Fill This Form To Receive Instant Help
Homework answers / question archive / Many of the most devastating human diseases result from an attack of various microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi) on the human body
Many of the most devastating human diseases result from an attack of various microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi) on the human body. The flu epidemic of 1918 killed 22 million Americans and Europeans in just 18 months, and our ongoing war against the HIV virus is still waging. In order to fight against this onslaught, the human body developed a sophisticated system that is able to screen, identify, and destroy invading microorganisms before they cause severe damage to the human body. This system, called the Immune System, continuously monitors our blood stream for the presence of foreign cells or molecules. Once an infection is recorded, the system is able to launch a full-scale attack directed against the specific invader. Organisms with compromised immune systems, or those lacking immune systems, cannot survive for long. Infections that are able to escape or destroy the immune system’s surveillance (such as HIV) are extremely dangerous.
Classification and Evolution of Life
Problem
You work for a company which creates posters and informational material for doctor's offices.
Your team's new project is to prepare information on the immune system.
This information will be sent to graphic designers later to polish the visuals, but you need to ensure that the content is accurate.
1. The immune system is composed of several types of cells whose coordinated, concerted effort is required for screening, identification, and eventual purging of microbial invasion. This is especially evident when the body launches the Specific Immune Response, comprised of both Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity.
Create a network diagram (flow chart) showing the components of the Specific Immune Response that shows the interaction and relationships of the cells in both Humoral & Cell-Mediated Immunity.
2. Sometimes too much of a good thing is not so good. When our immune system detects a foreign molecule and mounts an immune response, it is sometimes unaware that the foreign molecule is actually completely harmless. Many cases of allergies are a result of an aggressive immune response against an organism or molecule that harbors no real threat to our body.
Explain the components of our immune system involved in allergic reactions, and how does treatment of allergies manage to control them?
Create a brochure designed to explain the causes of allergies and tips for allergy management to a non-scientific audience.
The immune system is composed of several types of cells whose coordinated, concerted effort is required for screening, identification, and eventual purging of microbial invasion. This is especially evident when the body launches the Specific Immune Response, comprised of both Humoral and Cell-Mediated Immunity.
Create a network diagram (flow chart) showing the components of the Specific Immune Response that shows the interaction and relationships of the cells in both Humoral & Cell-Mediated Immunity.
Humoral immunity is mediated by antibodies that are secreted by B cells (aka B lymphocytes) and circulate in the blood and lymph. Humoral immunity can be divided into active and passive immunity. In active immunity the person actively makes an antibody after exposure to a foreign antigen; in passive immunity a person is given an antibody that has been made by someone else (for example a fetus gets an antibody from its mother through the placenta).
Cell-mediated immunity involves activated T cells which directly attack foreign antigens. The helper T cells also activate B cells by secreting lymphokines, therefore initiating the humoral immune response.
Paul, W. E. et al. (eds.) 2003. Fundamental Immunology. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins.
Fix, D. F. 2006. "Medical Microbiology." http://www.cehs.siu.edu/fix/medmicro/index.html.
Beers, M. H. & Berkow, R. (eds.) 2006. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy. Merck & Co., Inc. http://www.merck.com/mrkshared/mmanual/home.jsp.
I also found a nice picture (that is similar to the flow chart). It is from this website: http://www.influenzareport.com/ir/pathogen.htm.
The flow chart shows the steps in both humoral (on the right) and cell-mediated (on the left) immunity. Let me know if you want more details for any of the steps.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Sometimes too much of a good thing is not so good. When our immune system detects a foreign molecule and mounts an immune response, it is sometimes unaware that the foreign molecule is actually completely harmless. Many cases of allergies are a result of an aggressive immune response against an organism or molecule that harbors no real threat to our body.
Explain the components of our immune system involved in allergic reactions, and how does treatment of allergies manage to control them?
Definition of allergy:
"A misguided reaction to foreign substances by the immune system, the body system of defense against foreign invaders, particularly pathogens (the agents of infection). The allergic reaction is misguided in that these foreign substances are usually harmless. The substances that trigger allergy are called allergens." (From www.medicinenet.com)
Symptoms of an allergic reaction are:
runny and/or stuffy nose
sneezing
coughing
itching and watering eyes
hives
eczema
anaphylaxis
Immune response involved in an allergic reaction:
When a person who is genetically predisposed to be allergic encounters an allergen, his or her body makes IgE (immunoglobulin E) antibody against that allergen. Those IgE molecules attach to mast cells because they have a receptor protein on their surface that has such high affinity for IgE, that once an IgE molecule binds to a mast cell, it is permanently bound there.
The next time this person is exposed to the allergen, the IgE molecules on the surface of the mast cells will bind with the allergen. This will cause the mast cells release chemicals called histamine and leukotrienes. These chemicals lead to the symptoms associated with an allergic reaction.
Histamine causes dilation of capillaries which causes inflammation and constriction of the bronchial tubes (airways), which can cause difficulty breathing. Leukotrienes also lead to inflammation.
Common allergens:
animal proteins (from skin, saliva, hair, urine of certain animals)
molds
foods (usually peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and shellfish)
insect venoms (bee stings, for example)
pollen
drugs (notably, penicillin and related drugs)
Treatment of allergies:
The following is a list of allergy treatments and how they work:
allergy shots: they increase your tolerance to a given allergen
antihistamines: they block the histamine receptors in tissues, therefore preventing the histamine from causing symptoms
bronchodilators: they relax the muscles around the bronchi, opening the airways
corticosteroids: they reduce the inflammation caused by an allergic reaction
decongestants: they shrink the nasal tissues that are producing fluid and mucus
epinephrine: this constricts the blood vessels that were dilated from the allergic reaction
leukotriene modifiers: they block the effects of leukotrienes
mast cell stabilizers: they prevent the mast cells from releasing histamine
Tips for allergy management:
The most effective method for managing allergies is avoiding the allergens that you are allergic to. For a food allergy, strict avoidance is necessary. For an insect venom allergy, try to avoid the insect. For other environmental allergies, the following tips might be useful:
Use a HEPA air filter.
Use an air conditioner instead of opening windows.
Don't dry your clothes on a clothesline outdoors.
Avoid stuffed animals, rugs, and other fluffy items that collect dust and dust mites.
Clean and vacuum regularly.
Don't have a pet that you are allergic to.
Use a de-humidifier to prevent mold.