The immune system

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

 The immune system

Immune system

- works against pathogens 

- things that do not belong in your body

- viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites can cause infections

Antibodies

- your body produces antibodies against antigens

- first infection: IgM

- following infection(s): IgG

(IgE, IgD and IgA are more associated with mucosal- and cellular immunity )

Antibodies

How does production of antibodies work?

Where would a white bloodcell produce antibodies against in case of the coronavirus?

1. The RNA
2. The envelope protein
3. The spike protein
4. the membrane protein

How do antibodies work?

- first of all: an antibody attaches itself to an antigen with his binding side

- this fits perfectly 

How do antibodies work?

-other white bloodcells (macrophages) come into action to 'eat' and digest the antigen

Difference in white bloodcells

B-Cells attack invaders outside cells

T-cells attack invaders inside cells 

(T-cells are produced in the Thymus - a small organ close to the heart, as you grow the thymus gets smaller and eventually seems to dissapear)

What type of white bloodcell will act against Covid-19 mainly?

1. T-cells
2. B-cells

Active immunity

-natural

Your body encounters the pathogen (eg - chicken-pox) in an infection

-artificial

You receive a vaccination

Vaccination

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine consists of 

-dead or weakened pathogens 

-a part of a pathogen

where does the word vaccination come from?
It comes from vacca, which means..

1. vacca is immune in greek
2. vacca is immune in latin
3. vacca is latin for cow
4. vacca is latin for friend

Pox

Small-pox and cow-pox were related

The antigens were very much alike

The antibodies formed against cow-pox also worked against small-pox! (cross-resistence)

Vaccination regime

allmost all childeren in the Netherlands receive vaccinations.

 

Passive immunity

passive means that you don't do anything

So it means that your body is NOT producing antibodies, but receives antibodie from someone else. 

It generates NO memory.

Homework

Answer questions chapter 14 and 16