Immune system

 By the end of the lesson you should be

able to
 Outline the stages in phagocytosis.
 Describe how antibodies work and how
they are specific.
 First lines of defence
saliva tears
antibacterial antibacterial

enzymes enzymes
mucus linings
skin traps dirt and
prevents microbes
entry

stomach acid “good” gut

low pH kills bacteria out
harmful compete bad
microbes
 Pathogens
 = disease causing micro-organisms

 bacteria
 virus
 fungi,
 protozoa,
 parasite,
 prion
 Second lines of defence
 Involves white blood cells

 Non-specific response
 invading pathogens are
targeted by macrophages
 Specific response
 lymphocytes produce chemicals
called antibodies that target
specific pathogens
Phagocytes
 Phagocytes
 Monocytes and macrophages

 Provide a non-specific response to

infection

 http://www.microbelibrary.org/images
/tterry/anim/phago053.html
 Phagocytosis
 Stages in phagocytosis
1. Phagocyte detects chemicals released by a
foreign intruder (e.g. bacteria)
2. Phagocyte moves up the concentration
gradient towards the intruder
3. The phagocyte adheres to the foreign cell and
engulfs it in a vacuole by an infolding of the
cell membrane.
4. Lysosomes (organelles which are rich in
digestive enzymes & found in the phagocytes
cytoplasm) fuse with the vacuole & release
their contents into it.
 Phagocytosis
5. The bacterium is digested by the
enzymes, and the breakdown products
are absorbed by the phagocyte.

 During infection, hundreds of phagocytes

are needed.
 Pus is dead bacteria and phagocytes!

 link to phagocytosis
Pus
An accumulation of : -
 dead phagocytes

 destroyed bacteria

 dead cells
Lymphocyte
 Lymphocytes
Provide a specific immune response to
infectious diseases.
There are 2 types: -
- T-cells
- B-cells

They produce antibodies.

 Antigens

 all cells have

surface markers
called antigens.

 body can recognise

these as self or
non-self (foreign)
 Specific response
 Lymphocytes detect presence of foreign
antigens

 Stimulated to produce
specific proteins called
antibodies.
 antibodies combine with their specific
antigen (like a lock and key)

 this renders the pathogen harmless.

 = primary response
 Immunity

 = the bodies ability to resist infection

 can be natural or acquired

 Immunological memory
 after an infection is fought off some
lymphocytes become memory cells.

 if same pathogen returns memory cells stimulate

the produce the specific antibody very rapidly.
 the infection is fought off before symptoms
appear = secondary response
 vaccines can stimulate same response
 Immune system
Can you
 Outline the stages in phagocytosis.

 Describe how antibodies work and how

they are specific.

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