Concept of Immunity
have a memory component
Immunity - also called resistance, is
the ability to ward off disease caused
by microbes
Susceptibility - referred to lack of
immunity
Two types of immunity
Innate immunity
 refers to defenses that are
present at birth.
 Provide rapid responses to
protect us against disease.
 Not involve recognition of a
specific microbe.
 No memory response, that is, a
more rapid and stronger
immune reaction.
 First line defense include skin
and mucous membranes.
Second line defense include
natural killer cells, phagocytes,
inflammation, fever, and
antimicrobial substances.
Adaptive immunity
 based on a specific response to
a specific microbe.
 involves T cells and B cells
 slower to respond, but it does
Toll-like receptors - attach to various
components commonly found on
pathogens that are called pathogen-
associated molecular
patterns(PAMPs).
Cytokines- are proteins that regulate
the intensity and duration of immune
responses.
Role of Cytokines:
 recruit other macrophages and
dendritic cells, as well as other
defensive cells, to isolate and
destroy the microbes as part of
the inflammatory response.
 activate the T cells and B cells
involved in adaptive immunity.
Physical Factors
Skin
 is the human body’s largest
organ
  Dermis - composed of
connective tissue.
 Epidermis - consists of many
layers of continuous sheets of
tightly packed epithelial cells
 top layer of epidermal cells is
dead and contains a protective
protein called keratin
 endothelial cells that line blood
and lymphatic vessels
Mucous membrane
 consist of an epithelial layer
and an underlying connective
tissue layer.
 line the entire gastrointestinal,
respiratory, and genitourinary
tract
 mucus, a slightly viscous
(thick) glycoprotein produced
by goblet cells
 Treponema pallidum -
pathogens that can thrive on the
moist secretions
Lacrimal apparatus
 group of structures that
manufactures and drains tears
 lacrimal glands produce the
tears and pass them under the
upper eyelid
 lacrimal canals tears pass
toward the corner of the eye
near the nose and into two
small holes
Saliva
 dilute the numbers of
microorganisms and wash
them from the surface of the
teeth and the mucous
membrane of the mouth.
Mucus
 traps many of the
microorganisms that enter
respiratory and
gastrointestinal tract
 mucous membrane of the
lower respiratory tract are
covered with cilia — that
propel inhaled dust and
microorganisms and this is
called cilliary escalator
keeps the mucus blanket
moving toward the throat
Epiglottis - which covers the larynx
(voicebox) during swallowing.
Prevented from entering the lower
respiratory tract.
Earwax - help prevent microbes,
dust, insects, and water from entering
the ear
Vaginal secretions - move
microorganisms out of the female
body
Urine - urine flow is obstructed—by
catheters, for example—urinary tract
infections may develop.
Peristalsis is a series of coordinated
contractions that propels food along
the gastrointestinal tract
Defecation - Mass peristalsis of large
intestinal contents into the rectum
Vomiting/Diarrhea - muscles of the
gastrointestinal tract contract
vigorously
Chemical Factors
Sebum
 Produced by sebaceous gland,
prevents hair from drying and
becoming brittle.
 forms a protective film
 Unsaturated fatty acids -
which inhibit the growth of
certain pathogenic bacteria and
fungi.
 low pH of the skin, between pH
3 and 5, is caused in part by the
secretion of fatty acids and
lactic acid.
 Isotretinoin, a derivative of
vitamin A that prevents sebum
formation, is a treatment for a
very severe type of acne called
cystic acne
Perspiration
 helps maintain body
temperature
 contains lysozyme, an
enzyme capable of breaking
down cell walls of gram-
positive bacteria and, to a
lesser extent, gram-negative
bacteria. Breaks chemical
bonds on peptidoglycan,
which destroys the cell walls
 Lysozyme is also found in
tears, saliva, nasal
secretions, tissue fluids, and
urine.
 Alexander Fleming was
studying lysozyme in 1928
when he accidentally
discovered the antimicrobial
effects of penicillin
Earwax
 mixture of secretions from
glands producing earwax as
well as from the sebaceous
glands, which produce sebum
  contains many dead cells from  Glycogen produced by vaginal
the lining of the ear canal. epithelial cells is broken down
into lactic acid by
Lactobacillus spp. This creates
Saliva an acidic pH (3–5) that inhibits
 not only the enzyme salivary microbes
amylase that digests starch but  Cervical mucus also has some
also contains lysozyme, urea, antimicrobial activity
and uric acid.  Urine, in addition to containing
 pH of saliva (6.55–6.85) lysozyme, has an acidic pH
 contains an antibody, (average 6) that inhibits
immunoglobulin A (lgA) that microbes.
prevents attachment of
microbes so that they cannot
penetrate mucous membranes
Gastric juice
 mixture of hydrochloric acid,
enzymes, and mucus
 Produce by glands of stomach
 gastric juice (pH 1.2–3.0) is
sufficient
 to destroy bacteria and most
bacterial toxins, except those of
Clostridium botulinum and
Staphylococcus aureus.
 Helicobacter pylori neutralizes
stomach acid, thereby allowing
the bacterium to grow in the
stomach. Its growth initiates an
immune response that results in
gastritis and ulcers.
Vaginal secretions