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The immune system - Coggle Diagram
The immune system
Blood Clotting
Pathogens
cells that are able to cause disease. They are found in the environment and can also live on our skin.
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When the skin is cut, damaged blood vessels cause bleeding.
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Antibiotics
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Since antibiotics target prokaryotic life processes, they are unable to target viruses which do not have a metabolism.
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Instead, viruses are treated using antivirals which prevent virus DNA/RNA from replicating.
Like other species, bacteria respond to changes in their environment.
Through natural selection, they can develop antibiotic resistance, which allows bacteria to defend against antibiotics.
With antibiotic use becoming more prevalent, antibiotic resistance is becoming a modern medical concern.
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Immunity
White blood cells (aka leucocytes) are cells responsible for identifying pathogens and protecting the body from infection.
Phagocytes are a type of white-blood cell that are able to move out of the capillaries to sites of infection.
When pathogens are detected, they engulf and digest them with enzymes.
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The presence of antigens stimulates the corresponding lymphocyte to produce large clones called plasma cells.
After some time, enough
cells are present to combat the infection.
After the infection has been dealt with and antigens are no longer
present, the lymphocytes gradually begin to die.
However, some live on as memory cells. These remain inactive until the same pathogen is encountered again, when they quickly reproduce. As a result, they confer an immunity to the pathogen.
HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that infects and destroys helper T-cells, which are involved in antibody production
Ability to produce antibodies decreases, leaving the host vulnerable.
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AIDS is a condition that results when HIV has compromised the immune system and allowed infections to occur.
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It can be diagnosed when patient shows an ‘indicator illness’ and by counting lymphocytes in the blood.
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