The Body's Response to TB (Primary Infection) Flashcards
What is Tuberculosis?
TB is a contagious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis that affects the lungs.
How did the death from TB decrease in the UK?
Improved housing and living conditions.
Development of antibiotics.
How does the infection occur?
TB bacteria is inhaled and lodged in the lungs and multiply.
What are the two phases to the disease?
Primary Infection (First phase) Active tuberculosis (Second Phase)
How long does the Primary infection last for? Will the patient have any symptoms?
A few months. Patient may not have any symptoms.
What do macrophages do in the primary infection? What forms? What is it called?
They engulf bacteria. A mass of tissue known as granuloma forms.
Why is granuloma produces and outline details about it.
Granuloma is produced in response to infection.
In TB the tissue masses are anaeorobic and have dead bacteria and macrophages in the middle.
What are Granuolma (tissue mass) known as in TB
Tubercules
What happens after 3-8 weeks to the infection?
It is controlled and the infected region of the lung heals.
What are obligate aerobes?
Need oxygen to survive.
How does TB bacteria survive in macrophages?
When they are taken up during phagocytosis, they resist the killing mechanisms used by these cells.
How does TB bacteria resist the killing mechanism in macrophages?
Have very thick waxy cell walls, making it difficult to break down.
Lie dormant for years, and if the immune system is week the infection becomes active again.
What can TB bacteria also do besides survive and breed inside macrophages?
Suppress T Cells which reduces antibody production and attack by killer T cells.
