PSL301H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Cestoda, C3B, Antigen

• School: UTSG
• Department: Physiology
• Course: PSL301H1
• Professor: Michelle French

Document Summary

The immune system serves 3 major functions: destroys pathogens (disease-causing invaders) Microbes that act as pathogens include bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi. Larger pathogens include multicellular parasites (hookworms and tapeworms) Pathogens and parasites may be intracellular or extracellular. Almost any exogenous cell or molecule has potential to elicit immune response these are called immunogens. Immunogens acting with the product of the response are called antigens: detects and kills abnormal cells. Re(cid:272)og(cid:374)izes a(cid:374)d re(cid:373)o(cid:448)es a(cid:271)(cid:374)or(cid:373)al (cid:862)self(cid:863) (cid:272)ells that are (cid:272)reated (cid:449)he(cid:374) normal cell growth and development go wrong. i. e. cancer results from abnormal cells multiplying uncontrollably crowding out normal cells and disrupting function. Cancer cells form on regular basis but we have mechanisms to detect and destroy them by the immune system before they get out of control: remove cell debris from the body (removes dead or damaged cells) Scavenger cells of immune system (i. e. macrophages) patrol the extracellular environment, gobbling up and digesting dead or dying cells.