Immunology
- the study of physiological mechanism humans and other animals use to defend their bodies from
invasion by other organisms
Immune
- originally used to describe those who had surived a disease and did not suffer from it when faced
with it again
Infectious disease
- disease cause by a microorganism
Immune system
- the collection of cells and physiological mechanisms the human body utilizes to fight infections
Vaccination; immunization
- procedure by which severe disease is prevented by prior exposure to the infectious agent in a form
that cannot cause disease
Immunity
- state of the body in which the immune system is capable of preventing a full infection/disease
Induced immunity
Vaccination and immunization are used to ___________.
Edward Jenner
In 1796, _________ showed inoculation with cowpox virus induced immunity to small pox.
Commensal microorganisms
- normally-occuring microorganisms in healthy individuals that aid in digestion, vitamin production
and prevent colonization by disease-causing organisms
Pathogens
- any organism with the potential to cause disease
Opportunistic pathogen
- can be present in body with no ill effect, but it causes disease when host is weakened or if allowed
into a part of the body where it is normally not present
Viruses, Bacteria, Fungi and Parasites
- four types of pathogens
Successful pathogens
, - those that do not cause severe and rapidly fatal disease in most of its host population; causes
endemic diseases
physical, chemical, microbiological
- three types of host defences
mucus
- secreted defence; composed of water and mucins
mucins
- primary component of mucus; consists of heavily glycosylated proteins
antimicrobial secretions
- epithelial secretions including acid, enzymes and defensins that provide active defense against
infection.
Innate immune response
- fast and generalized response to a breach in barriers against infection; characterized by
inflammation at the site; determined by genes inherited by parents
Effector cells
- innate immune cells that engulf bacteria, kill virus-infected cells and attack protozoan parasites
Complement proteins
- serum proteins that either attack pathogens or tag them for destruction by effector cells
Cytokines
- small cell-signaling protein molecules; induce local dilation of capillaries (resulting in calor and rubor)
to create gaps between cells of the vessels; also increase cell adhesion to endothelium to aid in
recruitment of effector cells
calor
- warmth
rubor
- redness
tumor
- swelling due to local fluid accumulation
dolor
- pain
Inflammation