Untitled Quiz

Immunology-1: Bio-207

• Course taught by Dr. Manal Abouelwafa at Badr University in Assiut's Biotechnology Department
• Contact: [email protected]
• Course credits: 2 theoretical + 2 practical
• Introduction to the immune system is the core subject

Immunology-1 Content

• Unit 1: Introduction to the immune system
• Unit 2: Immune types and complementary system
• Unit 3: Immune response to pathogens
• Unit 4: Antibodies and antigens
• Unit 5: Immune diseases

Basic Terminology

• Immunology: The study of how the body fights against diseases and infections
• Immunity: The body's ability to fight or resist foreign particles (bacteria, viruses, toxins)
• Immune system failing: Identifying and eliminating harmful foreign particles (viruses, bacteria, toxins) that are not part of the body
• House-keeping: Removing debris and dead cells
• Protection: Against pathogens
• Communication: Using chemical messages (alarm), antigen presentation by antigen-presenting cells, and memory

Concept of Immunity

• Immunology: (Latin: immunis = "exempt") Study of how the body defends against infectious agents
• Immunity: The ability to recognize and defend from specific pathogens or antigens, aided by the immune system and coordinated responses to foreign substances

What is the Immune System?

• A biological structure and processes within an organism that protects against diseases by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells
• Detects a wide variety of agents (viruses to parasitic worms) and distinguishes them from healthy cells and tissues to function properly

Structure of the Immune System

• Multilayered architecture with defenses at many levels
• Complex network security system of chemicals, cells, tissues, and organs working together to protect the body

Function of the Immune System

• Without it, humans would be exposed to harmful influences of pathogens from the outside environment

Your Immune System

• Keeps invaders (germs) out of the body
• Destroys invaders
• Limits harm from invaders if inside the body
• Heals damage to the body
• Adapts to new challenges and threats
• Invaders include: bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and cancer cells

How the Immune System Works

• Differentiates between body cells and foreign cells
• Activates and mobilizes to kill harmful germs
• Ends the attack once the threat is gone
• Learns about germs after contact and develops antibodies against them
• Sends out antibodies to destroy future germs

Weak Immune System

• Many conditions weaken the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections
• Conditions at birth are less common than those developing later in life (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, cancer)

Overactive Immune System

• Reacts too strongly to invaders (real or perceived)
• May mount an attack when no invader is present
• May keep attacking after an invader is gone
• Can lead to autoimmune diseases or allergic reactions

Immune System Soldiers

• Various immune cells work together to protect the body. This is part of the immune system.

Immunity

• Innate: (Natural)
• Acquired: (Getting with life)
• Diagram showing the relationships between innate and acquired immunity

Innate Immune System

• Begins with physical barriers (preventing pathogens from entering)
• Destroys pathogens after entry
• Flushes pathogens out before they can establish themselves
• Protects the body from various pathogens

Acquired Immune System

• Highly specialized cells and processes that eliminate specific pathogens and tumor cells
• Highly specific to a particular pathogen (or antigen)
• Creates immunological memory for faster, stronger responses to subsequent encounters with the same pathogen

Innate vs Adaptive Immune System

• Table showing differences
• Innate: rapid, non-specific, no memory
• Adaptive: delayed, specific, immunological memory

Lymphocytes

• Main cells of the adaptive immune system
• Leukocytes that arise and mature in lymphatic system organs (bone marrow, thymus)
• The human body typically has about 2 trillion lymphocytes (approximately one-third of all leukocytes)
• Most are in tissue fluid or lymphatic system organs (tonsils, spleen, lymph nodes)
• Two main types: T cells and B cells

Lymphocytes (cont.)

• Diagram showing B cells, plasma cells, T cells (helper and cytotoxic)
• Key components and functions of each type (e.g., antibodies produced by plasma cells)