PCB 3233 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Pus, Immunity (Medical), Adenoid

• School: UCF
• Department: Process Cell Biology
• Course: PCB 3233
• Professor: Gregory Weigel

Document Summary

Chapter 1: elements of the immune system and their roles in defense. Immunology: the study of the physiological mechanisms that humans and other animals use to defend their bodies from invasion by all sorts of other organisms. Is always targeted to the specific problem at hand and is made and refined during the course of infection: when successful, it clears the infection and provides long-lasting immunity that prevents its recurrence. When normal microbiota recolonizes, opportunistic bacteria, such as clostridium difficile, can establish and cause more damage, even sometimes death. 1-2 pathogens are infectious organisms that cause disease: any organism with the potential to cause disease is known as a pathogen. Includes: infectious microorganisms and microorganisms that colonize the human body to no ill effect but cause illness if the body"s defenses are weakened or if the microbe gets into the "wrong" place - opportunistic pathogens. Four kinds of pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi.