Immunity relationships

Question 1

What kinds of relationships does the immune system manage?

Answer 1

Parasitic/harmful relationship
–> microbes invading org
–> depleting resources

Symbiotic (essential)
mutualistic (beneficial)
–> provide nutrients
–> provide protection
–> trains immune cells

Question 2

Traditional role of the immune system:

Answer 2

Identify & Eliminate foreign bodies (non-self) and traitors (cancerous)

–> repair damage/reinstitute balance (stress/inflammation)

Question 3

How does the immune system manage external relationships?

Answer 3

Physical barriers
(skin + mucus membrane) inhospitable - waxy, covered in dead cells, impenetrable.

Chemical barriers (hot temperature, dry - lack of moisture, acidic pH)

Microbial barriers
(antimicrobial peptides, enzymes (lysozyme))

Question 4

How does a antimicrobial enzyme work (lysozyme)?

Answer 4

Disrupts cell wall of bacteria, digesting peptidoglycan in walls.

(Found in tears, saliva, mothers milk), not perfect but reduces bacteria to a manageable level.

Question 5

What happens when defenses are breached?

Answer 5

Inflammation

Question 6

Signs of inflammation? (5)

Answer 6

Redness, swelling, heat, pain, loss of function

Question 7

Why are there signs of inflammation? (5)

Answer 7

Increased blood flow (red)
–> blood vessels dilate
–> more blood flow (relocation of immune cells)
–> heat
–> more fluid (swelling)
–> pain (^^ pain receptors)

Question 8

Costs of Immunity

Answer 8

–> Energy expenditure
–> Risk of autoimmune response (attack self)
–> Resource allocation (resources diverted in immune may reduce resources available for other bodily functions)

Question 9

How is the immune system designed to fufill it’s function?

Answer 9

–> has barriers
–> has chemicals
–> redundancy (multiple cell types with overlapping functions)
–> resource management (energy conservation)
–> recognition (memory)