Immunity Germs, disease and infection

Germs
Germs are tiny living things that cause diseases. Example:

Bacteria Bacteria are small germs that feed, move, respire and reproduce They cause diseases by: - Either destroying the living tissues within the body - Or producing poisons called toxins into the body systems. Fungi Fungi feed, respire and reproduce. Some fungi cause diseases in humans by: - Direct contact - Producing toxic substances Virus Viruses are so small. They dont respire, feed, grow or move. They reproduce within cells of other organisms. They cause diseases by: - Entering body cells and changing them into virus factories, making viruses which soon infect other cells Germ 1- Viruses a- Chicken pox b- Influenza a- Tuberculosis b- Food poisoning a- Ringworm b- Athletes foot Diseases

2- Bacteria

3- Fungi

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The Spread of Infection

There are some ways you can get infected with germs 1- By direct contact with infected people: touching, using same tools 2- By breathing in germs from coughs or sneezes of infected people

3- By eating or drinking contaminated food.

Defenses against Diseases

Your body has many ways of defending itself against germs. Therefore, your body has natural immunity against infection. Immunity is the protection against disease provided by the bodys defense or immune system.

Your body has many lines of defense. 1- The first non-specific line of defense: The body prevents the entrance of germs 2- The second specific line of defense: The body fights the germs if they entered.

Lines of Body Defenses

1- The first non-specific line of defense The body has many structures that help prevent germs from entering the body (Barriers) such as:

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a- Mucous membranes: It protects the interior surfaces of the body such as the respiratory tract. It secretes a sticky substance called mucus. Mucus traps bacteria. With the help of the cilia that line your nasal cavity, bacteria are carried to your throat where they are swallowed and destroyed by strong acid in your stomach.

b- Tears: -

contain an enzyme called lysozyme, which destroys many bacteria by breaking their cell walls

c- Skin: -

The unbroken skin is a barrier. It prevents pathogens from entering the body.

2- The second specific line of defense The body has specific cells (White Blood Cells) that can fight a foreign substance if they were able to enter your body. Recall: Phagocytes are white blood cells that eat germs Lymphocytes are white blood cells that produce chemicals called antibodies to destroy antigens

Antibodies Production
Refer to figure page 219

1- Germs enter the body. Germs have substances called antigens on their surface. 2- When the body detects the antigens lymphocytes produce antibodies 3- Antibodies combine with antigens causing germ to : burst or stick together or easily eaten by phagocytes

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Properties of antibodies: They are Y- shaped They are specific: each type of germ needs a different antibody to kill it. Some are called antitoxins: they destroy the toxins produced by germs

Artificial Immunity
Many serious diseases can be prevented through the use of vaccines A vaccine is a preparation containing dead or weakened germs, designed to increase the bodys immunity A vaccine stimulates the immune system to make antibodies to resist the disease Vaccination have almost eliminated many diseases such as polio that was once widespread

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