Chapter 16  Nonspecific Defenses of the Host 

 

 

The Lymphatic System (Fig. 16.6)

Fluid from capillaries enters space between tissue cells (now interstitial fluid)

Interstitial fluid is picked up by lymphatic capillaries and passed to lymphatic vessels (now lymph)

Lymph passes through lymph nodes with leukocytes

Lymph enters subclavian veins and returned to blood

 

 

Overview of the body’s defenses

 

A.  First line of defense – nonspecific defense of keeping pathogens from entering tissues (nonspecific à protects against any pathogen)

Includes…

Mechanical factors (skin, mucus membranes)

Chemicals secreted

Normal microbiota

 

B.  Second line of defense – Nonspecific defense against pathogens in tissues

Includes…

Phagocytes 

Inflammation

Fever

Antimicrobial substances

 

C.  Third line of defense – specific defense against pathogens in tissues

(specific à protect against specific pathogens)

Discuss in Chapter 17

Includes…

Lymphocytes

Antibodies

 

First line of defense à  Keeping pathogens from entering tissues

 

A.  Mechanical factors

1.  Skin (Fig. 16.2)

Top layer of epidermal cells is dead and contains keratin

à Rarely penetrated by microbes

 

2.  Mucous membranes

Top layer of cells is live à less protection than skin

 

3.  Tears

Wash microbes from eye (Fig. 16.3)

 

4.  Saliva

Wash microbes from mouth


5.  Mucus and cilia (Fig 16.4)

Mucus traps microbe, cilia moves mucus out of respiratory passages

 

B.  Chemical factors

 

1.  Sebum

Secreted by oil glands on skin

Inhibits growth of certain pathogens

 

2.  Lysozyme

Enzyme that breaks down Gram Positive bacteria

Found in perspiration, tears, saliva

 

3.  Gastric Juice

HCl, enzymes

Destroys most bacteria and toxins

 

C.  Normal Microbiota

Normal flora outcompete pathogens

 

 

The second line of Defense à Nonspecific defense against pathogens in tissues

 

A.  Phagocytosis

 

1.  Phagocytic cells (certain types of leukocytes) (Fig. 16.5)

 

a.  Neutrophils –

First to site of infection

 

b.  Monocytes in blood à macrophages in tissue (Fig. 16.7)

Predominant phagocytes as infection proceeds

 

c.  Eosinophils

Minor phagocyte

Usually attack parasites (helminths)

 

2.  The Mechanism of Phagocytosis (Fig. 16.8)

 

a.  Chemotaxis and adherence

Phagocytes attracted to site of infection and attach to microbe or foreign material

 

b.  Ingestion

Pseudopods engulf organism

 

c.  Phagosome formed

 

d.  Phagolysosome formed

Lysosome fuses with phagosome


e.  Digestion

Enzymes kill microorganisms and digest

 

f.  Residual body formation

Contains indigestible material

 

g.  Discharge of wastes

Exocytosis of residual body

 

B.  Inflammation

Local response of body to injury or infection

 

1.  Four signs and symptoms of inflammation (SHaRP)

a.  Swelling

b.  Heat

c.  Redness

d.  Pain

 

2.  Functions of inflammation

a.  Destroy injurious agent

b.  Confining or walling off injurious agent

c.  Repair damaged tissue

 

3.  The process of inflammation (Fig 16.9)

 

a.  Tissue damage occurs

 

b.  Vasodilation and increased permeability of blood vessels

 

c.  Phagocyte Migration and Phagocytosis

 

d.  Tissue repair

 

C.  Fever

Systemic response to injury or infection  à Hypothalamus sets thermostat higher

(pyrogen – protein that causes fever)

 

Functions

1.  High body temp. intensifies effect of anti-viral proteins

2.  Inhibit growth of some microorganisms

3.  Speed up tissue repair

 

D.  Antimicrobial Substances

 

1.  The Complement System

Complement à Group of serum proteins that facilitate bacterial lysis and Phagocytosis


Action of complement (Fig. 16.10)

 

a.  Invading microbe is bound by complement proteins (or other proteins) in blood

 

b.  This attracts other different complement proteins that either bind to microbe or activate themselves

 

c.  Outcomes of binding/activation

 

(1) Inflammation

Attract phagocytes

 

(2) Cytolysis

Complement attacks the plasma mem. And causes lysis

 

(3) Opsonization

Bound complement protein signals a Phagocyte to phagocytize the microbe

 

2.  Interferons

Antiviral proteins produced by host cell after viral stimulation

Interfere with viral multiplication


Chapter 17  Specific Defenses of the Host:  The Immune Response

 

 

Immunity

Specific response to microorganisms or toxins

Response produces antibodies and specialized lymphocytes

 

 

Two major branches of immune system (summary)

 

A.  Humoral immunity

B lymphocytes (B-cells) producing antibodies

 

B.  Cell-mediated immunity

T lymphocytes (T-cells) kill foreign cells directly or indirectly

 

 

Antigens (Fig. 17.3)

Proteins or polysaccharides that provokes an immune response

Contain antigenic determinants – chemically distinct sites that immune system recognizes

 

 

Antibodies (immunoglobulins) (Fig. 17.5)

Special proteins that are soluble in body fluids (“humors”)

B-cells contact antigen à form antibodies

Are monospecific – combine only with specific antigen

 

Structure

DRAW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Humoral immunity

 

A.  Characteristics of B cells

Specific à each B-cell can only recognize one type of antigen

Body has 100 million different B-cells that recognize 100 million different antigens

Body has only small population of each type to start with


B.  B- cell activation (Fig 17.8)

 

1.  A particular B-cell binds with its particular antigen

 

2.  Proliferation occurs (B-cell reproduces)

 

3.  Differentiation occurs

B-cells change into Plasma cells (P-cells)

A few B-cells change into memory cells

 

4.  P-cells secrete antibodies (Ab) into circulation

 

5.  P-cells die off after couple of weeks

 

6.  If later exposure to same antigen à

Memory cells rapidly differentiate into P-cells and proliferate and produce Ab

 

C.  Results of antigen-antibody binding (Fig 17.9)

 

1.  Agglutination

Causes clumping of bacteria

Enhances Phagocytosis

Reduces number of infectious units to deal with

 

2.  Opsonization

Ab coats Ag à enhances Phagocytosis

 

3.  Neutralization

Blocks adhesion sites of microorganisms

Blocks active sites of toxins

 

4.  Activation of complement

Causes cell lysis

 

5.  Inflammation

 

6.  Antibody-dependent cell- mediated cytotoxicity

Activate other non-specific immune cells to destroy invaders

 

D.  Primary vs. secondary response to antigen exposure (Fig 17.10)

 

1.  Primary

Slower and smaller increases in Ab conc. In blood

à disease

 

2.  Secondary

Memory cells from primary exposure rapidly differentiate into P-cells

à rapid and larger increases in Ab conc. In blood

à no disease


Cell-mediated Immunity

 

A.  Characteristics of T cells

Specific

Produced in the bone marrow, but mature in the Thymus gland

Communicate with other immune cells via cytokines (chemical messengers)

Have small population of each type to start with

Each type of T-cell can only recognize one type of antigen

Antigen must be displayed on the surface of an APC along with MHC

 

APC à antigen presenting cells

1.  macrophages (Fig. 17.15) 

2.  dendritic cells (Fig. 17.12)

 

MHC à major histocompatibility complex

Identifying protein produced by all cells, unique to individual

Used by immune system to distinguish self from non-self

 

B.  Main types of T cells

 

1.  Helper T-cells (TH cells)

(a.k.a. CD4 cells)

Once activated, influence and direct activity of other immune cells

 

a.  Subtypes

(1)  TH1 cells

Activate macrophages and cytotoxic T cells

(2)  TH2 cells

Activate B-cells to produce antibodies

 

b.  TH activation (Fig. 13.13)

(1)  APC phagocytizes and processes antigen.  Antigen-MHC complex presented on surface

(2)  TH cell binds to complex on APC

(3)  Cytokines produced by both cells cause proliferation (clonal expansion) of TH cells

(4)  TH clones produce cytokines that stimulate other immune cells

 

2.  Cytotoxic T cells (TC cells)

(a.k.a. CD8 cells)

Lyse virus infected host cells and cancer cells

 

TC activation (Cell-mediated cytotoxicity) (Fig. 17.14)

a.  TC binds to Antigen-MHC complex in virus infected cell

b.  TC releases perforin à infected cell membrane attacked

c.  Infected cell lyses


The duality of the immune system (Fig. 17.18)

à Tying together humoral and cell mediated immunity

 

 

Types of acquired immunity

 

A.  Natural active immunity

Follows exposure to an antigen as a result of natural infection

Active à immune response activated

Ex:  Contract chickenpox as a child à immune from then on

 

B.  Artificial active immunity

Follows exposure to a vaccine (harmless antigen that is similar to pathogen)

Active à immune response activated

Ex:  polio vaccine

 

C.  Natural passive immunity

Fetus obtains maternal antibodies or newborns obtain from breast milk

Temporarily protects newborns from infectious disease

Passive à newborn is not mounting an immune response

 

D.  Artificial passive immunity

Antibodies produced by immune individual are injected into another recipient to provide temporary protection

Passive à patient is not mounting an immune response to toxin

Ex:  Inject horse with botulinum toxin

à horse produces antibodies to toxin

àBotulism patient gets horse antibodies

à toxin neutralized

à patient lives


Chapter 18  Practical Applications of Immunology

 

 

Vaccines

Suspension of organisms or fractions of organisms that is used to induce immunity

Provokes a primary immune response forming antibodies and memory cells

Later when encounter actual disease agent, produce rapid, intense secondary response à no disease

 

 

Types of Vaccines

 

A.  Attenuated whole-agent vaccines

Living but attenuated (weakened) microbes

More closely mimic actual infection à more effective

However, there is a slight danger live microbes can back mutate to a virulent form

Not recommended for immune compromised people

Ex:      Sabin polio vaccine

MMR

 

B.  Inactivated whole-agent vaccines

Microbes that have been killed, usually by formalin or phenol

Ex:      Salk polio vaccine

Influenza vaccine(Fig. 18.1)

Rabies vaccine

 

C.  Toxoids

Inactivated toxins

Directed at toxins produced by pathogen

Require a series of injections followed by boosters

Ex:     Tetanus vaccine (DTaP)

Diphtheria vaccine (DTaP)

 

D.  Subunit vaccines

Use only antigenic fragments of microbe

 

1.  Acellular vaccines

Fragment separated from a disrupted bacterial cell

Ex:  acellular Pertussis vaccine (DTaP)

 

2.  Recombinant vaccines

Use genetic engineering to produce desired antigenic fraction

Ex:  Hepatitis B vaccine

Viral gene for part of capsid inserted into yeast

à yeast produces protein that is used for vaccine


E.  Conjugated vaccines

Young children do not respond well to vaccines based on capsular polysaccharides

So polysaccharides are combined with proteins, such as the diphtheria toxoid, to enhance immune response

Ex:  Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib)

Gives significant protection even at 2 months old

 

F.  Nucleic acid vaccines

Experimental

Plasmids of “naked” DNA that codes for antigen is injected into body

Cells in body produce antigenic protein

 

 

Schedule of childhood immunizations (Fig. 18.3)


Chapter 19  Disorders Associated with the Immune System

 

 

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)          

 

A.  Etiology:  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

 

B.  Origin:    ~1930 – monkeys butchered for food in central Africa

à virus transferred to humans

1959 – earliest documented case (from saved blood samples) in Congo

1983 – HIV identified as cause of AIDS

 

C.  Structure of HIV:  (Fig. 19.12)

Enveloped virus with single stranded RNA genome

gp120 spikes in viral envelope bind to CD4 receptors on T cells and macrophages

 

D.  HIV infection: 

Infection can…

a.  Remain latent (Fig. 19.13a)

Provirus inactive

b.  Be active (Fig 19.13b

(1)  Synthesis of viral RNA and proteins

(2)  Assembly

(3)  Release – by budding

 

E.  Ways HIV evades immune system:

1.  Provirus inside host cell is not accessible to antibodies

2.  Virus can infect by cell-cell fusion, not accessible to Ab

3.  Virus undergoes rapid antigenic changes

 

F.  Stages of HIV infection: (Fig. 19.15)

Category A

Asymptomatic or chronic swollen lymph nodes

Category B

Early indications of immune failure

à Chronic yeast infections, diarrhea, etc,

Category C

About 10 years from initial infection

Clinical AIDS à immune system failure

CD4 T cell population less than 200/mm3

Opportunistic infections

à Pneumocystis pneumonia, Kaposi's sarcoma, etc.


G.  Transmission:

1.  Sexual contact

2.  Transplacental infection of the fetus (in 20% of infected mothers)

3.  Blood-contaminated needles

 

H.  AIDS worldwide: (Fig. 19.16)

20 million deaths

40 million currently HIV infected

14, 000 new HIV infections per day

 

I.  Prevention

1.  Discouraging sexual promiscuity

2.  Condom use

3.  Vaccines under development, but many problems to solve

 

J.  Treatment:

Combination of reverse transcriptase inhibitors and protease inhibitors

Up to 40 pills a day on a complex and rigorous schedule

NOT A CURE à Reduces viral load in blood but does not eliminate latent virus


Chapter 20  Antimicrobial Drugs

 

 

Chemotherapeutics – chemical used in the treatment of disease

 

A.  Antibiotics

Produced by microorganisms

Inhibits other microorganisms

Main sources

Bacteria à Streptomyces, Bacillus

Molds à Penicillium, Cephalosporium

Ex:  Penicillin (Fig. 20.1)

 

B.  Synthetic drugs

Produced in lab by mixing chemicals

Ex:  Sulfa drugs

 

 

The spectrum of Antimicrobial Activity (Table 20.2)

 

A.  Narrow spectrum

Only affect narrow range of microorganisms

Ex:  only affects Gram positive

 

B.  Broad-spectrum

Affects wide range

Ex:  affects Gram positive and negative

 

 

Classes of antimicrobials

A.  Bactericidal – kill microbes

B.  Bacteriostatic – prevent microbes from growing (but don’t kill)

 

 

The Actions of antibacterial drugs (Fig. 20.2)

 

A.  Inhibition of Cell Wall Synthesis

Prevent synthesis of intact peptidoglycan

 

Ex:  Penicillin G (Fig. 20.3)

Core of penicillin is Beta lactam ring (Fig. 20.6)

Source:  Penicillium (mold)

Spectrum:  Narrow (Gram +)

Uses:  staphylococci, streptococci, spirochetes

 

Ex:  Cephalosporins

Source:  Cephalosporium (mold)

Spectrum:  Broader (Gram +, some Gram - )


Advantages of semisynthetic penicillins over Penicillin G

1.  Penicillinase resistance (Fig. 20.8)

2.  Broad-spectrum activity

3.  Acid resistance – survive stomach acids

 

B.  Inhibition of Protein synthesis

Eukaryotic cells have 80s ribosomes

Prokaryotic cells have 70s ribosomes

à good target à interfere with ribosomes à bad or no translation

Ex:  Tetracyclines

Source:  Steptomyces (bacteria)

Spectrum:  broad (Gram + and -)

Uses:  UTI’s, pneumonias, chlamydia, acne

 

C.  Injury to the plasma membrane

Change permeability of plasma membrane à lose important metabolites

Ex:  Polymyxin B

Source:  Bacillus (bacteria)

Spectrum:  narrow (Gram -)

Uses:  topical treatment of superficial infections

 

D.  Inhibition of Nucleic acid synthesis

Interfere with DNA replication and transcription

Ex:  Rifampin

Source:  Streptomyces (bacteria)

Spectrum:  narrow (Mycobacterium)

Uses:  Treat TB and leprosy

 

E.  Inhibition of essential metabolite synthesis

Inhibits enzyme activity

Ex:  Sulfa drugs

Source:  Synthetic

Spectrum:  broad (Gram + and -)

Uses:  certain UTI’s

 

 

Action of antifungal drugs

Usually target ergosterol in plasma membrane (animals have cholesterol instead)

Ex:  Azoles (miconazole, etc.)

Source:  Synthetic

Spectrum:  narrow (fungi)

Uses:  Athletes’ foot, vaginal yeast infections

 

 

Actions of Antiviral Drugs

 

A.  Nucleoside and nucleotide analogs

Substitute for regular nucleoside (sugar + phosphate) or nucleotide (sugar + phosphate + base) and block viral replication

Ex:  Acyclovir (Fig. 20.16) à treat genital and oral herpes


B.  Enzyme inhibitors

Inhibit enzymes used in viral cycle

Ex:  Protease inhibitors

Used to control HIV infections

Inhibits enzyme that cuts up proteins to make viral capsid

 

C.  Interferons

Inhibits further spread of infection by having immune system destroy virus-infected cell

Ex:  Alpha-interferon

Treat viral hepatitis infections

 

 

Tests to guide chemotherapy

 

A.  Disk-diffusion method (Fig. 20.17)

Used to determine whether a bacteria is sensitive or resistant to an antibiotic

Procedure

1.  Make bacterial lawn

2.  Place antibiotic soaked paper disks

3.  Incubate

4.  Measure zones of inhibition

Large zone à more sensitive to antibiotic

 

B.  Broth dilution tests (Fig. 16-15 handout)

Used to determine

1.  Whether an antibiotic is bactericidal or only bacteriostatic

2.  Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)

3.  Minimum bacteriostatic concentration (MIC)

Procedure

1.  Make dilution series of antibiotic

2.  Add bacteria

3.  Incubate

4.  Find most minimum concentration that inhibits bacterial growth

 

 

Drug resistance

 

A.  Causes of resistance

 

1.  Indiscriminate use (Fig. 20.21)

Ex:  Using antibiotic to treat viral infection

 

2.  Not finishing the full drug regimen

Resistant strains survive


B.  Mechanisms of resistance

 

1.  Destruction or inactivation of drug

Ex:  some bacteria produce Beta-lactamase, which clips beta-lactam ring on penicillins

 

2.  Prevention of penetration to target site

Ex:  frequently seen in tetracycline resistance

à drug can’t get in cell to target site

 

3.  Alteration of the drugs target sites

Ex:  change on amino acid on ribosome

à anti-protein synthesis drugs won’t bind

 

4.  Rapid ejection

Ex:  drug is pumped out of cell before effective