Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Immunodeficiency, Antibiotics, Stem Cell
Document Summary
Keep pathogens out of body (pathogen = harmful microbe [bacteria, virus, parasite, fungi]) To protect us from microorganisms with the potential to cause infectious diseases, called pathogenic microorganisms or pathogens. Human immune system is faced with many microorganisms and decides which is a threat and which isn"t. Different cells and proteins send a response to these types of microorganisms. Immune system must fight or you"ll get sick. Threats like allergies are not fought since the immune system cant fight against it the body gets a reaction. Cells will die by apoptosis (cell suicide) which is natural process. Cancer cells avoid apoptosis and continue to grow. Autoimmune diseases, immune system attacks its own cells like in type 1 diabetes, your own t-cells are destroying the cells that produce insulin. Microorganisms have the advantage of reproducing and evolving extremely quickly. Immune system needs to keep up with this rapid replication. Destroy animals in the food chain with infectious diseases (e. g. pigs, chickens)