Immune response Flashcards
which types of antibodies bind to antigens on the surface of pathogens?
- opsonins
- agglutinins
which cells result from clonal expansion?
- B plasma cells
- B memory cells
- T memory cells
communicable disease
diseases that can be passed from one organism to another of the same or different species
pathogen
microorganisms that cause disease
types of pathogen
- bacteria
- virus
- protoctista
- fungi
vectors
living or non-living factor that transmits a pathogen from one organism to another (e.g. mosquito)
how are bacteria classified?
- basic shapes
- cell walls
shapes of bacteria
- rod
- chain of rods
- coccus
- pair of cocci
- chain of cocci
- cluster of cocci
- comma
- spiral
- corkscrew
types of bacterial cell walls
- gram positive (purple/blue)
- gram negative (pink/red)
why is the classification of bacteria important?
the type of cell wall affects how bacteria reacts to different antibiotics (most antibiotics inhibit cell wall growth)
basic virus structure
DNA or RNA surrounded by protein
viruses that attack bacteria (and why are they important)
bacteriophage can be used to attack bacterial infections in other organisms
what type of protoctista cause disease?
parasitic protoctista
how do protoctista spread disease?
- directly e.g. through polluted water
- through a vector e.g. malaria via mosquitoes
sporophytic vs parasitic fungi
saprophytic fungi feeds on decaying matter
parasitic fungi feeds on living matter and causes disease
how do fungi spread?
spores transported long distances by wind
two pathogen modes of action
- damaging host tissue directly
- producing toxins which damage history tissues
how do viruses cause damage?
directly:
- take over cell metabolism
- inject viral DNA into host cell to make new viruses which results in cell lysis
- viruses spread to other host cells
what causes the symptoms of disease?
- damage to host cells
- body’s response to damage
how do protoctista cause damage?
directly:
- some take over cells and break them open to release new generation (but don’t insert DNA)
- digest and use cell contents as they reproduce
how do fungi cause damage?
directly:
- digest living cells
indirectly:
- release toxins
how do bacteria cause damage?
indirectly:
- produce toxins
- toxins may break down plasma membranes of host cells, activate enzymes, interfere with genetic material to inhibit mitosis
(important note: toxins are just a by-product of the normal functioning bacteria)
two main types of communicable disease transmission
- direct
- indirect
types of direct transmission
- direct contact
- inoculation
- ingestion
