NO MEMORY IS PRODUCED NON-SPECIFIC

• Chemical barriers
- Acids- e.g. those found in the stomach, urine and vagina
- Enzymes- found in the saliva (amylase) and tears (lysozyme which digests
bacteria)
- Mucus- Traps micro-organisms
- Sweat- An acidic, dehydrating repellent
- Natural Flora- Bacteria in these areas use a special system with stops the growth
of pathogenic bacteria by competing for the area and nutrients.

• Mechanical or physical barriers

- INTACT skin- made of tightly packed cells forming a tough, waterproof layer
- Mucous membranes- Its mucus covers the digestive tract and creates a wall which
makes it hard for the bacteria to touch the cells underneath this layer
- Cilia- filter air passing through respiratory system. Beat in unison to guide
pathogens trapped in mucus up towards the nose/mouth
- Nasal hairs- Filter air
- Ear wax- traps pathogens
NO MEMORY PRODUCED NON-SPECIFIC

Phagocytes
- Phagocytes (white blood cells), their job is to engulf the foreign substance via
endocytosis which fuses with a lysozome and its enzymes destroy the pathogen.
- Form of phagocyte is the macrophage which detects and destroy microbes by
following the chemical trail of the microbe
- After ingesting the pathogen, a macrophage will then display the pathogen’s
antigens on its own cell membrane in order to arouse recognition and further
action on the part of the immune system
- When the pathogen is too large to engulf the phagocyte attaches to the pathogen
and attempts to destroy it
Complement
- Complement proteins, these proteins help recognize and attach to the foreign
substance. This makes the pathogen more identifiable to the immune system and
attack more phagocytes to the site of infection
Interferon
- Interferon’s are another group of proteins and are secreted when their cell has
been infected. They act quickly onto the uninfected cells and make them resistant
to some infections.
Cytokines
- Cytokines are protein molecules and are known for being a messenger between
cells. They are created by basically everything in the immune system but
especially by T-cells.
Inflammation
- Inflammation; it is a reaction to the infection whereby histamines, released by
mast cells cause local arterioles to expand and therefore draw more blood to the
region.
- From histamine the capillaries become highly permeable, so macrophages pass
easily from the bloodstream to the infected tissues
- When inflammation occurs more blood goes towards that area which therefore
brings phagocytes as well. When the phagocytes have engulfs too much they can
die which usually results in pus.
MEMORY IS PRODUCED IS SPECIFIC

- a specific response for each type of infection

- a memory of the pathogen resulting from the infection

B CELLS MATURE IN THE BONE MARROW

T CELLS MATURE IN THE TYMUS GLAND

- B cells whish are produced and matured in the bone marrow. They contain
antibodies on their surfaces. These antibiotics are highly specific to only one kind of
antigen. B cells would not be enough to hold off a large amount of bacteria because
of it being specific. When in contact with antigen, the B cells reproduce very quickly
to produce plasma cells which make antibodies.
-T cells leave the bone marrow early and mature in the thymus gland. They do not
make antibodies. Helper T cells recognize the antigen and activate B cells. Cytotoxic
T cells kill body cells that are infected with the virus. It does this by pushing proteins
into the cell which then make the cell burst.

Helper T cells
- Without their presence, no specific immune response, from either T or B cells,
could take place. Helper T cells release cytokines which mobilizes T cells and B
cells specific to the particular infection. Also releases interferon.
Cytotoxic T cells
- Recognize and destroy viral infected cells. They lyse infected cells with protein
and release toxins to destroy the cell and its contents. Can release interferon’s.
Suppressor T cells
- Regulate the immune response and stop its activity when the invader has been
defeated.
Memory T cells
- retain the ability to quickly recognize foreign antigens so that a rapid response
occurs with more frequent invasions

How Antibodies Are Made

Pathogen is detected by the macrophages which engulf it and place the pathogen’s
antigens on its cell membrane. It is then carried to the lymph node where T cells are
accumulated. The macrophage then releases a cytokine to attract T helper cells. Using
their receptors the T helper cells recognize the antigen and bind to it. The T helper
cells recognize these antigens and activate B cells which divide into plasma cells to
produce antibodies.