USTHB/CEIL 

Faculty of Biology 3rd year 2020/2021

S1 grammar point: passive voice unit 1

Immunity is a biological term that describes a state of having sufficient biological

defenses to avoid infection, disease, or other unwanted biological invasion. In other
words, it is nothing but the capability of the body to resist harmful microbes from
entering the body. Immunity involves both specific and non-specific components. The
non-specific components act either as barriers or as eliminators of wide range of
pathogens irrespective of antigenic specificity. Other components of the immune
system adapt themselves to each new disease encountered and are able to generate
pathogen-specific immunity.
Innate immunity, or nonspecific, immunity is the natural resistance with which a
person is born. It provides resistance through several physical, chemical, and cellular
approaches. Microbes first encounter the epithelial layers, physical barriers that line
our skin and mucous membranes. Subsequent general defenses include secreted
chemical signals (cytokines), antimicrobial substances, fever, and phagocytic activity
associated with the inflammatory response. The phagocytes express cell surface
receptors that can bind and respond to common molecular patterns expressed on the
surface of invading microbes. Through these approaches, innate immunity can
prevent the colonization, entry, and spread of microbes.
Adaptive immunity is often sub-divided into two major types depending on how the
immunity was introduced. Naturally acquired immunity occurs through contact with a
disease causing agent, when the contact was not deliberate, whereas artificially
acquired immunity develops only through deliberate actions such as vaccination.
Both naturally and artificially acquired immunity can be further subdivided depending
on whether immunity is induced in the host or passively transferred from an immune
host. Passive immunity is acquired through transfer of antibodies or activated T-cells
from an immune host, and is short lived—usually lasting only a few months—
whereas active immunity is induced in the host itself by antigen, and lasts much
longer, sometimes life-long.

I. Comprehension Questions

1. What is the role of the immune system?

………………………………………………………………..
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………

2. How is adaptive immunity divided?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 3. How does the body respond to any invader’s attack?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
II. Give synonyms of the following words
Harmful =………………… Entering =……………………….. Provided =……………
Generate =………… Barrier =………………………

III. Give opposites to the following words

Active ≠…………… Above≠………………… artificially≠…………………
adaptive≠ …………… harmful≠ ………………

IV. Show what you know about the immune system by filling in the blanks with
the vocabulary words from the word bank :

Word bank :
Antibodies/ antigen/ hand washing/ immune/ innate/ leukocytes/
lymph nodes/ lymphocytes/ phagocytes/ vessels.

1. The……………………………………………..system protects your body from sickness and

germs.
2. ………………………………………..are white blood cells that seek out and destroy
organisms or substances that can cause disease.
3. ………………………………………..are glands that work like filters to remove germs.
They’re found in your neck, armpits, and other areas.
4. Cells that chew up invading germs are called …………………………………..
5. ……………………………………………..are the cells that recognize invaders like germs.
6. Leukocytes travel through the body through lymphatic …………………………… ………..
7. A foreign substance that invades your body is called an ………………………………………
8. When your body detects an antigen, ………………………………………….are made and lock
onto it. Once an antigen is recognized, your immune system can remember it the
next time and protect you from getting sick again.
9. Humans are born with ……………………………..immunity.
10. ………………………………………….is one of the best ways to avoid infections and help
keep your immune system healthy.
 V. Complete the puzzle using the clues shown below.
1

7 8

10

11

The Immune System

Across
3 while many medical advances have been
made to safeguard against infection by.
4 less technical term for leukocyte.
5 the immunity that results from the
production of antibodies by the immune Down
system. 1 These mechanisms include physical
6 a localized physical condition in which part barriers such as skin, chemicals in the
of the body becomes reddened, swollen, blood is.
   
hot, and often painful. 2 pathogenic microorganisms, such as
7 a type of cell within the body capable of bacteria, viruses are caused by.
engulfing. 8 a lymphocyte of a type produced or
9 a lymphocyte not processed by the thymus processed by the thymus.
gland.
10 a blood protein produced in response to
and counteracting.
11 To function properly, this must detect a
wide variety of agents, known as pathogens.