Introduction to the Immune System

1. Hello.
Today you need
• 2 pieces of blank
paper – any color
• Something to write
with
• Coloring things
(optional)
Objective
• Identify and describe the
components of the non-
specific immune response
• Identify and describe the
5 major white blood cells

2. The
Immune System

3. Fold your paper and affix with
staples

4. Organs of the
Immune
System

5. On the cover
• The main job of the
immune system is to
recognize self from
non-self and attack
and destroy non-self
Add a picture that represents this idea

6. Non-specific Immunity
• The first and second line of defense are
called non-specific responses
• That means they do the same thing no
matter what the foreign invader is (virus,
bacteria, splinter, etc.)
On the first flap

7. The first line of defense
• Skin and mucus membranes
– Skin -waterproof and thick enough to
keep most things out
– Mucus membranes secrete fluids to
keep eyes, nose, mouth, etc. clean
Inside the first page

8. Second line of defense
• The inflammatory response
– Kicks in if skin or mucus membranes broken
Inside the first page

9. Second line of defense
• injured cells release histamine
• vessels swell and leak white blood cells
called macrophages
• Macrophages engulf (or “eat”) any
foreign material in the body
bacteria
macrophage
Sketch a macrophage doing
it’s job

10. 3. macrophages1. Histadine leaked
from injured cells
2. Histadine
makes vessels
leak
macrophages

11. Important Terms
• Antigen (aka pathogen)
– a foreign substance that gets
into the body
– Triggers the immune response
• Antibody
– A protein that is made by
WBCs.
– Binds to the antigen to keep it
from harming the body
– There are specific antibodies for
each antigen
On the second flap and then inside the second page

12. Antigens
• Bacteria
• Viruses
• Fungi
• Parasites
• Even blood or tissues
from other organisms can
be antigens (which is why
we can’t mix blood types
and why we can reject
organ transplants)
Inside the second page

13. Disease causing agents
• Known as antigens or pathogens
• Can be:
– Bacteria
– Viruses
– Fungi
– Parasites
– Environmental factors like cigarette
smoke or lead
– Inherited, genetic diseases like
hemophilia or diabetes
15 year old with
rapid aging
disease

14. Viruses cause
– Colds
– Flu
– Chicken pox
– Warts
• Viruses are:
– Tiny
– Living?
– Attach to cell
membrane and inject
their DNA or RNA
– Take over the cell to
reproduce themselves
– Can infect all kinds of
living things
Inside the second page

15. Bacteria cause
• Some bacterial infections:
– Strep throat
– Botulism (food poisoning)
– Meningitis
• Most are harmless
• Some are beneficial
• Cause disease by:
– Breaking down your tissues
– Or by releasing toxins
Inside the second page

16. Protists cause
• These are eukaryotes that
are not plant, animal or fungi
• Some protist caused
diseases are:
– Malaria
– African sleeping sickness
– Amoebic dysentery
Inside the second page

17. Symptoms of
Malaria• shaking chills
• high fever
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• abdominal cramps
• dry cough
• muscle or joint pain
• back ache.
• The attacks may occur every other day or every third
day.
• death can occur, sometimes within 24

18. Parasites
• Flatworms and roundworms like:
– Tapeworms
– Hookworms
– heartworms
Inside the second page

21. Fungi cause
• Athlete’s foot
• Ringworm
• Valley fever
Inside the second page

22. How do
diseases
spread?
• Through direct
contact with
infected bodily
fluids
• Through
ingestion on
contaminated
food or water
• Through
contact with
infected
animals

23. Specific Immunity
• specific to the type of
invader
• Involves the
production of
antibodies by WBCs
On the last flap and inside the page

24. WBCs
• There are five major types of white blood
cells (WBCs) that you must know.
• They each have a different job to do.
• They are like different types of soldiers in
your army.

25. 1. Macrophage
• large WBCs that
can engulf and
destroy antigens

26. Sketch aSketch a
macrophage intomacrophage into
your notesyour notes

27. 2. B-cells
• recognize
invaders and
then produce
antibodies that
bind to them
and make them
easier to destroy

28. Draw a
B-cell
into
your
notes
Place where invader is
recognized

29. 3. Helper T-
cells
• make a chemical
that helps the B-
cells reproduce
quickly.

30. Sketch a helper T
cell into your notes

31. 4. Killer T-cells
• attack and destroy your body cells that
have been infected by the antigen.

32. Sketch a killer T
cell into your notes

33. 5. Memory Cells
• come from B and T cells
• They remember what the antigen was
and are ready for it next time
• They give you immunity from that
disease

34. Sketch a
memory
cell into
your
notes

35. Immune Response Time

36. Vaccines
• Give you long term
immunity
• Contain a weakened or
killed version of a virus
Breast milk gives
babies short term
immunity