Immunology: mechanism of self defense Flashcards
(149 cards)
Innate immunity definition
the basic resistance to disease that a species possesses - the first line of defense against infection
characteristics of the innate immune response
- Broad-Spectrum (non-specific)
- no memory or lasting protective immunity
- limited repertoire of recognition molecules
Not equipped to fight something major – just general traffic, maintaining integrity
Antigen
Foreign Invader, Intruder
Antibody
Your Fire-power
Leukocytes
Your Soldiers
Phagocytes
Eaters - We eat our enemies
Macrophages
Big Eaters
Opsonization
Coating (coating surface of antigen, so possibly dealt w/later in various ways)
1st, 2nd, and 3rd line of defense
- First line of defence
- Innate resistance
- Second line of defence
- Inflammation
- Third line of defence
- Adaptive (acquired) immunity. Very Specialized soldiers/specific reactions
What is our 1st line of defense?
- physical and mechanical barriers
- biochemical barriers
- anatomic barriers
- physiologic barriers
- chemical factors
- Endocytic and phagocytic barriers
- biochemical barriers
Why do smokers develop respiratory infections, chronic bronchitis?
Failure in 1st line of defense: loss of ciliary action –> inflamed and chronically inhabited by bacteria
Physical and mechanical barriers
1st line of defense
- skin
- lining of GI, GU, respiratory tracts
- sloughing off of cells
- coughing & sneezing
- flushing
- vomiting
- mucus & cilia
Biochemical barriers
- Synthesized and secreted saliva, tears, earwax, sweat, and sebum
- sebaceous glands in skin secrete antibacterial and antifungal FAs and lactic acid
- perspiration, tears, saliva contain lysozome, which attacks cell walls of gram-positive bacteria (= acidic skin surface)
- Normal Flora – bacteria that live w/us, prevent other invaders. Our health depends on them in addition to our own genetic material *
What causes an “opportunistic infection”?
infection - taking advantage of weakened immune system
biochemical barriers and opportunistic infections
Antibiotics: subsequent vaginal infection, etc – b/c normal flora has been changed along w/ridding body of problem. in vaginal infections, protective lactobacillus is diminished leading to growth of other bacteria and yeast
Antimicrobial Peptides
- Biochemical barriers: proteins secreted by epithelial surfaces of body.
- 2 classes: Cathelicidins & Defensins
- class division based on structure
- high local concentrations. Toxic to several bacteria, fungi, viruses
Cathelicidins
- small cationic peptides that possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity
- linear alpha-helical shape
- only one known to function in humans
- stored in neutrophils, mast cells, variety of epithelial cells
Defensins
- Defensins are a family of small cationic, antibiotic peptides that contain six cysteines in disulfide linkage
- abundant in phagocytes and small intestinal mucosa
- about 50 different defensins ID’d thus far

Defensin structure
- triple-stranded ß-sheet structures
- 3 intrachain disulfide bonds
- Carboxy end and NH2 end
- Subdivided depending on how many cystein residues are connected in formation of disulfide linkages
- into alpha (at least 6 in humans) and beta (at least 10, but maybe up to 40) types
alpha vs beta defensins
- alpha
- often require activation by proteolytic enzymes
- esp in granules of neutrophils, paneth cells lining sm intestine
beta defensins: variety of epithelial cells lining respiratory, urinary, intestinal tracts, & skin.
- beta defensins
- synthesized in active forms
- Have antibacterial properties AND
- may also help protect epithelial cells from HIV!
- Both classes can activate cells of innate and adaptive immunity
how antimicrobial peptides kill bacteria
bacteria have cholesterol-free cell membranes - may allow cathelicidins to insert selves into and disrupt membranes
Defensins have similar chemical charge to cathelicidins and may work in same way
Physiologic Barriers
1st line of defense
- Temperature
- pH
- Oxygen Tension
1st line of defense: Temperature
- normal body temperature inhibits growth of most microorganisms.
- Elevated body temperature (fever) can have a direct effect on pathogenic microorganisms.
1st line of defense: pH
low pH of stomach, skin, & vagina (inhibits microbial growth)



























