Overview

Immunis Latin meaning exempt

Immunology refers to all the mechanisms
used by the body as protection against
environmental agents that are foreign to
the body

Immunology how the body distinguishes
self from nonself


Pasteurs Contributions to
Science
Recognized that chickens became immune
to a bacterial pathogen if injected with a
weaken avirulent strain.
Developed vaccines against rabies and
anthrax
1800- French Government enlisted his help
in their Wine Industrywhy? Showed
showed that the decline in quality was due
to a contaminating microbePasteurization


Jenner - Smallpox vaccine
Noticed that milkmades that had contracted cowpox
did NOT get smallpox
Test on an 8 year old boy, injected cowpox into him
(NOT very nice)
Follwed by exposure to smallpox
Vaccine was invented (latin vacca means cow)
Vaccines continue
- Louis Pasteur..
Anthrax, Rabies, & Cholera vaccines
developed

Modern vaccines are prepared from
living,
avirulent microorganisms or killed
pathogens, from isolated components
of
pathogens, and by recombinant DNA
techniques.
Physical Barriers to Pathogens
Before considering innate and adaptive immune
mechanisms, it is worth noting that there are various
non-immune, natural physical barriers prevent
entry and/or the establishment of pathogens:
skin
mucus
tears (lysozyme)
ciliated epithelial cells
low pH in the GI tract

These physical barriers are of great importance in
protecting the host from infection, providing effective
barriers that can be penetrated by few infectious
agents.
Innate vs Acquired
Immunity
Innate Immunity
Non-specific
Born with
Always present
Available quickly
Physical and Chemical barriers
Skin, mucous membranes,
pH, enzymes
Cellular Defenses
Phagocytosis and
extracellular killing
Inflammation
Fever
Biological Active Substances
Acquired Immunity
Induced by immunization
Adaptive
Highly specific
Carried out by activated
lymphocytes
T cells and B cells
Antigen presentation
interactions b/w
lymphocytes and
phagocytes
Acquired Immunity is induced
by Immunization
Active immunization administration of Ag

Passive Immunization transfer of specific
Ab from an immunized individual to a non-
immunized individual

Adoptive Transfer (Immunization) transfer
of immunity by transfer of immune cells
Characteristics of the Immune
Response
Specificity ability to discriminate among different molecular
entities

Adaptiveness ability to respond to a previously unseen
molecule

Discrimination b/w self and nonself recognition of Ag
mainly by lymphocyte surface receptors

Memory ability to recall previous contact and mount a more
rapid and larger response (anamnestic response)

In addition to this, several features of immune
responses, such as memory and specificity, have
captivated the interest of biologists for many years.

Cells Involved in the
Acquired Immune Response
Lymphocytes major cellular players in the
immune response (1950)
Three major cell types involved in acquired
immunity
Common lymphoid precursor
T cell matures in the thymus
B cell matures in bone marrow
Ag-presenting cells (APC)
Myeloid progenitor
Macrophages and dendritic cells
Ag-Presenting Cells (APC)
Do not have Ag-specific receptors as do lymphocytes

Process and present Ag to T cells

Present Ag in context with major histocompatibility complec
MHC

MHC molecules responsible for rejection or acceptance of
transplanted tissue
MHC Class I presents to cytotoxic T cells
MHC Class II presents to helper T cells
Other Cell types
Neutrophils and mast cells

Participate in both innate and acquired immunity

Involved in effector phases of the response

No specific Ag recognition function

Activated by cytokines
Three Phases of Immune
Responses
Recognition Phase
Binding of foreign Ag to specific receptors on
mature lymphocytes
Activation Phase
Sequence of events induced in lymphocytes as a
consequence of Ag Recognition
All lymphocytes undergo two major changes
Proliferation (amplification)
Differentiation
Lymphocyte migration home to sites of Ag
entry and persistence

Three Phases of Immune
Responses
Effector Phase
Lymphocytes specifically activated to perform
functions for elimination of Ag
Work w/ other non-lymphoid effectors cells
(nuetrophils and phagocytes)
Complement lysis and phogocytosis of
microbes
Cytokines
Protein hormones secreted by activated T
cells
Enhance function of phagocytes and stimulate
inflammation