IMMUNE DEFENSE

The Immune System

-The immune system is the bodys  natural defense against  disease-causing agents such as
bacteria, viruses and parasites.
-The immune system is made up of a complex and vital network
of cells and organs that protect the body from infection.

-It plays an important role in identifying and eliminating  abnormal cells.

The Human Immune System is divided into two broad  groups :

ØAdaptive Immune System
Always working to protect the body and does not require any  special preparation to stop
infection.
ØInnate Immune System
Needs to be 'primed' before it can work to its full effectiveness  though, and is only really
effective after it has seen a possible  infective agent before.
Major Players of Immune System
The major players in the immune system include:
-Macrophage
-T cells (helper, cytotoxic, memory)
-B cells (plasma, memory)
-Antibodies
-White Blood Cells – Lymphocytes
ØThe lymphocytes  are of 2 types
•T lymphocytes
•B lymphocytes
ØHigher rank officials of the immune system and have a sophisticated  mode of action.
Ø  Their importance is highlighted by the fact, that an absence of  lymphocytes, which occurs
in AIDS, leaves the body unprotected  from infections and finally leads to early death.

B- lymphocytes
ØThe B lymphocytes are present in lymph nodes.
ØUpon finding the relevant antigens get activated and transform  themselves to plasma cells.
ØPlasma cells secrete large quantities of antibodies  corresponding to the antigen found by
the B lymphocytes.
ØThese antibodies circulate in blood and attach to all infecting  organisms and cells present
in the body having the concerned  antigen.

T- lymphocytes

ØThis helps them recognize all the tissues of one‟s own body.

ØTheir response to an overwhelming infection, is in the form of  multiplication of the

particular cell family concerned with  destruction of the particular foreign antigen.
ØThey not only destroy the antibody coated cells but also stimulate
activation and formation of plasma cells by B lymphocytes.

The T lymphocytes are highly specialized and trained cells, which  intelligently tackle
infections by recognizing and multiplication of a  specific lineage of cells, which perform
higher immune functions

Antibodies

-Antibodies are  assembled out of  protein chains.

-There are many  different chains that  the immune system  assembles in different  ways to
make different  antibodies.
Antibodies as Receptors
-Antibodies can  attach to B cells, and serve to  recognize foreign  antigens.
Antigens as Effectors
•Free antibodies can  bind to
antigens, which  “tags” the antigen for  the immune system  to attack and destroy.

Role of antibodies
-Antibodies released into the  blood stream will bind to the  antigens that they are specific 
for.
-Antibodies may disable some  microbes, or cause them to stick  together (agglutinate).
-They “tag” microbes so that the  microbes are quickly recognized  by various white blood
cells.

Role of Skin
-Dead skin cells are  constantly sloughed  off, making it hard for  invading bacteria to 
colonize.
-Sweat and oils contain  anti-microbial  chemicals, including  some antibiotics.

Role of mucus and cilia

-Mucus contains lysozymes,  enzymes that destroy  bacterial cell walls.
-The normal flow of mucus  washes bacteria and virus  off of mucus membranes. Cilia in the
respiratory tract  move mucus out of the lungs  to keep bacteria and virus out

Role of phagocytes
-Phagocytes are several types  of white blood cells (including  macrophages and neutrophils) 
that seek and destroy  invaders. Some also destroy  damaged body cells.
-Phagocytes are attracted by an  inflammatory response of  damaged cells.

The not-so-common cold

-A “cold” is an infection  of the mucus  membranes of the  respiratory tract by a  rhinovirus.

-Over 100 rhinoviruses  have been identified, which is one  reason why we don‟t  become
immune to “the  cold.”
Virus vs. Bacteria

-Colds and influenza are caused by viruses.

-Viruses are which is a  non-living particle that  contains genetic  material, and hijacks  your
cells to reproduce.
-Viruses cannot be killed with antibiotics
-Bacteria are living  organisms that have a  metabolism, have
DNA, and can reproduce on their own.

-Bacteria can be killed  with antibiotics because  these substances target  key processes in 
bacteria, such as production of the  bacterial cell wall

Helping the Immune System

Medical science has  created to systems for  augmenting the human  immune system:
–Antibiotics
–Vaccines

How vaccines work

-Modern vaccines are created from killed bacteria or  viruses, or fragments of proteins from
these  microbes.
-The proteins are recognized as antigens by our  immune systems. This causes a mild
immune  response. Memory T-cells and B-cells remain ready  to fight off the illness if it is
encountered again.

AIDS
-AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)  is caused by an infection by the HIV
(Human  Immunodeficiency Virus), which attacks and  destroys T-helper cells. Because it
attacks the  immune system directly, finding a vaccine has  been difficult.
-Some drugs can slow down HIV  reproduction, but no cure exists yet. Prevention  is still the
best “cure"

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