MECHANISM AND LINE

DEFENSE AGAINST
ENVIRONMENTAL
PATHOGENS
Understanding The Body’s
Immune System
Explain the constant threat of environmental pathogens to human health
highlight the importance of the body’s defense mechanism

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Environmental pathogens- refer to microorganisms or agents found
in the environment that have the potential to cause diseases in
living organisms, including humans, animals or plants.

Virus Bacteria Fungi

 THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

• Is a complex network cells, tissues,

and organs that work together to
defend the body against harmful
invaders such as bacteria, viruses,
fungi and other pathogens.

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Two primary types of Immune system

Innate Immune Adaptive

System Immune System
 Innate Immunity Response

• Is a first line of defense against pathogens and

provides immediate, nonspecific protection
against wide a wide range of pathogens. It
includes physical barriers like the skin, as well
as various cells and proteins that recognize
and attack invaders.
 Here are the key elements of
innate immunity response
PHYSICAL BARRIERS
• Skin- the outer layer of the CHEMICAL BARRIERS
skin acts as a physical barrier
preventing pathogens from • Strong acids – destroys
entering the body . many ingested pathogens.

• Mucuos membranes- • Enzymes and Antimicrobial

mucuos membranes in the protein - that are in saliva,
respiratory, digestive, and tears, and bodily fluids to
other systems produce counteract pathogens
mucus, trapping and
expelling pathogens.
 Cellular Barrier
• Phagocytes( Neutrophils,
Macrophages)- engulf and
digest pathogens.
• Natural Killer (NK) Cells-
Identify and destroy
infected or abnormal cells.
Note: Natural Killer cells these are
white blood cells that destroys
infected cells and cancer cells in our
body
Cytokine Barriers
• The cells which have
been infected by virus
starts secreting
Interferons which
prevents the spread of
infection.
Note: they are antiviral proteins
they are family of cytokine mediator
critically involved in alerting cellular
immune system to viral infection of host
cells
Adaptive Immune Response
• is highly specific defense system that
develops throughout life, offering
targeted responses to a specific
pathogens.
 T CELLS
• T cells or T lymphocytes, are type of
white blood cell that is crucial for
adaptive immune response. They
mature in the thymus gland .

• Helper T cells( CD4+)- • Cytotoxic T cells ( CD8+)-

coordinate immune directly attack and destroy
responses by releasing infected or abnormal cell. They
cytokines and assisting other recognize antigens presented on
immune cells. the surface of the cells.
 B CELLS
• B cells or B lymphocytes are another type of
white blood cell involved in the adaptive
immune response. They mature in the bone
marrow

Plasma Cells
Comparison Between Innate Immunity
and
Adaptive Immunity