
• Nonspecific defenses (the first line of defense) defense reaction to tissue
react in the same manner to all pathogens. damage caused by injury
or infection.
– Skin and mucous membrane act as a nonspecific
defense that keeps the pathogen out. • If pathogens do enter the
• A mucous membrane is a moist epithelial layer that is body, white blood cells
impermeable to most pathogens. Ex. Nasal passages, (WBC) are used as the
mouth, eyes, anus, etc. next defenders. WBC’s
• A mucous membrane produces mucous which is a sticky are also called
fluid that traps pathogens. leukocytes.

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 Types of White Blood Cells Types of White Blood Cells, cont.
• Phagocytes
– Used for short minor invasions.
– They cause an inflammatory response - red, swelling, hot, • Macrophages
fever - that usually can repel most small infections.
– Phagocytes engulf and digest pathogens (Phagocytosis). – Live longer and can repeat their destructive
– Phagocytes, dead cells, and pathogens make up pus. actions many times.
• The presence of pus indicates that phagocytes are combating
pathogens. – They are used in the immune response/main
– DEMO: Phagocytosis line of defense.
• Lymphocytes
– Used for longer, more serious, invasions.
Wound
Skin – We refer to their actions as the immune
Phagocytes move into the response.
area and engulf the bacteria
and cell debris – There are 2 types, T-cells and B-cells.
Bacteria enter
the wound
Capillary

Main Line of Defense Macrophages and Antigens

The Immune Response
• Your body’s cells are identified by marker
proteins.
• Specific Defense • Foreign bodies that enter also have marker
• The immune response is triggered by the proteins that are identified by your body as
“non-self” proteins = Antigens
presence of antigens.
• When macrophages find these antigens they
• includes lymphocytes and destroy the pathogen.
macrophages. – The macrophages save some of the invader’s
marker protein and display it on their surface like a
wanted poster to call other WBC’s into action.
– This marks all cells in your body with that antigen as
a target for elimination.
• Once the macrophage has sent out a marker
alert the T and B cells take over.

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 T-Cell Lymphocytes
• T-cells attack infected cells in a
process called cell-mediated
immunity.
• There are 3 types:
1. T-helper: circulate in your blood
and lymph and control the
immune response and direct other
T-cells.
2. T-killer: recognize and bind to
one specific antigen with their
specially designed receptor
proteins. Killer T cells destroy
infected cells only. They do not
destroy the pathogens
themselves.
3. T-suppressor: regulate the
immune response by speeding up
or slowing down the production of
T-cells and B-cells.
Review on Left Side
Defense Non Specific
Line of
Defense
Response
WBC’s
Also called:
B-Cell Lymphocytes
• B-cells attack the actual invading pathogen or foreign
agent.
• Once T-cells and B-cells have identified the antigen on
the macrophage, B-cells divide and develop into
plasma cells.
• Plasma cells manufacture antibodies.
– Antibodies are proteins that exactly fit the “non-self” marker
protein of the antigen.
– Antibodies are Y-shaped.
– Each antibody fits just one specific antigen.
• Antibodies circulate in the body locating appropriate
antigens to hook onto and signal phagocytes and
macrophages to surround and destroy the antigen with
chemicals.
• Your body is capable of producing millions of different
antibodies that are specific to one particular antigen.
• DEMO: Balloon Immune Response Activity
Structure of an Antibody
Specific Antigen-
binding
sites
Antigen Antibody
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 Pacing the Immune Response Primary and Secondary
and Immunity Immune Responses
• Primary Immune Response
– The first exposure to a pathogen.
– The body requires several days to form antibodies after the first
attack by an antigen.

Antibody Concentration
Interval
• Secondary Immune Response between
• The next exposure to a pathogen. First exposures Second
– Future attacks to the same antigen are rapid because of exposure exposure
memory cells, which are T-helper, T-killer, B-cells, that are
part of the army but don’t fight in the original infection. They can
circulate for the rest of your life waiting for another battle.
• If the body gets invaded by the same pathogen again,
the memory cells produce antibodies that are stronger Time
and last longer than the original antibodies.
• DEMO (Cell Wars)

Immunity Problems with the Immune System

• The process of warding off disease through Allergies - Autoimmune Diseases - Immune Deficiency
antibodies.
• Immunity prevents a person from getting certain
diseases, like measles or chickenpox, repeatedly. Allergies
• An immune system response against a non-
Active vs. Passive Immunity pathogenic antigen called an allergen.
• Active Immunity • Passive Immunity • Ex. Pollen, certain foods, dust, etc.
– immunity by – when antibodies to an – Your body produces many more antibodies to the pollen
vaccination antigen are made in antigen than it needs.
an animals body – The antibodies bind to the antigen and trigger a strong
– body makes its own
– lasts only a short time, inflammatory response.
antibodies in response
because the body – Cells in your nose release a chemical messenger,
to an antigen
destroys the foreign histamine, which causes swelling and release of fluid.
antibodies – Antihistamines block the histamine from being released
• Ex. Snake antivenin
and the swelling.

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 Autoimmune Diseases
• Result when the body manufactures “anti-
self” antibodies, and attacks its own cells.
• Ex. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) destroys the
myelin sheath that insulates and covers
neurons. It interferes and eventually stops
the travel of nerve impulses.
Immune Deficiency
• The body may lose its ability to attack invading
microorganisms and diseased cells.
– HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) attacks the
immune system. It invades macrophages and helper
T-cells.
– HIV transforms these cells into virus factories which
kills a large number of T-cells.
– The immune response cannot occur without helper T-
cells directing B-cells and Killer T-cells.
– The body becomes overrun with pathogens and
cancers that the body could normally fight off.
– A person has AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome) when the number of helper T-cells has
dropped to a very low level.

Stages of HIV Infection

Infection; Loss of immune Almost
Immune function more total loss
system Symptoms, such as apparent; appearance of cellular
eliminates swollen lymph nodes, of characteristic immunity;
most of HIV are few diseases such as AIDS
yeast infections

Relative HIV
concentration

T cell
concentration

Years