The Immune System

I. Word associations. Write as many words as possible to associate with the

word “immunity”.

Immunity

II. Choose the words to combine with the word “immunity”.

Example: mild immunity, to develop immunity

 Adjectives: pathologic, focal, efficient, viral, opportunistic, clinical, nosocomial,

mild, contagious, etiological, staphylococcal, chronic, adequate, primary,
virulent, resistant, bacterial, inactive, latent, secondary, systemic.

 Verbs: to get, to give, to spread, to expect, to fight off, to transmit, to treat, to

prevent, to heal, to rise, to cause, to trigger, to release, to detect, to develop, to
catch, to isolate, to acquire, to create, to contract, to avoid, to pick up, to control.

o In Focus:

derivatives of the word “immunity”. (Look them up and make up some sentences
with them):

Immune, hyper-immune, non-immune, immunize, immunization, hyper-immunize,

overimmunize, immunizer, non-immunized, unimmunized.
Vocabulary:
disorder - an illness of the mind or body:
crippled - damaged and unable to move or operate effectively:
to trigger - to cause something to start
to mount - to cause something to start

The Immune System

The immune system is a network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to
defend the body against attacks by “foreign” invaders. These are primarily microbes—tiny
organisms such as bacteria, parasites, and fungi that can cause infections. Viruses also
cause infections, but are too primitive to be classified as living organisms. The human
body provides an ideal environment for many microbes. It is the immune system’s job to
keep them out or, failing that, to seek out and destroy them. When the immune system hits
the wrong target, however, it can unleash a torrent of disorders, including allergic diseases,
arthritis, and a form of diabetes. If the immune system is crippled, other kinds of diseases
result. The immune system is amazingly complex. It can recognize and remember millions
of different enemies, and it can produce secretions (release of fluids) and cells to match up
with and wipe out nearly all of them.
The secret to its success is an elaborate and dynamic communications network.
Millions and millions of cells, organized into sets and subsets, gather like clouds of bees
swarming around a hive and pass information back and forth in response to an infection.
Once immune cells receive the alarm, they become activated and begin to produce
powerful chemicals. These substances allow the cells to regulate their own growth and
behavior, enlist other immune cells, and direct the new recruits to trouble spots.
Although scientists have learned much about the immune system, they continue to
study how the body launches attacks that destroy invading microbes, infected cells, and
tumors. New technologies for identifying individual immune cells are now allowing
scientists to determine quickly which targets are triggering an immune response.
Improvements in microscopy are permitting the first-ever observations of living B cells, T
cells, and other cells as they interact within lymph nodes and other body tissues.
In addition, scientists are rapidly unraveling the genetic blueprints that direct the
human immune response, as well as those that dictate the biology of bacteria, viruses, and
parasites. The combination of new technology and expanded genetic information will no
doubt reveal even more about how the body protects itself from disease.
The immune system is our body’s way of helping to protect us from infection. When our
body is infected by viruses, bacteria or other infectious organisms (e.g. a fungus or
parasite), it undergoes a process of fighting the infection and then healing itself. As a
result of this, the next time our body encounters the same organism, we will be 'immune'
to this infection. This means that we are less likely to get the same disease again, or if we
do, the infection will be less severe. This is the principle behind vaccination. Whenever
our body encounters a foreign organism, like bacteria or a virus, a complicated set of
responses are set in motion.
Our body has two sets of defensive mechanisms, one called ‘innate immunity’ and
another called ‘adaptive immunity’.
Innate immunity/natural immunity describes our body’s barriers to infection that are in-
built (or innate). This includes:
 our skin
 the acid in our stomach
 saliva
 tears
 mucus in our mouth and nose
 cells in our blood stream that can destroy bacteria.
All of these systems are extremely important as a first line of defence to prevent us from
becoming infected, and for getting rid of the infections that we get.
These innate systems do not change with multiple exposures to the same infection; there is
no ‘learned’ response no matter how many times our body is exposed to the same
organism.
Our body’s more complicated second line of defence is called adaptive
immunity/acquired immunity. By adapting to fight infections from particular bacteria or
viruses, our body can become immune to infections caused by the same organism in the
future. This adaptation by our body to prevent infection is the basis of immunization.
Certain types of blood cells can learn from exposure to an infection. This means that the
next time they encounter that infection they can remember it and mount a faster and
stronger response.
For example:
 antibodies are made by the body in response to an infecting organism. They can
recognise specific types of viruses or bacteria. They work by attaching themselves
to the organism, and preventing them from infecting our body.
 macrophages are specialised blood cells that can directly attack and destroy an
infecting organism, digesting them so they can't produce disease.
Vaccines trigger the adaptive immune system — by stimulating the body to make
antibodies — so that it can prepare for a potential infection in the future.

I. Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the immune system?
2. How does the immune system work?
3. What is immunity?
4. How many types of immunity are there?
5. What is adaptive immunity?
6. What is innate immunity?
7. What are the main body’s barriers to infection?
8. What are antibodies?
9. What is the role of macrophages?

II. Synonyms:
1. to fight for =
2. to release, to discharge =
3. harmed, impaired =
4. to enroll =
5. to cause =

III. Match the words and definitions:

Vaccine, blueprint, antibody, immunization, target, infection, disorder.
1. A disturbance in physical or mental health or functions; malady or
dysfunction. /......................./
2. A detailed outline or plan of action
3. The invasion of bodily tissue by pathogenic microorganisms that proliferate,
resulting in tissue injury that can progress to disease. /......................................./
4. Any of numerous Y -shaped protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary
immune defense, each molecule and its clones having a unique binding site that can
combine with the complementary site of a foreign antigen, as on a virus or
bacterium, thereby disabling the antigen and signaling other immune
defenses. /................................./
5. A goal to be reached. /.................................../
6. A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, such as a bacterium or virus, or of
a portion of the pathogen's structure that upon administration to an individual
stimulates antibody production or cellular immunity against the pathogen but is
incapable of causing severe infection. /...................................../
7. The fact or process of becoming immune, as against a disease. /............................./

IV. Find in the article verbs describing the actions of the immune system/
immunity:
Example: immune system/ immunity destroys invaders

V. Separate myths (M) from facts (F) about the immune system.

Stress makes you more vulnerable to

illness.
What you eat has an effect on your
immune system.
Getting a flu shot / a vaccine weakens
your immune system and makes you
more likely to get the flu/diseases.
 Dirty hands and cleanliness have
nothing to do with our immunity.
Your immune system probably gets
weaker as you grow older.
60-70% of your immune system is
located in your small intestine.
Consuming immune modifying
nutritional compounds is always safe.
Sleep makes immunity stronger.

Physical exercises overload the

immune system getting it into
overdrive.
Laughter boosts our immunity.

Video 1: Immunization & Vaccination.

VOCABULARY:

pathogens - any disease-producing agents, especially a virus, bacterium, or other

microorganism;
foreign invaders – attackers, intruders;
open wound - a type of injury in which skin is torn, cut, or punctured;
trial-and-error period - the trying of one thing or another until something succeeds;
memory cells - any small, long-lived lymphocyte that initiates the immune response
(memory T cell) or proliferates and produces large amounts of specific antibody (memory
B cell) the agent of lasting immunity;
to trigger - to give rise to, to activate, to initiate;
to head off – to block, to stop, to intercept.

I. Watch the video. Focus on the main idea.

II. Comprehension check. Answer the following questions:

1. What can an illness be caused by?

2. How do pathogens enter our body?
3. What happens if someone`s body becomes infected by a pathogen?
4. What do the white blood cells do when they are determined how to destroy the
illness?
5. What do memory cells do?
6. What is vaccination?
7. What does a vaccine contain?
 8. What is immunization?
9. What happens if the body is ever exposed to the same pathogen in the future?

III. Choose the right words, according to the video:

1. An illness can be caused by ...

a. Antipathogens
b. Pathogens
c. Toxins
2. The blood cells which go through a trial-and-error period are ...
a. Thrombocytes
b. Erythrocytes
c. Leucocytes
3. Getting vaccinated, the body produces ...
a. Defence cells
b. Memory cells
c. Power cells
4. If the body is ever exposed to the same pathogen in the future, the memory cells ...
a. Are inactive
b. React quickly
c. Disappear

IV. True/False:

1. Bacteria and viruses cause diseases.

2. Memory cells are created by red blood cells.
3. During the trial-and-error period the body exhibits some symptoms of the illness.
4. Vaccine contains weak or dead organisms that cause illness.
5. Immunization occurs when the body develops immunity to a specific pathogen.
6. The body can`t fight the illness when getting a shot of vaccine.

Video 2: Vaccination. Watch the video and focus on the main idea.

Vocabulary:
side effects – efecte adverse
deafness – surditate
blindness – orbire
soreness – durere
swelling – umflătură
rash – erupție, iritație
mumps – oreion, parotidită
measles – pojar
rubella – rubeola
autism – autism
diphtheria – difterie
tetanus – tetanos
pertussis – tuse convulsivă
shot(s) – injectare, vaccinare
mmr (measles, mumps and rubella vaccine) vaccinul contra oreionului, pojarului și
rubeolei
dtap (diphtheria, tetanus and acellular pertussis)-vaccinul contra difteriei, tetanosului
și tusei convulsive

I. Complete the table with appropriate information. Explain the significance

and relevance of the visual elements used in the video.

IMAGES MESSAGES ILLNESSES TYPES OF

NUMBERS VACCINES

II. Comment on the statements used in the video:

 An immunization is like a drop in the ocean of the immune system.

 Choose facts over fear.

 III. Summarize the main ideas of the video and draw a conclusion.

IV. Write down some efficient recommendations to boost the immune system.

Given your immune system's role as protector against illness, you want to do all you
can to give it a boost. What works best to boost immunity -and what doesn't? How can
you keep your immune system in top shape?

Critical Reading

First Line of Defense

The immune system has three lines of defense. The first line of defense includes a variety
of barriers against pathogens that keep most pathogens out of the body. Pathogens are
disease-causing agents, such as bacteria and viruses. Defenses in the first line are the same
regardless of the type of pathogen. This is why they are called nonspecific defenses.
Several types of pathogens that are common causes of human disease can be seen in the
Figure below.

Mechanical Barriers

Mechanical barriers physically block pathogens from entering the body. The skin is the
most important mechanical barrier. In fact, it is the single most important defense of the
body against pathogens. It forms a physical barrier between the body and the outside
world. The outer layer of the skin is a tough, nearly water-proof coating that is very
difficult for pathogens to penetrate.

At body openings, such as the mouth and nose, the body has a different mechanical
barrier. Instead of skin, mucous membranes line these and other organs that are exposed to
the outside environment. They include the organs of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and
urinary tracts. Mucous membranes secrete mucus, a slimy substance that coats the
membranes and traps pathogens. Mucous membranes also have cilia, which are tiny
projections that have wavelike motions. The movements of cilia sweep mucus and trapped
pathogens toward body openings to be removed from the body.
Pathogens are removed from the respiratory tract when you sneeze or cough. In addition,
tears wash pathogens from the eyes, and urine flushes pathogens out of the urinary tract.
Chemical Barriers

Chemical barriers are proteins that destroy pathogens at the body’s surface. The skin and
mucous membranes secrete proteins that kill many of the pathogens with which they come
into contact. For example, enzymes called lysozymes—which are found in sweat, mucus,
tears, and saliva—kill pathogens by breaking open their cell walls. Urine and vaginal
secretions are too acidic for many pathogens, and semen contains zinc, which most
pathogens cannot tolerate. Hydrochloric acid secreted by mucous membranes lining the
stomach kills pathogens that enter the stomach in food or water.

Biological Barriers

Biological barriers involve living organisms that compete with pathogens. Human skin is
covered by millions of bacteria. Millions more colonize the gastrointestinal, urinary, and
genital tracts. Most of these bacteria are helpful or at least not harmful. They are important
in defense because they help prevent harmful bacteria from becoming established in or on
the body. They do this by competing with harmful bacterial for food and space. Helpful
bacteria may also change pH or other factors and make conditions less suitable for harmful
bacteria.

Questions

1. Name and briefly describe the immune system’s first line of defense.

2. How can the skin be considered part of the immune system?

3. What are mucous membranes? Where are they found?

4. Are all bacteria that live in the human body harmful? Why or why not?

5. What is the purpose of the cilia of the cells that line the respiratory lining?