Immunity Flashcards
(18 cards)
Disease
a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.
Infectious
of a disease or disease-causing organism) liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc. through the environment.
Non infectious
of a disease or disease-causing organism) not liable to be transmitted through the environment.
Pathogen
a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
Microbe
a microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation.
Cellular pathogen
A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host. The term is most often used for agents that disrupt the normal physiology of a multicellular animal or plant. However, pathogens can infect unicellular organisms from all of the biological kingdoms
Non cellular pathogen
Non-cellular life refers to organisms, such as viruses, that exist without any cells, and it is a very controversial topic. The cell theory, which is one of the fundamental tenets of biology, states that all living things are composed of cells and that cells are the basic units of life.
Innate immunity
Innate immunity refers to nonspecific defense mechanisms that come into play immediately or within hours of an antigen’s appearance in the body. These mechanisms include physical barriers such as skin, chemicals in the blood, and immune system cells that attack foreign cells in the body
Adaptive immunity
The adaptive immune system, also known as the acquired immune system or, more rarely, as the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system that is composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate pathogens or prevent their growth
Three lines of defence
In the Three Lines of Defense model, management control is the first line of defense in risk management, the various risk control and compliance over- sight functions established by management are the second line of defense, and independent assurance is the third
Natural flora
The normal flora are bacteria which are found in or on our bodies on a semi-permanent basis without causing disease. There are more bacteria living in or on our bodies, than we have cells of our own. A human body contains around 1013 cells.
Antigen
a toxin or other foreign substance which induces an immune response in the body, especially the production of antibodies.
Antibody
a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen. Antibodies combine chemically with substances which the body recognizes as alien, such as bacteria, viruses, and foreign substances in the blood.
Inflammation
a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
Mucous
a slimy substance, typically not miscible with water, secreted by the mucous membranes and glands of animals for lubrication, protection, etc.
Phagocyte
a type of cell within the body capable of engulfing and absorbing bacteria and other small cells and particles.
Phagocytosis
the ingestion of bacteria or other material by phagocytes and amoeboid protozoans.
White blood cell
a colourless cell which circulates in the blood and body fluids and is involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell. There are several types, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, and monocytes
