1

Defence Mechanisms of the Body

Unite 03
By :
Hafiz Ahmad Lubab ktk
Govt College of Nursing,HMC
 Lecture Overview
 Define key Terms

 Explain three lines of defenses

 Discuss the specific resistance, innate resistance and immunity

 Differentiate humoral and cell-mediated immunity

 Discuss Antigen and Antibodies.

 Explain the Five classes of antibodies and their functions.

 Discuss phagocytosis process

 Describe the Role of Skin and mucous membrane in Non specific

resistance.
 Introduction

 From the months spent in the womb to the end of life, every individual is
under constant attack from an enormous range of potentially harmful
invaders.

 These threats include such diverse entities as bacteria, viruses, cancer cells,
parasites and foreign (non-self) cells.

 The body has therefore developed a wide selection of protective measures

against the invaders.
 Common Definitions

 Resistance: The ability of the body to resist against invaders and protect
the body from getting damage.

The ability of body to fight off a pathogen through specific and

non-specific defenses.

 Susceptibility: The meaning of SUSCEPTIBILITY is the quality or state

of being susceptible; especially : lack of ability to resist some extraneous
agents like microbes. Or lack of resistance is called susceptibility.
 Common Definitions

 Non Specific resistance: Non specific resistance is the defense of our body
from any kinds of the pathogens. It includes skin and mucous membrane,
phagocytosis, inflammation, fever, production of antimicrobial substances.

 Specific resistance: the ability of the body to defend itself against specific
invading agents such as bacteria, toxins, viruses and foreign tissues.
 Common Definitions

 Innate resistance: The inherited or by birth ability of the body to resists

against invaders such as bacteria virus, foreign body cells etc.

 Immunity: Immunity is defined as the body's ability to protect itself from

an infectious disease. OR The ability of body to resist damaging
substances.
 Common Definitions

 Antigens: Any substance that causes the body to make an immune

response against that substance. Antigens include toxins, chemicals,
bacteria, viruses, or other substances that come from outside the body.

 Antibody: An antibody is a protein produced by the body's immune system

when it detects harmful substances, called antigens.

A protein produced in the body in response to an antigen.

 Common Definitions

 Phagocytosis: The process of engulfment and digesting of an antigen by a

phagocytic cell.

 Opsonization: The coating or tagging of an antigen by complement

proteins to enhance phagocytosis.
Non-Specific vs Specific Defence
Mechanism
Line of Defences
Line of Defences
Line of Defences
 Non-specific Resistance

 These are the general defense; they prevent entry and minimize further
passage of microbes and other foreign material into the body. Also destroy
pathogens inside the body by various mechanisms.
 There are five main non-specific defense mechanisms:
• Defense at body surfaces (1st line of defenses)
• Phagocytosis
• Natural antimicrobial substances (2nd line of defenses)
• The inflammatory response
• Immunological surveillance. (3rd line of defenses)
 Non-specific Resistance

Defense at body surfaces:

 Healthy, intact skin and mucous membranes provide an efficient physical

barrier protecting the body’s exposed surfaces.

 Sebum and sweat secreted onto the skin surface contain antibacterial and
antifungal substances.

 Epithelial membranes lining body cavities and passageways exposed to the

external environment. Epithelia produce antibacterial secretions, often
acidic, containing antibodies and enzymes, as well as sticky mucus for
trapping passing microbes.
 Non-specific Resistance

Defense at body surfaces:

 Hairs in the nose act as a coarse filter, and the sweeping action of cilia in
the respiratory tract moves mucus and inhaled foreign materials towards the
throat. Then it is coughed up (expectorated) or swallowed.

 The one-way flow of urine from the bladder minimizes the risk of infection
ascending through the urethra into the bladder.

 In the female, the acidity of vaginal secretions discourages microbial

growth.
 Non-specific Resistance
Phagocytosis:

 Also Known as the process of cell eating.

 Phagocytic defense cells such as macrophages and neutrophils are the

body’s first line of cellular defense.

 They actively migrate to sites of inflammation and infection.

 Phagocytes attack and engulf their targets.

 They digest and destroy foreign cells, damaged body cells and debris.

 Macrophage stimulate T-lymphocytes and activate the immune responses.

Non-specific Resistance
 Non-specific Resistance
 Natural Antimicrobial substances:
 Hydrochloric acid: Found in stomach--Kill majority of the ingested microbes
 Lysozyme: Found in saliva, tears and other body secretions--destroy bacterial
C-wall.
 Saliva: Produced by salivary glands – contain antibodies and lysozyme–
prevent dental decaying by disrupting microbes and washing mouth,
 Interferon: These are chemicals produced by T-lymphocytes, macrophages
and other body cells invaded by viruses --- prevent viral replication within
infected cells & the spread of virus to healthy cells.
 Microbial Antagonism: one microorganism kill or inhibit the growth of
another microorganism
 Non-specific Resistance
The inflammatory response:

 This is the physiological response to tissue damage and is accompanied by

a characteristic series of local changes.

 Its purpose is protective: to isolate, inactivate and remove both the

causative agent and damaged tissue, so that healing can take place.

 The cardinal signs of inflammation are redness, heat, swelling and pain.

 Inflammatory conditions are recognized by their Latin suffix ‘-itis’; for

example, appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix and laryngitis is
inflammation of the larynx.
 Non-specific Resistance
Immunological surveillance:

 A population of lymphocytes, called natural killer (NK) cells, constantly

patrol the body searching for abnormal cells.

 Cells that have been infected with a virus, or mutated cells that might
become malignant, frequently display unusual markers on their cell
membranes, which are recognized by NK cells.

 Having detected an abnormal cell, the NK cell immediately kills it.

 Specific Resistance ( Acquired Immunity)

Specific Resistance:

 the ability of the body to defend itself against specific invading agents such
as bacteria, toxins, viruses and foreign tissues.

Immunity:

 Immunity is a biological term that describe a state of having sufficient

biological defenses to avoid infections, diseases, or other biological
invasions.

 The ability of the body to resists harmful microbes from entering the body.
Types of immunity
 Types of immunity

Innate Immunity ( Non-specific):

 Natural resistance or by birth resistance.

 It include the roles of:

– Physical Barriers: e.g. Skin & Mucus membranes

– Cellular system: e.g. Phagocytes like macrophage

– Circulating proteins and enzymes: e.g. immunoglobulin, Lysozyme

– Antimicrobial substances: e.g. interferon, HCL, Bile vaginal discharge,

saliva, tears

– Microbial Antagonism: e.g. Normal Flora

– Inflammatory responses: e.g. fever, pain, swelling, heat.

Innate immunity
 Types of immunity

Adaptive or Acquired Immunity (specific):

 It develops gradually through a person’s lifetime. When exposed to a

disease or when immunized against it with the vaccine, our body develops
adaptive immunity. It can be sub-divided by how the immunity was
acquired:

 Sub-divided into two classes: Naturally acquired ACTIVE immunity

1. Natural acquired immunity:
Naturally acquired PASSIVE immunity

Artificially acquired ACTIVE immunity

2. Artificial acquired immunity:
Artificially acquired PASSIVE immunity
Types of immunity
 Humoral Immunity
 Humoral immune is a response immunity that is mediated through
antibodies. It is the core defense mechanism against extracellular microbes.
It responds to pathogens quickly.

 It triggers the B cells to produce antibodies that bind with foreign antigen
then neutralized them through phagocytosis.
Conti…
 Cell Mediated immunity

 Cell-mediated immunity is the immune response that identifies and destroys

infected cells to prevent the spread of viruses or bacteria.

 The immune response trigger development of T cells which are released into
the thymus and circulate between the peripheral lymphoid tissue and the
blood.

 The process helps to identify foreign antigens and get rid of them
immediately. The immune response it quite stronger than humoral immune.
Cell Mediated immunity
CMR & AMR
Difference b/w Humoral & CMI
Antigen
Antigen
Antibodies
Y- Shape of Antibody
Y-shape of Antibody
How Antibodies Bind to an Antigen
Types of Antibodies
Functions of Antibodies
Decide to be on top the situation
rather than be part of the mess

Wish you all the Best