Download Immune Response

Non – Specific Immune Response
 A pathogen gets inside and your
body responds by trying to
kill/inhibit the pathogen
 Three basic responses:
1. Fever – high temps
destroy pathogens
2. Inflammation (swelling)
 Skin/cells are damaged, pathogens enter
 Cells recognize invaders and release chemicals
called histamines
 These cause increased blood flow (which
causes swelling) to get more white blood cells
 WBCs attack pathogens
 Lymph nodes may also swell with
fluid when they fight infection
3. Protein Activation
 Pathogens activate
certain proteins
 Some attack
bacterial cell
membranes
 Some (Interferons)
prevent viruses
from working
Specific Immune Response
 Pathogens have specific
proteins that act as name
tags – it lets the the body
know they’re foreign
 A substance on the
pathogen called an antigen
causes the body to
respond
 The response is to release
WBC’s & produce
antibodies
 Antibodies destroy
pathogens by
attaching to their
antigens and then
breaking open their
cell membranes
 A cell called a
phagocyte may also
engulf (eat) the
pathogen
Immunity
 The ability of the body to resist certain diseases
for the long term – 2 types
 Active Immunity – body makes its own
antibodies - occurs if you had the disease or got
vaccinated
 Passive Immunity – temporary immunity by
receiving antibodies
Ex: Mother to child through breast milk
Vaccine
 A weakened or dead
form of a pathogen so
it is no longer harmful,
but it still has the
antigens present.
 Antigens trigger an
immune response so
your body produces
antibodies
Can you…
 List and explain the three non-specific immune
responses?
 Explain what an antigen is?
 Explain the relationship between an antigen and an
antibody?
 Explain how and why a vaccine works?