circulatory system - 7 - the immune system

• Biologie
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

3.7  The immune system

immune system

- works against pathogens 

- things that do not belong in your body

- also called antigens / foreign bodies

- virusses, 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?

How do antibodies work?

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

- this fits perfectly 

How do antibodies work?

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

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 

-or a part of a pathogen

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.