HSS 1100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Mycoplasma, Natural Killer Cell, Coagulase

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: HSS 1100
• Professor: Franco Pagotto

Document Summary

Immunology = study of our protection from foreign macromolecules or invading organisms and our responses to them. They are small (microscopic: 1-2 microns (1mm = 1000 microns, address them by their proper names (cid:894)e(cid:454): (cid:374)ot (cid:862)ger(cid:373)s(cid:863), (cid:862)(cid:271)ugs(cid:863)(cid:895) Viruses: nu(cid:272)lei(cid:272) a(cid:272)id (cid:894)either rna or dna (cid:374)ever (cid:271)oth(cid:895, surrounded by protein shell (capsid, attach, inject nucleic acid (penetration), highjack synthetic processes inside cells to make more viruses, package, get out while going is good. Eukaryotes: unicellular and multicellular animals and plants, genetic material is organized into a nucleus. Are all bacteria bad: no, biotechnology, spoilage of foods, bioremediation, functional foods. Can we live without bacteria: no (cid:862)nor(cid:373)al(cid:863) flora the good gu(cid:455)s, resident versus transient, gi-tract: colon is inhabited by anaerobes and coliforms, skin: mostly coagulase negative staphylococci, there should be no bacteria in the lungs, liver, heart. What can they do for us: protection from invasive (bad) bacteria, metabolism (vitamin k), immune stimulation. What protects us from the bad guys: mechanical barriers.