The Human Battle against the Microbe World

The Invaders . . .

Viruses

Bacteria

parasites
such as fungi,
protista, & worms
Our 1st Line of Defense...
The Integumentary System…
• Skin
• Mucous membranes
• Mucous
provides a physical barrier preventing microbial access

Other mechanisms of Defense...

Physiological variables
• pH of our environment
• temperature of our environment

Chemical defenses
• nitric oxide, enzymes, proteins
AND the IMMUNE SYSTEM…
A Brief Overview of Immunology
 Basic Definitions
• Immune system = cells, tissues, and molecules that mediate
resistance to infections

• Immunology = study of structure and function of the immune system

• Immunity = resistance of a host to pathogens and their toxic effects

• Immune response = collective and coordinated response to the

introduction of foreign substances in an individual mediated by the cells
and molecules of the immune system
 Role of the immune system

• Defense against microbes

• Defense against the growth of tumor cells

• kills the growth of tumor cells

• Homeostasis
• destruction of abnormal or dead cells
(e.g. dead red or white blood cells, antigen-antibody complex)
Immune System

1. Organs

2. Cells

3. Molecules
Immune System: (1) organs

• Tonsils and adenoids

• Thymus
• Lymph nodes
• Spleen
• Payer’s patches
• Appendix
• Lymphatic vessels
• Bone marrow
Immune system: (2) cells
Lymphocytes

 Cytotoxic T cells
 Helper T cells

Memory cells
Natural Killer cells
 Large granular lymphocytes (not B or T)

 Kills tumor cells

 Kills cells infected with certain viruses

(intracellular pathogens)
 Monocytes/Macrophage

 Phagocytosis and killing of

microorganisms
 Activation of T cells and initiation
of immune response

 Monocyte is a young macrophage in

blood

 There are tissue-specific

macrophages

 APC cells
 Dendritic Cells

 Phagocytosis and killing of

microorganisms

 Function as antigen presenting cells

(APC)

 In the blood and tissues – mature and

migrate to the lymph nodes
 Neutrophil
 Granulocyte
 Cytoplasmic granules

 Polymorphonuclear
 Phagocytosis
 Short life span (hours)
 Very important at “clearing” bacterial
infections
 Innate Immunity
 Eosinophils
 Kills Ab-coated parasites through
degranulation

 Involved in allergic inflammation

 A granulocyte

 Double Lobed nucleus

 Orange granules contain toxic compounds

 Basophils

 Might be “blood Mast cells’

 A cell-killing cells
 Blue granules contain toxic and
inflammatory compounds

 Important in allergic reactions

 Antigen-presenting cells (APC)

 Highly specialized

 Process antigen and display peptide fragments on cell surface

 Involved in T-cell activation

 Examples: Macrophages, dendritic cells and B-cells

 Immune system: (3) molecules
• Antibodies: An antibody (Ab), also known as an immunoglobulin
(Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein produced mainly by plasma cells
that is used by the immune system to identify and neutralize
pathogens such as bacteria and viruses.
• Complement: The complement system is a part of the immune
system that helps or "complements" the ability of antibodies and
phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells from an
organism. Over 30 proteins and protein fragments make up the
complement system, including serum proteins and cell membrane
receptors.
• Cytokines: Cytokines are small secreted proteins released by cells
have a specific effect on the interactions and communications
between cells. Cytokine is a general name; other names include
lymphokine (cytokines made by lymphocytes), monokine
(cytokines made by monocytes), chemokine (cytokines with
chemotactic activities), and interleukin (cytokines made by one
leukocyte and acting on other leukocytes), Interferons (cytokines
produced by white blood cells, fibroblasts, or T-cells as part of an
immune response to a viral infection or other immune trigger. The
name of the proteins comes from their ability to interfere with the
production of new virus particles/ inhibiting virus replication.
 Two types of immunity: Innate vs. Adaptive immunity
1. Innate /non-adaptive
• First line of defense (present in all individuals at all times)
• Immediate (0 – 4 hours)
• Non-specific
• relies on mechanisms that exist before infection
2. Acquired /Adaptive
• Second line of response; relies on mechanisms that adapt after infection,
• Takes time to develop (>4 days)
• initiated if innate immune response is not adequate (> 4 days)
• Antigen-specific immunity
• handled by T- and B- lymphocytes; Generates lasting protective immunity (e.g. Antibodies, memory T-cells)
 Humoral immunity (antibody–mediated specific immunity)
 Cell-mediated immunity (The aspect of the adaptive immune response where antigen-specific T cell
have a main role)
Immune system cells
ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY
 Failure of immune response
• Immune response helps individuals defend against
• microbes
• some cancers
• Immune response can fail
• hypersensitivity reactions
• immunodeficiency

Hypersensitivity reactions Immunodeficiency