Basics of Embryonic

Development 3
- Animal Defenses
- Invertebrate Immunity
- Vertebrate Immunity
- Adaptive Immunity
 Animal Defenses
- from conception to adulthood, disease-causing
microorganisms and other foreign invaders attack
the organism’s body
- an animal’s body has a natural ability to fight
off these harmful agents……”immunity”
- the immune system is composed of structures
and organs known to produce protection against
disease-causing microorganisms called pathogens,
from bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses, as well
as provide protection from allergens
 Invertebrate Immunity
- the profound immunity of higher vertebrates must have
evolved from primitive unicellular organisms and
invertebrates
- some protozoans defend themselves via phagocytosis,
nearly similar to the way human phagocytic cells accomplish
- invertebrate animals such as sponges have phagocytic
cells that roam around to patrol tissues
and surrounding spaces
- similar to the ability of vertebrates in distinguishing self
from non-self, sponges’ phagocytic cells also recognize and
attack graft from other sponges
 Invertebrate Immunity
- invertebrates do not have an antibody-based
immune response, which provides strong
immunity in higher vertebrates
- they have a forerunner of this characteristic
of vertebrates because they have molecules that
turned out to have the same function with that of
the vertebrate’s antibodies
- in earthworms, lymphocyte-like cells were in
existence 500 million years ago
Invertebrate Immunity
 Vertebrate Immune Systems
- vertebrate’s immunity, more specifically among mammals,
is rather complex than any other animals
- this complexity enables mammalian species to have
multiple layers of defenses against harmful pathogens and
foreign particles
Innate Immunity
- this is the inherent ability of the body to fight off invaders,
regardless of whether or not the foreign intruder previously
attacked the body
- this means that the innate immune system does not have
immune memory and will act upon the presence of any foreign
intruders
 Vertebrate Immune Systems
Physical Barriers
- serve as the first line of defense against foreign
intruders
- this includes the skin, secretions, and the mucus
membrane
- the skin, exposed to different microorganisms from
time to time, prevents the entry of these harmful elements
- secretions such as sweat, tears, and saliva contain
substances that can suppress the growth of
microorganisms
 Vertebrate Immune Systems
- mucus, such as in the case of the respiratory
tract, can trap the inhaled bacteria, fungi, or other
invaders, which eventually drives them off from the body
Non-specific immune cells
- once an invader gained access in the body or has somehow escaped
the physical barriers, non-specific
immune cells immediately act upon it…..this is the second line of
defense
- these cells, commonly known as the white blood cells (leukocytes)
are like police officers that patrol an entire city
- they circulate throughout the body to check intruders and
destroys them before they can even cause harm to the body
 Non-specific Immune Cells
1. Neutrophil
- destroys bacteria by engulfing them
2. Eosinophil
- attacks parasitic worms
3. Basophil
- releases histamine involved in allergic reactions
4. Monocyte
- picks up cellular debris and foreign intruders by
phagocytosis
 Adaptive Immunity
- this provides the third layer of defense against harmful
invaders
- it activates once it penetrates the non-specific barriers
- they defend on lymphocytes that can recognize an intruder that
previously attack the body and eventually respond to it
specifically
- B-cells and T-cells are lymphocytes that mature in the bone
marrow and thymus
- both of which are involved in immune recognition
- in addition to that, B-cells synthesizes a molecule called
immunoglobulins (antibody) that specifically interacts with the
epitope of the antigen- a molecule that is capable of inducing an
immune response