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23 Cards in this Set
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- 3rd side (hint)
Immunology
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The study of the physiological Mechanisms that humans and other animals use to defend their bodies from invasion by other organisms.
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Immune System
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Cells heavily dedicated to defense
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Microorganism
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Have the ability of reproducing and evolving much more rapidly than human hosts
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Vaccination/Immunization
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A procedure whereby severe disease is prevented by prior exposure to the infectious agent in a form that cannot cause disease. i.e smallpox
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Commensal Species
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A vast resource-rich environment in which to live, feed and reproduce
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Flora
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A community of microbial species that inhabits a particular niche in the human body-mouth, skin, gut.
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Pathogen
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Any organism with the potential to cause disease; bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
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Opportunistic Pathogens
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Pathogens that can colonize the human body to no ill effect for much of the time but cause illness if the body's defenses are weakened or if the microbe gets into the 'wrong' place.
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Epithelium
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The body's first line of defense; the skin. Forms a tough, impenetrable barrier protected by layers of keratinized cells.
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Mucosal Surfaces/ Mucosae
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tissues that are specialized for communication with their environment and are more vulnerable to microbial invasion.
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Endemic Disease
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Diseases such as smallpox in which are ubiquitous in a given population and to which most people are exposed in childhood.
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Mucus
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A thick fluid layer containing glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and enzymes that protect the epithelial cells from damage and limit infection. Lines mucosal surfaces of epithelial lining.
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Defensins
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An antimicrobial peptide produced by all epithelial, that kills bacteria, fungi and enveloped viruses by perturbing their membranes.
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lysozomes
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An enzymes that kills bacteria by degrading their cell walls. Found in tears and saliva.
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Innate Immune System
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First line of defense. Ready to react quickly (few days).No memory. Causes inflammation at sites of infection.
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First part: Recognition that a pathogen is present.
Second part: Recruitment of destructive effector mechanisms that kill and eliminate it. |
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Effector mechanisms
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Provided by the effector cells of various types that engulf bacteria, kill virus-infecte cells, or attack protozoan parasites.
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Complement
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Battery of serum proteins that help the effector cells by marking pathogens with molecular flags but also attack pathogens in their own right.
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Cytokines
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Soluble proteins that are sent out by cells and protein to damaged tissue, that interact with other cells to trigger the innate immune response.
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Inflammation
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Overall effect of the innate immune response; blood flow is increased by cytokines, causing redness, soreness and swelling.
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Endothelium
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The thin layer of specialized epithelium that lines the interior of blood vessels.
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Edema(swelling)
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Caused by expansion of local fluid volume, putting pressure on nerve endings and causing pain.
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lymphocytes (adaptive)
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white blood cells that increase the power and force of the immune response.
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Adaptive immune response
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long-lasting; highly specialized defense that develops against one pathogen
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