THE BODY DEFENSE MECHANISM

y The body defence mechanism protects the body against

infectious diseases through the three lines of defence system

(a) First line of defence

skin and mucous membrane (b) Second line defence phagocytic white blood cells (c) Third line of defence - lymphocytes

The role of the circulatory system in the bodys defence mechanism

Sweat First line of defence

Antibody Skin

Third line of defence First line of defence

Mucus membrane Neutrophils Phagocytic white blood cells

First line of defence Second line of defence Second line of defence

FIRST LINE MECHANISM

y The role of SKIN in the first defence mechanism: 1. The epidermis of skin consist of closely packed cell that

forms a physical barirer against microorganism. 2. The sebaceous gland secrete sebum that contain acid lactic which causes skin become acidic. 3. Chemical in the sweat secreted by the sweat gland destroy the microorganism in the skin.

y The role of mucous membrane in the first line defence

mechanism: 1. The epithelium layer secretes mucus to protects, lubricate and trap microorganism that enter respiratory tracts. There are many cilia which trap microorganism and filter the air. 2. Mucus in saliva contain lysoenzyme which traps and destroys bacteria in the mouth. 3. Lysoenzyme in the tears acts as an anti bacterial enzyme to destroy some bacteria.

SECOND LINE MECHANISM

y The second defence involves phagocytes to destroy the microorganism that suceed to entering the body. y The process of phagocytosis: - The phagocyte appproches the phatogen and surrounds it by using pseudopodium. - The phagocyte then engulf the bacteria, and ingest by forming a vacuole. - Enzymes secreted into vacoule to digest and destroy it.

THIRD LINE MECHANISM

y The third line of defence involves the production of antibodies by lymphocytes. y Antigen are foreign subtances usually protein in the microorganism, phatogens or toxins produce by bacteria. y The body will stimulate lymphaocyte to produce specific type of protein called antibody to react with antigen. y The reaction of antibody is specific: - Agllutinin cause the antigen to clump together - Lysin

destroy the antigen by dissoving the antigen s membran - Antitoxin neutralises the toxin produced by the antigen

Opsonins are antibodies that bind with antigens to act as markers so that phagocytes can recognize the antigens and destroy them.

An antibody can neutralize the toxins produced by bacteria by binding to the toxin. This prevents the toxin from attaching to cells and causing damage.

Antibodies can clamp pathogens together. The clumping makes the pathogens easy targets for phagocytes to capture and destroy

Lysins are antibodies that bind to antigens and cause the antigens to rupture or disintegrate

IMMUNITY AND IMMUNISATION

y Immunity is the ability of the body to resist an infection of

phatogen by producing specific antibody.

y Immunisation is the process of acquiring an immunity to a

disease by artificial means.

y Immunisation is carried out through the process of injection

either by injection of vaccine or injection of serum containing antibodies to acquire immunity.

TYPES OF IMMUNITY
Types of immunity

Active immunity

Passive immunity

Naturally acquired

Artificial acquired

Naturally acquired

Artificial acquired

Active immunity means the body produces its own antibodies in response to stimulation by an antigen Passive immunity means the body receive antibodies from outside source

NATURAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY

y Natural active immunity is acquired when a person has

recovered from a disease. y When the person recover from the disease, there are excess antibodies to protect body against further infection by the same pathogen in the future. y If the same pathogen enter the body again, the lymphocytes will immediately produce more antibodies. y The body is immune against the disease and the person is said to acquired natural active immunity. Example : Chicken pox and measles.

ARTIFICIAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY

y Artificial active immunity is acquired through injection of vaccine. y The presence of pathogens whether dead or weakened in vaccine

will stimulate the lymphocytes to produce antibodies against the pathogens. y After the first injection of the vaccine, the antibodies are produce slowly and are sufficient to reach the effective immunity level. y The second injection will stimulate the lymphocytes to produce more antibodies quickly so that the concentration of antibodies will reach effective immunity level. y Example : BCG for tuberculosis and Salk vaccine for poliomyelitis

NATURAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY

y Natural passive immunity is acquired when the body

receives antibodies by natural means.

y This types of immunity can be acquired naturally from

mother via placenta or the breast milk.

y The immunity can give protection for a certain diseases in a

few month only.

y Natural passive immunity is short-lived because the

immunity response is not stimulated by the antigen.

ARTIFICIAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY

y Artificial passive immunity is acquired through the injection of

y y y y

serum which contains the antibodies against a particular disease. The serum can be obtained from blood of animal which have disease or recovered from it. The antibodies are injected directly into the body and react immediately against the specific antigens. The injection can only induced a short-lived immunity because the level of antibody decrease rapidly. Example : Tetanus, diptheria, rabies and snake bites.

Artificially acquired Active immunity Vaccine containing dead or weakened pathogen. Before a person is infected with a disease

Aspect

Artificially acquired Passive immunity

Type of injection Time of injection Time taken to achieve immunity

Serum containing specific antibodies At the time when a person is infected or at a high risk of getting the disease. Ready made antibodies give immediate immunity

Body needs time to synthesise antibodies

Long lasting duration of immunity Needed for certain diseases like hepatitis B because the first injection usually induces a slow production and low level of antibodies.

Duration of immunity Necessity of a booster dose

Short duration of immunity

Normally not needed. First injection offers sufficient immunity

y ACTIVE IMMUNITY 1. Active immunity can be obtained by 2. 3. 4.

5.

vaccination/ artificially acquired. Vaccine is a suspension of dead or weakened bacteria/pathogen/virus White blood cells are stimulated to produce antibodies against the pathogen. Active immunity is also obtained when an individual has recovered from a certain disease/naturally acquired A ready made supply of antibody will give immunity towards that disease.

y Passive immunity 1. Passive immunity can be obtained by an

individual by injection antibodies/antiserum into the body // artificial acquired. 2. No antigen is put in the body, so the body does not produce its own antibodies. 3. Passive immunity can also be obtained by a baby when the antibodies from the mother s blood plasma diffuse into the foetus through the placenta// naturally acquired.