Non-specific response to infection Flashcards
How do cells recognise if a cell is from inside or outside the body?
Cell markers on the membrane (glycoproteins)
In pathogens, these are called antigens
What are antigens?
Glycoproteins on the cell surface of pathogens that are recognised by the body during the immune response
What are the body’s non-specific responses to infection?
Inflamation
Fevers
Phagocytosis
When does inflammation occur?
Localised site of infection
What is the process of inflammation?
Mast cells (found in connective tissue) and basophils release histamines
Histamines cause blood vessels to dilate and cause heat and redness
Capillaries become leaky and plasma and neutrophils are forced out
What are mast cells?
Found in connective tissue and release histamines when the skin is broken as part of inflammation
What part of the brain controlls tempreture?
Hypothalamus
What are the advantages of having a fever?
Most pathogens reproduce best at below 37C so this slows down the growth of the disease
The immune system works best in hot tempretures
How does tempreture fluxuate when fighting a bacterial infection?
It rises steadily then remains high until the body overcomes the infection
How does tempreture fluxuate when fighting a bacterial infection?
It spikes every time a cell bursts and viruses are freed
What are the two main types of phagocytes?
Neutrophils
Macrophages
Can neutrophils or macrophages break down more pathogens?
Macrophages
Why can macrophages break down more pathogens than neutrophils?
The lysosomes of neutrophils do not renew
How does phagocytosis take place?
The pathogen is engulfed and put in a vesicle.
The vesicle fuses with a lysosome and the enzymes break it down
Cytokines released
What are cytokines?
Cell signalling to attract more phagocytes to the infection
