Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the immune system?
What is the primary function of the immune system?
What type of organisms are specifically adapted to infect humans?
What type of organisms are specifically adapted to infect humans?
What is the term for organisms that colonize the skin, intestine, and urogenital tracts and are benign or beneficial to the host?
What is the term for organisms that colonize the skin, intestine, and urogenital tracts and are benign or beneficial to the host?
Which of the following is an example of an opportunistic pathogen?
Which of the following is an example of an opportunistic pathogen?
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What is the term for the response of the immune system that is present from birth and provides immediate defense against infection?
What is the term for the response of the immune system that is present from birth and provides immediate defense against infection?
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Which of the following pathogens has evolved methods to evade adaptive immunity?
Which of the following pathogens has evolved methods to evade adaptive immunity?
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Study Notes
The Immune System and Infectious Diseases
- The primary function of the immune system is to protect the host from death and disability caused by infectious diseases.
- A "host" refers to a human or animal infected by a pathogenic organism.
Types of Pathogens
- Pathogens can be viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or multicellular parasites.
- Examples of pathogens include:
- Measles virus
- Cholera bacterium (Vibrio cholerae)
- Yeast Candida albicans
- Malaria protozoa (Plasmodium falciparum and others)
- Hookworm nematodes (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale)
- Liver fluke (Schistosoma mansoni)
Pathogen Strategies
- Many pathogens have evolved methods to evade the innate immune response and require adaptive immunity to be cleared.
- Some pathogens, such as malaria protozoa and HIV, can evade adaptive immunity as well.
Opportunistic Pathogens and Commensal Organisms
- Opportunistic pathogens can cause disease when the immune system is compromised by malnutrition, other infections, or advancing age.
- Commensal organisms, such as those colonizing the skin, intestine, and urogenital tracts, are generally benign or beneficial to the host.
- However, these organisms can also be harmful under certain circumstances and are subject to control by the immune system.
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Description
Learn about the immune system's role in protecting against infectious diseases and the different types of pathogens that can cause disease in humans.
