Chapter 15:Categories of Host

Defense Mechanisms
First line of defense

 Intactskin and mucous membranes serve as

nonspecific host defense mechanisms by serving
as physical or mechanical barriers to pathogens.
First line of defense

skin Mucous membranes Mucous membranes

The dryness, acidity, and Sticky mucous serves as a
temperature of the skin nonspecific host defense
inhibit colonization and mechanism by trapping
growth of pathogens; pathogens. It also contains
perspiration flushes them toxic substances, such as
away lysozyme, lactoferrin, and
lactoperoxidase.
The mucociliary covering on
epithelial cells in the
respiratory tract move
trapped dust and microbes
upward toward the throat,
where they are swallowed or
expelled.
First line of defense

Pathogens entering the Peristalsis and urination The acidity of vaginal

GI tract are often killed serve to remove fluid usually inhibits
by digestive enzymes pathogens from the GI colonization of the
or the acidity or tract and urinary tract, vagina by pathogens.
alkalinity of different respectively.
anatomical regions.
First line of defense

When indigenous A decrease in the number of Colicin and other

indigenous microflora at a
microflora prevent the particular anatomical site can bacteriocins are
establishment of lead to an overgrowth of proteins produced by
arriving pathogens, it is pathogens or opportunistic some bacteria to kill
pathogens present at the site;
known as microbial this is referred to as a other bacteria.
antagonism. superinfection.
the second line of defense

 Pathogens able to penetrate the first line of

defense are usually destroyed by nonspecific
cellular and chemical responses, collectively
referred to as the second line of defense.
Transferrin, fever, interferons, the
complement system, inflammation,
and phagocytosis are all part of the
second line of defense
second line of defense

Transferrin fever Interferons

Transferrin serves as a Substances that stimulate
host defense the production of fever are
called pyrogens or
mechanism by
pyrogenic substances A
depriving pathogens of fever can slow down the
iron. rate of growth of certain
pathogens and can even kill
some especially fastidious
ones.
Interferons are small,
antiviral proteins
produced by virus-
infected cells. They
interfere with viral
replication.
second line of defense
The Complement System
The proteins of the complement
system (collectively referred to as
complement components) interact
with each other in a stepwise
manner, known as the complement
cascade—a nonspecific host
defense mechanism that assists in
the destruction of many different
pathogens.
inflammation phagocytosis
The three major events in acute the process by which
inflammation are vasodilation, phagocytes (WBC) surround
increased permeability of the
and engulf (ingest) foreign
capillaries, and escape of
leukocytes from the capillaries. material is called
phagocytosis
The four cardinal or main signs
and symptoms of inflammation
are redness, heat, swelling
(edema), and pain. The purulent
inflammatory exudate is pus.