INNATE IMMUNITY:

NONSPECIFIC DEFENSES OF
THE HOST
Microbiology: An Introduction. 13th Ed.
Part 3 [Gerard Tortora J., Berdel Funke R.,
Christine Case L.] (2020) Chapter 16 pp.
445 – 472
TOPICS:

A. THE CONCEPT OF IMMUNITY

B. FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE: SKIN AND MUCOUS
MEMBRANES
B.1. Physical Factors
Continuation…TOPICS

B.2. Chemical Factors

B.3. Normal Microbiota and Innate Immunity
C. SECOND LINE OF DEFENSE
C.1. Formed Elements in Blood
C.2. The Lymphatic System
C.3. Phagocytes
C.4. Inflammation
C.5. Fever
Continuation…TOPICS

C.5. Antimicrobial Substances

C.5.a. The Complement System
C.5.b. Interferons
C.5.c. Iron-binding Proteins
C.5.d. Antimicrobial Peptides
C.5.e. Other Factors
B.2. Chemical Factors

 Certain chemical factors also play important roles

 SEBUM- prevents hair from drying and becoming
brittle
• also forms a protective film over the skin
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

 Unsaturated fatty acids (component of sebum)

 Skin’s acidity discourages the growth of many other

organisms

 Resultant organic molecules and end products of their

metabolism produce BODY ODOR
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

 Metabolized sebum can cause acne

 Isotretinoin can be a treatment for severe type of acne

called CYSTIC ACNE

 PERSPIRATION- helps maintain body temperature,

flush microorganisms from the surface of the skin
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

 LYSOZYME- enzyme capable of breaking down cell walls of

gram-positive bacteria

• - found in tears, saliva where it can exhibit it’s microbial

activity

 EARWAX- physical barrier functioning also as a chemical

protectant
• - inhibits the growth of many pathogenic microbes
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

 SALIVA- has a number of substances that inhibit

microbial growth (e.g. Lysozyme, urea and uric acid)
- Ph of saliva (6.55-6.85) also inhibits some microbes
- Contains an antibody(lgA) that prevents attachment to
microbes
GASTRIC JUICE-produced by the glands of the stomach
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

High acidity of gastric juice can destroy bacteria

- Mixture of hydrochloric acid, enzymes, mucus

- Helicobacter pylori (neutralizes stomach acid)

- Growth of bacterium triggers an immune response of gastritis
and ulcers
Continuation…B.2. Chemical Factors

 VAGINAL SECRETIONS- play a role in antibacterial

activity
- Lactobacillus spp. breaks down glycogen into lactic acid

URINE – has an acidic Ph (average 6) which inhibit

microbes
C.4. Inflammation

 Body’s tissues local defensive response

P- AIN
R- EDNESS
I- MMOBILITY
S- WELLING
H- EAT
Continuation…C.4. Inflammation

 FUNCTIONS:

– destroy the injurious agent

– walling off the injurious agents and it’s by-products
– repair or replace tissue

 ACUTE or CHRONIC INFLAMMATION

Continuation… C.4. Inflammation

 VASOLIDATION- responsible for the redness and heat

with inflammation

 INCREASED PERMEABILITY- permits defensive

substances retained in the blood

 EDEMA- accumulation of fluid in an infalmmation

Continuation…C.4. Inflammation

 TISSUE REPAIR( final stage of inflammation)

–Stroma (supporting connective tissue)

– Parenchyma ( functioning part of the tissue)

 FIBROSIS( process that forms scar tissue)

C.5.d. Antimicrobial Peptides

 Antimicrobial peptides are one of the most important

components of the innate immunity
• Were first discovered in the skin of frogs, the lymph of insects
and human neutrophils
• Have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities
• Synthesis of AMP’s are triggered by protein and sugar
molecules
Antimicrobial peptides are short peptides that consists of a chain of about 12-50 amino acids
synthesized on ribosomes
Continuation… C.5.d Antimicrobial Peptides

• MODE OF ACTIONS:
- inhibiting cell wall synthesis
-forming pores the plasma membrane
DERMIDICIN, DEFEDINS AND CATHELECIDINS,
THROMBOCIDIN
 Microbes don’t appear to develop resistance even though
the microbes are exposed to them for a long period of time
Continuation… C.5.d Antimicrobial Peptides

• Also AMP’s also participate in a number of other immune

functions

• Have also been found to recruit mast cells which increase

vessel permeability and vasolidation