Elaborate immune response system and their categories, Biology

Assignment Help:

Elaborate Immune Response system and their categories?

The immune response is a group of defenses that the body has developed to combat disease-producing agents, or pathogens. The most common pathogens are bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and a few invertebrate multicellular organisms.

One of the primary means of defense against invasion by pathogens is the normal body flora; that is, bacteria and fungi that live and reproduce in great numbers on skin surfaces, mucous membranes, and in the gastrointestinal tract. The natural flora compete with pathogens for nutrients, and some produce inhibitory compounds that are toxic to pathogens. Other lines of defense include mucus and cilia in the respiratory tract, an enzyme called lysozyme in tears and saliva, acid in the stomach, bile salts, and the acid secreted by the vagina.

The immune response can be divided into two categories: non-specific and specific defenses. One of the non-specific defenses are the phagocytes. The phagocytes involved here are of two types: neutrophils, small white cells with irregular nuclei; and macrophages, large white cells. Pathogenic microorganisms become attached to the membrane of a phagocyte, and engulfed in an endocytic vesicle by phagocytosis. Lysosomes then fuse with the vesicles, and destroy them with enzymes called lysozymes. A single phagocyte can lyse (break down) up to 25 bacteria.

Another non-specific defense against pathogens is inflammation, a generalized body response to infection, mechanical injuries, and burns. The blood capillaries in the affected tissues become more permeable ("leaky"), and plasma and some white blood cells escape into the surrounding tissues where they can deal with the problem. In these cases, problems might range from fighting off invading viruses or bacteria to cleaning up broken cell parts or dead cells.

Infection that extends throughout the body, or generalized infection, is accompanied by fever. Elevated temperature actually slows growth or kills certain pathogens. However, if the temperature is too high, it can damage body tissues, particularly brain cells. Viral infections cause the infected cells to produce small amounts of a glycoprotein substance called interferon. Interferon interferes with the replication of viruses. Interferons affect any type of virus. Genetic engineers are able to synthesize interferon in vitro; that is, in the laboratory, and it is being used to combat many types of viral diseases.


Related Discussions:- Elaborate immune response system and their categories

What resources are competed for by animals, What resources are competed for...

What resources are competed for by (a) animals, (b) plants?  (a) Animals compete for food, mates and shelter.  (b) Plants compete for light, water and minerals.

What cells produce the pigment in hair, 1.How does the skin on your palm di...

1.How does the skin on your palm differ from that on the back (posterior) of your hand? 2.Describe the differences observed in the type and distribution of hair on the front (anter

Super cooling - temperature relations in animals, Normal 0 fals...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

What is the probability of two individuals, What is the probability of two ...

What is the probability of two individuals (AaBBccDd and aaBbCcDd) having a child with the following genotype AaBBCcDD?

Why plant nutrients is said to be essential, Why plant nutrients said to be...

Why plant nutrients said to be essential An element is said to be essential if,   (i)   The deficiency of an element in plant, makes it impossible to complete the vegetative

What is the population of ecology explain, What is the Population of Ecolog...

What is the Population of Ecology explain? Ecology is also studied at a higher level of organization the population level. In biological terms, a population is defined as a gro

Leptospirosis, L e p t o s p i r o s i s It is zoonotic dis...

L e p t o s p i r o s i s It is zoonotic disease characterized by interstitial nephritis, haemolytic anaemia and abortions. E t iology : The disease i

What would we conclude from pcr/dgge, What would you conclude from PCR/DGGE...

What would you conclude from PCR/DGGE (denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) analysis of a sample that yielded one band by PCR and one band with DGGE? One band by PCR and two ba

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd