INFECTION Flashcards
(1487 cards)
How can pathogens enter the body?
Eyes, mouth, nose, airways, uro-genital tract, skin, rectum
Immune system definition?
the collection of organs, tissues, cells, and cell products, whose role is to differentiate self from nonself.
Four key processes of the immune system?
Prevention
Recognition
Elimination
Memory
What is the first line of defence of the immune system?
Physical and chemical barriers
What is the second line of defence of the immune system?
Innate
What is the third line of defence of the immune system?
Adaptive
How is the skin adapted to prevent pathogens entering?
Tough outer layer of cells that produce keratin
Has oleic acid that can kill some bacteria
Secretes lysozyme
What is lysozyme?
An enzyme present in skin, tears and saliva that can break down the outer wall of some bacteria
What is oleic acid?
non-essential omega-9 fatty acid produced by the body which supports the skin barrier as it can kill some bacteria
How are mucosal membranes adapted to prevent pathogens entering?
Secretes mucus which traps foreign particles and pathogens
Some contain cilia to sweep mucus and particles out of the body
What is the overall distinguishing feature of the innate immune system?
Inflammation
The vast majority of infections are cleared by?
Innate immune system
Remember the defining characteristic of the immune system is to discriminate self from non-self
How is achieved in two ways for innate immunity?
Cells contain receptors that recognise common constituents of pathogens
The bodies own cells contain inhibitory mechanisms that prevent attacks on self
What do pattern recognition receptors found on host cells recognise and bind to?
Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)
Damage/Danger Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs)
What cell receptors recognise PAMPs/DAMPs?
Pattern Recognition receptors
An example of a Pattern Recognition receptor?
Toll like receptors (TLRs)
What does TLR4 detect?
Lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria
What toll like receptor detects lipopolysaccharide from gram-negative bacteria?
TLR4
What does TLR3 detect?
Double-stranded DNA which is common in viruses
What toll like receptor detects double-stranded DNA which is common in viruses?
TLR3
What does TLR2 detect?
Lipoteichoic acid from gram-positive bacteria
What toll like receptor detects lipoteichoic acid from gram-positive bacteria?
TLR2
What are the cells involved in the innate immune system?
Mast cells
Dendritic cells
Macrophages
Basophils
Natural killer cells
Complement proteins
Eosinophils
Neutrophils
What do phagocytes do?
Engulf and destroy other cells