The immune system is known for its primary role in protecting the body from bacterial, parasitic, fungal and viral infections. It consists of organs and cells that play important and very specific roles in order to achieve adequate protection. The main components include:
Organs
• Bone Marrow Produces all the cells of the immune system through a process called hematopoiesis.
• Thymus Produces mature T cells through a process called thymic education.
• Spleen Its primary role is to filter the blood of antigens. This is done by the macrophages and dendritic cells that capture the antigens.
• Lymph Nodes Its primary role is to filter the bodily fluids of antigens, similar to the spleen, this is also done by the macrophages and dendritic cells …show more content…
This type of defense is stimulated upon primary exposure to a pathogen or one of its products. It is the first line of defense for the immune system that contains no specific immune response to a particular pathogen. This immunity relies heavily on phagocytic cells such as neutrophils, basophils and macrophages that recognize pathogens and immediately act to destroy the foreign material. The second line of defense is known as adaptive immunity. This form of immunity is antigen-specific because it is capable of remembering a previous antigen. Because it is able to remember and recognize its previous foes, adaptive immunity can generate antibody-mediated immunity (AMI) and/or cell-mediated immunity (CMI). AMI, also known as humoral immune response, is normally found in the humours or body fluids and consists of antibodies produced by B cells. These antibodies are responsible for recognizing non-self-antigens in the blood or body fluids. If antigens escape form the blood or body fluids and enter a cell, antibodies become useless (Pommerville, 2011). At this point CMI is responsible for the elimination of the non-self-cells. The elimination process is controlled and regulated by …show more content…
This form of infection is capable of causing significant illness and death in defective immune systems. Defects in neutrophil function and neutropenia can lead to candida, aspergillus and mucoraceae. Altered T-cell mononuclear phagocyte function can lead to C. neoformans, histoplasma and coccidioides. One of the most notorious fungal infections is aspergillosis with a mortality rate of 55-92% (Silva, 2010). It is challenging to diagnose due to its difficulty to isolate, non-specific clinical features and its difficult presence to interpret. “Definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological demonstration of the fungus in tissue or a positive culture from a sterile body site,” (Armstrong & Hawkins, 1984). Although the ability to treat this infection is difficult, amphotericin B with or without 5FC is the most common form of treatment that is recommended in a dose of 1.5 to 3 g in a six to twelve week period. Doses and duration of medication will vary depending on the severity of the infection. Many studies are being done to find a more accurate and effective treatment for fungal infections at this
Organs
• Bone Marrow Produces all the cells of the immune system through a process called hematopoiesis.
• Thymus Produces mature T cells through a process called thymic education.
• Spleen Its primary role is to filter the blood of antigens. This is done by the macrophages and dendritic cells that capture the antigens.
• Lymph Nodes Its primary role is to filter the bodily fluids of antigens, similar to the spleen, this is also done by the macrophages and dendritic cells …show more content…
This type of defense is stimulated upon primary exposure to a pathogen or one of its products. It is the first line of defense for the immune system that contains no specific immune response to a particular pathogen. This immunity relies heavily on phagocytic cells such as neutrophils, basophils and macrophages that recognize pathogens and immediately act to destroy the foreign material. The second line of defense is known as adaptive immunity. This form of immunity is antigen-specific because it is capable of remembering a previous antigen. Because it is able to remember and recognize its previous foes, adaptive immunity can generate antibody-mediated immunity (AMI) and/or cell-mediated immunity (CMI). AMI, also known as humoral immune response, is normally found in the humours or body fluids and consists of antibodies produced by B cells. These antibodies are responsible for recognizing non-self-antigens in the blood or body fluids. If antigens escape form the blood or body fluids and enter a cell, antibodies become useless (Pommerville, 2011). At this point CMI is responsible for the elimination of the non-self-cells. The elimination process is controlled and regulated by …show more content…
This form of infection is capable of causing significant illness and death in defective immune systems. Defects in neutrophil function and neutropenia can lead to candida, aspergillus and mucoraceae. Altered T-cell mononuclear phagocyte function can lead to C. neoformans, histoplasma and coccidioides. One of the most notorious fungal infections is aspergillosis with a mortality rate of 55-92% (Silva, 2010). It is challenging to diagnose due to its difficulty to isolate, non-specific clinical features and its difficult presence to interpret. “Definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological demonstration of the fungus in tissue or a positive culture from a sterile body site,” (Armstrong & Hawkins, 1984). Although the ability to treat this infection is difficult, amphotericin B with or without 5FC is the most common form of treatment that is recommended in a dose of 1.5 to 3 g in a six to twelve week period. Doses and duration of medication will vary depending on the severity of the infection. Many studies are being done to find a more accurate and effective treatment for fungal infections at this