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Animal Defenses Against Disease (Lines of Defense (Skin, acts as a barrier…
Animal Defenses Against Disease
The Immune System
White Blood Cells
Lymphocytes
Produce antibodies, a protein chemical that fits to a certain type of antigen. Antibodies can have multiple effects on pathogens
They bind to them and damage or destroy them
They bind to the pathogens and release chemical signals to attract more phagocytes
They coat pathogens, clumping them together so that they are ingested easily by phagocytes
Also produce antitoxins which neutralize toxins produced by bacteria
Phagocytes
Phagocytes can pass easily through blood vessel walls into the surrounding tissue, and move towards pathogens or toxins. They then either:
Having absorbed a pathogen, phagocytes may also send out chemical messages that help nearby lymphocytes to identify the type of antibody needed to neutralize them
ingest and absorb the pathogens or toxins
Release an enzyme to destroy them
Lines of Defense
Skin, acts as a barrier to pathogens. Secretes antimicrobial substances which kill pathogens
Hairs and mucus in the nose trap particles that could contain pathogens
The stomach, produces hydrochloric acid. This kills pathogens that make it past the trachea
The trachea and bronchi, secrete mucus to trap pathogens. They also contain cilia which waft the mucus up to the back of the throat where it can be swallowed
Vaccination
Vaccinations involve injecting small amounts of dead or inactive pathogens. These carry antigens, which cause your body to produce antibodies to attack them - even though the pathogen is harmless
The purpose of this is that when you are infected by the actual pathogen your body already has antibodies prepared to fight the infection off before you get symptoms
Monoclonal Antibodies
Antibodies are produced by B-Lymphocytes
Monoclonal antibodies are produced from lots of clones of a single white blood cell. This means all the antibodies are identical and will only target one specific protein antigen
In order to grow lymphocytes a mouse B-lymphocyte is fused with a tumor cell to create a hybridoma
Hybridoma cells can be cloned to get many identical cells. These cells all produce the same antibodies. The antibodies can be collected and purified
Monoclonal antibodies can be made to bind to anything i.e a specific antigen. Monoclonal antibodies are really useful because they will only bind to this molecule. This means they can be used to target specific cells or chemicals within the body