Lesson 6.1: Innate Immune System

Communicable Diseases

Disease types that can be transmitted to humans through mediums

Bacteria, Parasite, Fungi, Prion, Virus

Microorganisms that can cause communicable diseases

Germ Theory

States that the growth of a microorganism inside a human body can cause a specific disease

Pathogen

Disease-causing microorganism

Disease Susceptibility & Microorganism Pathogenicity

Factors that increase disease risk

Innate Immune System

1st line of defense, & respond in a more generic way as a physical & chemical barrier to infectious agents

Cytokines

Specialized chemical mediators that are recruited to the side of infection

Specialized White Blood Cells

Identifies & removes foreign substances present in the body

Antigen Presentation

Activation of the adaptive immune system

Anatomical Barrier

An innate barrier that prevents the entry of microorganisms

Eyes, GI Tract, Nasopharynx, Respiratory Tract, Skin

Anatomical barriers

Inflammation

1st body reaction as response to a pathogen

Rubor, Calor, Dolor, Tumor

4 Classic Signs of Inflammation

Rubor

Erythema/Skin redness

Calor

Increased local heat temperature

Dolor

Localized/Generalized pain

Tumor

Swelling of the tissue

Macrophages, Dendritic Cells, Histiocytes, Mastocytes

Cells that react to cause inflammation

Leukocytes

Cells involved in the Innate Immune System

Neutrophil

The 1st to go to the inflammation/infection site (Most abundant phagocyte form)

Dendritic Cells

The link between the innate & adaptive immune system (Mostly present in the external environment)

Basophil

Releases histamine in response to a parasitic infection

Eosinophil

Releases toxic molecules in response to a bacterial/parasitic infection (May damage tissues)

Mast Cell

Involved in allergic reaction & wound healing

Anaphylaxis

Other word for Allergic reactions

Heparin, Histamines, Chemokines, Chemotaxic Cytokines

Released by Mast Cells

Macrophage

Phagocytic cells which can move across the capillary vessel walls

Natural Killer Cell

Destroys compromised host cells such as virus-infected/tumor cells