IMMUNOLGY

MUKUKA B
 OUTLINE

1.Introduction to Immunology
2.Lines of Defense
3.Cells of the Immune system
4.Immunity & Immune response
5.Hypersensitivity Reactions and Autoimmune
Diseases
6.Review Questions
 Definitions

• Immunology
– Study of the components and function of the immune system
– is the study of host defence mechanisms

• Immune System
– Molecules, cells, tissues and organs which provide
non-specific and specific protection against
• Microorganisms
• Microbial toxins
• Tumor cells
– Crucial to human survival
 Definitions

• Immunity stems from a Latin term-immunis meaning

“exempt”
– English meaning =the state of protection from infectious disease.
– is the ability of the host to protect itself against foreign
organisms.

• Immune response
– Innate (non-specific)
– Adaptive (specific)
• Primary
• Secondary
 Definitions
• Antigen: Molecules from a pathogen or foreign
organism that provoke a specific immune response.
– Most are proteins or large polysaccharides from a foreign
organism.
– Microbes: Capsules, cell walls, toxins, viral capsids, flagella,
etc.
– Nonmicrobes: Pollen, egg white , red blood cell surface
molecules, serum proteins, and surface molecules from
transplanted tissue.
• Antibodies: Proteins that recognize and bind to a
particular antigen with very high specificity.
• Made in response to exposure to the antigen.
 The Nature of Disease

• Pathogenic Organisms
• Genetic Disorders
• Toxic Chemicals
• Other Environmental Factors
• Physical Damage to Organs
• Nutritional Disorders
Types of Pathogenic Organisms

• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Parasites
• Fungi
• Prions
 Mechanisms of
Disease by Pathogens

• Utilization of host nutritional resources

• Physical damage to host tissues
• Production of toxic substances
• Chromosomal and gene damage
• Body cells behave abnormally
Defense Mechanisms
1. External defense
2. Internal Defense
3. Immune Defense
 1st Line of Defense
• Skin acts as barrier to microbes and viruses
- sweat has a low pH
• Mucus traps foreign particles
• Tears
- Lysozyme has antimicrobial action
• Gastric stomach acid
 2nd Line of Defense
• Phagocytic cells (WBCs)
- N L ME B
- Natural Killer (NK) Cells: attack virus infected
cells
• Inflammatory Response
• Antimicrobial proteins
- Lysozyme
- Interferon
- Antibodies
Mechanism of Phagocytosis
Mechanism of Phagocytosis
Macrophage
 Inflammatory Response

Histamine & Capillaries dilate Chemotactic Phagocytes

prostaglandins Clotting begins factors attract consume
released phagocytic cells pathogens &
cell debris
 Characteristics of Immunity

• Recognition of self versus non-self

• Response is specific
• Retains a “memory” allowing an
accelerated second response
• Can respond to many different
materials
• Involves lymphocytes and
antibodies
 Innate and adaptive immunity

Innate immunity: always present (ready to attack); many pathogenic

microbes have evolved to resist innate immunity
Adaptive immunity: stimulated by exposure to microbe; more potent