Pathophysiology: Part 6 - Body's Defense Against Disease/Injury

Five infectious agents

- bacteria
- viruses
- Fungi
- Parasites
- Prions

Bacteria

single cell organisms that can independently reproduce and need a host to supply food
- cause common infections and killed by antibiotics

Exotoxins

proteins secreted and released by bacterial cell during growth

Endotoxins

trigger inflammatory process end produce fever

Septicemia (sepsis)

systemic spread of toxins through bloodstream

Viruses

- cause most infections
- much smaller than bacteria
- cannot grow without another organism
- incapable of metabolism
- can only treat symptoms, no cure

Fungi

- yeasts/mold
- more like plants than animals

Mycoses

fungus infections

Parasites

- protozoa to large intestinal worms
- treatment depends on organism and location

Prions

- differ from viruses, smaller
- made entirely from proteins
- do not have protective capsids

Three lines of defense

- anatomic barriers
- inflammatory response
- immune response

Anatomic barriers

protect from external and nonspecific things

Inflammatory barriers

protect from internal and nonspecific things

Immune response

protect from internal and specific things

Immunity

long term protection against specific foreign substances

Natural immunity

born with, part of genetic makeup

Acquired immunity

develops as outcome of immune response

Active acquired immunity

generated by hosts immune system after exposure to antigen
- long lasting

Passive acquired immunity

transferred to person from outside source
- temporary

Immunoglobulins

antibodies

Primary immune response (initial)

first exposure to antigen

Secondary immune response (anamnestic)

second exposure

Lymphocytes

responsible for recognizing foreign antigens, producing antibodies, and developing memory

B lymphocytes

do not attack antigens direcly

Humoral immunity

long term immunity to specific antigens

T lymphocytes

do not produce antibodies

Cell-mediated immunity

recognize presence of foreign antigen and attacks it directly

Immunogens

antigens that trigger immune response

HLA antigens

body recognizes as self or foreign

Universal recipient

Blood type AB

ABO blood groups

two types of antigens present on surface of RBC's, A and B

Universal donor

Blood type O

Direct effect of antibodies on antigen

- agglutination
- precipitation
- neutralization

Indirect effect of antibodies on antigen

- enhancement of phagocytosis
- activation of plasma proteins

Four main functions of antibodies

- neutralization of bacterial toxins
- neutralization of viruses
- opsonization of bacteria
- activation of inflammatory processes

IgM

largest immunoglobulin

IgG

memory"
- recognizes repeated invasions of antigen

IgA

present in mucous membranes

IgE

least concentrated immunoglobulin

IgD

very low concentrations

Isotypic antigens

species specific

Allotypic antigens

can differ within the same individual

Idiotypic antigenic

can differ within same individual

Monoclonal antibody

produced in labratory, pure and specific to single antigen

Secretory immune system

lymphoid tissues beneath mucosal endothelium
- protects body from pathogens inhaled or ingested

T cells

- do not produce antibodies
- attack pathogens directly and create temporary immunity
- travel through thymus gland

Memory cells

secondary immune responses

Td cells

transfer delayed hypersensitivity

Tc cells

cytotoxic

Th cells

helper cells
- interact with both Tc cells and B cells

Ts cells

suppressor cells

Cytokines

proteins produced by white blood cells, they are the messengers of immune system

Monokine

cytokine released by macrophage

Lymphokine

cytokine released by lymphocyte ( T or B cell)