The document discusses the body's primary defenses against infectious diseases. The skin and mucous membranes form the first line of defense. Cuts in the skin are sealed through blood clotting, where clotting factors from platelets trigger a cascade that converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Phagocytic white blood cells provide non-specific immunity by ingesting pathogens, while lymphocytes produce antibodies for specific immunity against particular pathogens. Antibiotics target processes unique to prokaryotic cells to treat bacterial infections but not viral diseases, which lack metabolism. Some bacteria have evolved antibiotic resistance genes or multiple resistances.
The document discusses the body's primary defenses against infectious diseases. The skin and mucous membranes form the first line of defense. Cuts in the skin are sealed through blood clotting, where clotting factors from platelets trigger a cascade that converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Phagocytic white blood cells provide non-specific immunity by ingesting pathogens, while lymphocytes produce antibodies for specific immunity against particular pathogens. Antibiotics target processes unique to prokaryotic cells to treat bacterial infections but not viral diseases, which lack metabolism. Some bacteria have evolved antibiotic resistance genes or multiple resistances.
The document discusses the body's primary defenses against infectious diseases. The skin and mucous membranes form the first line of defense. Cuts in the skin are sealed through blood clotting, where clotting factors from platelets trigger a cascade that converts fibrinogen to fibrin. Phagocytic white blood cells provide non-specific immunity by ingesting pathogens, while lymphocytes produce antibodies for specific immunity against particular pathogens. Antibiotics target processes unique to prokaryotic cells to treat bacterial infections but not viral diseases, which lack metabolism. Some bacteria have evolved antibiotic resistance genes or multiple resistances.