HUMAN DEFENSES

Host defense mechanims

ways in w/c the body protects
itself from pathogens.
Composed of :
Ist line of defense
2nd line of defense
3rd line of defense
Nonspecific host defense
mechanisms
are general and serve to protect the
body against many harmful substances.
a. Inborn/innate resistance
b. Mechanical/physical barriers
c. Chemical factors
d. Microbial antagonism
e. Inflammatory response
f. Fever
g. Phagocytic white blood cells
First line of defense
a. Physical barriers – skin and mucuos
membranes.

b. Cellular and chemical factors

* dryness of skin
* acidity & temperature
* sebum
*sweat
* mucous membranes produce mucus w/c
contains
- lysozyme – destroy bacterial
cell walls
- lactoferrin – protein that binds w/ Fe
- lactoperoxidase – enzymes that
produce superoxide
radicals
* swallowing of saliva
* digestive enzymes
* acidity of the stomach
* alkalinity of the intestines
c. Microbial antagonism
* competition for colonization sites
* competition of nutrients
* production of subs that kills other
bacteria.
Second line of defense ( cellular &
chemical responses)
Fever  production of interferrons 
activation of complement system 
inflammation  chemotaxis 
phagocytosis.
Fever
Normal body temp. 36.2 – 37.5 degrees
celcius.
Ave= 37 degrees celcius
Pyrogens = subs that stimulate the
production of fever.
Ex. Interleukin I =produced within the body
pathogens = produced outside the body
Interferons
- small antiviral proteins produce by virus
infected cells.
- they “ interfere” viral replication
3 types;
1. alpha – produced by B
lymphocytes,monocytes & macrophages
2. beta – produced by fibroblast
3. gamma – produced by T lymphocytes
and NK cells.
Characteristics of interferons
Unable to save virus infected cell
destruction, once they are released,
attached to the membrane of the
surrounding cell and prevent viral
replication.
Not virus specific
Species specific
Activation of complement system
- a group of approx. 30 different proteins
including 9 proteins designated as C1 to
C9.
- complementary to the action of the
immune system.
- interact in a stepwise manner known as
“complement cascade”
Consequences of complement
activation (5)
1. Initiation & amplification of
inflammation.
2. Attraction of phagocytes
3. Activation of leukocytes
4. Lysis of bacteria & other foreign cells
5. Increased phagocytosis ( opsonization)
inflammation
5 major events:
1. Tissue injury
2. Vasodilation
3. Increased permeability
4. Emigration of leukocytes
5. chemotaxis
4 primary purposes of inflammation
1. Localize an infection
2. Prevent the spread of microbial invaders
3. Neutralize toxins being produced at the
site
4. Aid in the repair of damaged tissues.
4 cardinal signs of inflammation
1. Redness
2. Heat
3. Swelling (edema)
4. pain
chemotaxis
- directed migration of phagocytes to
the site where they are needed.
- result of chemotactic agents
/chemotactic factors/ chemotactic
subs/chemoattractants.
Chemokines – chemotactic agents produced
by the body.
Phagocytosis
3 major categories of leukocytes
1. Monocytes – gives rise to macrophages
2. Lymphocytes
3. Granulocytes
a. eosinophils
b. basophils
c. neutrophils
2 most important groups of
phagocytes ( prof phagocytes)
1. Macrophages “ clean up crew”
a. fixed/histocytes
b. wandering
2. neutrophils
Phagocytic mechanism
1. Attachment
2. Ingestion
3. digestion
Mechanism by which pathogens
escape destruction by phagocytes
1. Presence of capsules/waxes
2. They produce enzymes ( leukocidin)
Disorders /conditions that adversely
affect phagocytic /inflammatory
process
1. Leukopenia = abnormally low # of
circulating leukocytes
2. Chediak- Higashi syndrome – decreased
neutrophil chemotaxis
3. Chronic granulomatous disease – repeated
bacterial infection
4. Nutritional status
5. Increased iron levels
6. Stress
7. Age
8. Cancer & cancer therapy
9. AIDS
10. Drugs
11. Various genetic defects.
SPECIFIC HOST
DEFENSE
MECHANISMS
Immunology
-scientific study of the immune system
and immune responses.

Immune responses
- involves complex interactions among
many diff. types of body cells and cellular
secretions.
Primary functions of IS
1. Differentiate between SELF and
NONSELF
2. Destroy which is NONSELF
Three lines of lymphocytes
1. B
2. NK
3. T
2 types:
a. helper T cells – T helper cells,
TH1/TH4 cells & CD4+ cells
fxn: secrete cytokines
b. cytotoxic T cells – TC cells & CD8+
cells

Fxn:destruction of virally infected host

cells
2 major arms of immune system
1. Humoral immunity
2. Cell – mediated immunity
Humoral immunity
Antibodies are produced by B cells to
recognize, bind with, inactivate & destroy
specific microbes.
Antibody-mediated immunity.
Cell –mediated immunity
Involvesa variety of cell types.
Antibodies play a minor role

Steps:
1. Engulfing and digesting a pathogen
2. TH cells binds to the determinants
3. Effector cells binds to target cells
4. Effector cells release vesicular proteins
5. Toxins produced by effector cells enter target
cells causing disruption of DNA. Target cell dies.
Immunity
- a condition of being immune/
resistant to a particular infectious disease.
Acquired immunity
- immunity acquired as life progresses.
- results from active production of
antibodies during one’s lifetime.
2 types of acquired immunity
1. Active acquired immunity
antibodies produced w/in the person’s
body.
a. natural active – entry of live pathogen
b. artificial active - vaccines
2. Passive acquired immunity
antibodies received by the person.
a. natural passive - colostrum
b. artificial passive – antisera
Artificial active acquired immunity
Vaccines – artificially induced immunity to
an infectious disease.
Types of vaccines:
a. Attenuated vaccines
b. Inactivated vaccines
c. Subunit vaccines
d. Conjugate vaccines
e. Toxoid vaccines
QUIZ
1-2 ( 2 ) types of host defense mechanism
3. Average normal body temperature.
4. Small antiviral proteins produced by
virus infected cells.
5-7 (3) types of inteferons
8-11 ( 4) cardinal signs of inflammation
12. Scientific study of the immune system
& immune responses.
13-14 ( 2) major arms of immune system
15. A condition of being resistant to a
particular infectious disease.
16. Immunity acquired as life progresses.
17. Artificially induced immunity to an
infectious disease.
18-20 ( 3) types of vaccines.