Defence against pathogens

Learning objectives:
•Recall the definition for pathogen and state the kingdoms they are
found in
•Recall the role of platelets
•Understand how the immune system responds to disease using white
blood cells, illustrated by phagocytes ingesting pathogens and
lymphocytes releasing antibodies specific to the pathogen
Pathogen
Lentinula edodes
- Shiitake

Task: Recall the definition for pathogen and state the kingdoms they
are found in.
Pathogen
Lentinula
A pathogen is an organism edodes
or virus that causes a disease.
- Shiitake

Pathogens may be:

- Fungi (Athlete's foot) - Bacteria (Streptopcoccus)

- Protoctists (Plasmodium malariae) - Viruses (HIV)

Pathogen transmission

Task: Let’s swap body fluid!

1. Each of you will receive a test tube containing “bodily
fluid.”
2. Using a pipette you must swap your bodily fluid with two
other people.

3. ONE OF YOU WAS INFECTED!

4. Test to see if you are infected using iodine.
Brown = uninfected, BLUE/BLACK = INFECTED
5. Think about how this relates to pathogen transmission (i.e.
spread of disease).
Pathogen transmission

Task: Using your own knowledge and the pictures below as

clues, list different methods of pathogen transmission.

Contaminated Fomite:
food or water inanimate
objects
Exchange of transfer it
bodily fluids
Vector: another living
organism transfers it

Direct contact
Inoculation: directly
(e.g. sexual
Water droplets (air through break in skin
intercourse)
borne)
Defence against pathogens
Millions of different pathogens… several transmission methods

Why are we not ill all the time??

Main defence mechanisms of the body

Non -specific Specific

Response is immediate & the Response is slower & specific
same for all pathogens to each pathogen

Lymphocytes
Barriers
to entry

Phagocytosis
Surface barriers

Task: Draw the outline of

a body.
Non –specific

Add labels and short

explanations of the body’s
barriers to pathogens
Surface barriers
Stomach:
•Contains hydrochloric acid (pH 2)
which denatures the enzymes of
pathogens, killing them.
•Also a behavioural response of
vomiting to forcibly discharge
pathogens
Mucous membranes:
Non –specific
• Lines openings (trachea,
nose, vagina, urethra)
• Mucus contains lysozymes;
enzymes which destroy
bacterial cell walls
• Mucus is sticky and can trap
pathogens
Urinary system:
•Urinary tracts are flushed with
urine which has antibacterial
properties
Eyes:
•Lashes to trap pathogens
•Tears contains lysozymes; Respiratory system:
•
enzymes which destroy bacterialCilia to sweep trapped
cell walls pathogens out of trachea to be
swallowed to the stomach
Skin:
•Physical barrier against
infection; toughened by the
protein keratin
•Platelets cause blood clotting if
barrier is broken.
•Sebaceous glands secrete lactic
& fatty acids; creating an acidic
environment on the surface of
the skin preventing the growth
of pathogens.
•Skin flora – human skin has a
community of harmless
microbes on skin (feed on dead
skin and secretions), this
community creates competition
for nutrients/space.
Defence against pathogens

Main defence mechanisms of the body

Non -specific Specific

Response is immediate & the Response is slower & specific
same for all pathogens to each pathogen

Lymphocytes
Barriers
to entry

Phagocytosis
Leucocytes (white blood cell)
Our bodies defence against infection is called the immune
system. Leucocytes are the cells which recognise pathogens and
fight against them.

There are two main type of white blood cell that work in 2
separate ways to attack infections in our bodies.

Phagocytes Non –specific Lymphocytes Specific

Contain a large nucleus that takes

Contain a ‘lobed’ nucleus. up most of the space.
They complete phagocytosis. They make antibodies.
Phagocytes
• Phagocytes carry out a process called phagocytosis, in
which pathogens are engulfed and destroyed by
enzymes.

• http://www.cellsalive.com/mac.htm

• They circulate in the blood and are found in higher

Non –specific

concentrations in areas that are more prone to exposure

such as the lungs.

• They are attracted to sites of cuts by chemical

messengers.
Phagocytosis

• Task: Piece the pictures into the

correct order and add a caption to
explain what is happening. Try to
use scientific terms where
Non –specific

possible.
phagocyte pathogen

phagosome
lysosome
Non –specific Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis
Non –specific

1. Phagocyte 2. Membranous 3. The 4. The

is attracted to projections phagocyte phagocyte uses
pathogen by called engulfs the enzymes called
chemical pseudopodia pathogen, lysozymes to
products. When surround the taking it inside break down the
it reaches the pathogen.. into a vesicle pathogen
pathogen, the known as a contained in the
phagocyte phagosome phagosome (and
binds to it. use the parts for
itself )
Defence against pathogens

Main defence mechanisms of the body

Non -specific Specific

Response is immediate & the Response is slower & specific
same for all pathogens to each pathogen

Lymphocytes
Barriers
to entry

Phagocytosis
Lymphocytes

• Lymphocytes make and release proteins called antibodies.

• Antibodies attach to pathogens, causing them to clump

together. This immobilises the pathogen and stops them
Non –specific

from spreading. It also makes it easier for phagocytes to

engulf them.

• Antibodies can also act as anti-toxins: neutralising the

harmful substances produced by some pathogens.
Lymphocytes
• Other lymphocytes develop into memory cells.

• Memory cells make us immune to a disease. If the

same pathogen returns the memory lymphocytes start
the immune response much more rapidly than the first
time.
Non –specific
Defence against pathogens

Main defence mechanisms of the body

Non -specific Specific

Response is immediate & the Response is slower & specific
same for all pathogens to each pathogen

Lymphocytes
Barriers
to entry

Phagocytosis
 Thumbs up or down
Learning objectives:
•Recall the definition for pathogen and state the
kingdoms they are found in
•Recall the role of platelets
•Understand how the immune system responds to
disease using white blood cells, illustrated by
phagocytes ingesting pathogens and lymphocytes
releasing antibodies specific to the pathogen