BPS 1101 Lecture Notes - Cytotoxic T Cell, Innate Immune System, Variolation

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peargoldfish669

20 Apr 2012

School

University of Ottawa

Department

Biopharmaceutical sciences

Course

BPS 1101

Professor

William Ogilvie

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Document Summary

Intense, and sooner or later the patient is healthy again. Next time same microbe invades, the response is immediate and strong. Each antibody is unique (will only stick to specific molecule) We live in a microbial world where the human body is under constant attack, but the immune system defends us. In the case of gangrene, the bacterial infection may take over the body part and it has to be removed. Initial symptoms are mild, but you become sicker (may even get a fever). During infection, microbes try to eat us. Innate immune system provides an immediate response. Differences from innate immune system: highly selective (response is selective) Only invading cells are targeted: lag-time between exposure and maximum response. Immune system retains a memory of the infection. Y shaped molecules, have sticky surface which sticks to epitopes (30 atoms wide) Immune system recognizes tiny part of pathogen.

Related Questions

A. There are many autoimmune diseases wherein the immune systemattacks the body's own cells. These diseases seem to indicate aflaw in the immune system, and it seems odd that natural selectionhas not led to an immune system with a better concept of "self".Why have these autoimmune responses remained a part of the immunesystem? What are some situations where it would be advantageous forthe immune system to target the body's cells?

B. Vibrio cholerae is a bacterium that enters the body throughthe fecal-oral route and can lead to severe diarrhea, and in somecases, death. There are an estimated 3-5 million cases per year,with 100,000 deaths resulting from infection.

i. What is the main reason that our body may not wantto induce a potent immune attack of this type of pathogen?

ii. Although vaccines to cholera do exist, they are only about50% effective. Since the bacteria infect the gut, oral vaccinesroutes have been more effective than injected vaccines. What keydifference in our body