Immunology (Part 1)

CAPE Biology Unit 2

R.Wint

Objectives
1. Define immunity
2. Explain, citing examples, the difference between innate immunity and
adaptive immunity
3. Describe the lines of defence of innate immunity, including normal
microbiota
4. Identify the types of granulocytic white blood cells( basophils,
neutrophils, eosinophils,) and agranulocytic white blood cells
(macrophages, monocytes, NK cells, T & Blymphocytes).
5. Outline the protective roles of the white blood cells.
6. Outline the general process of phagocytosis
7. Describe the outcomes of phagocytosis
1. Antigen presentation
2. Inflammatory response: 5 signs of inflammation histamine production

8. Describe the complement system

9. Describe how complement proteins effect an immune response
1. Enhance phagocytosis
2. Histamine production
3. Cytolysis of invading cell

10.Outline classical pathway of complement response

Immune System
The immune system of animals serves to
protect the organism from invading cells/
foreign substances.
It is an elaborate and coordinated system that
to generate an enormous variety of cells and
molecules capable of specifically recognizing
and eliminating an apparently limitless variety
of foreign invaders.
Animal Immune system is defined for its ability
of recognition , effector response and
memory

Immunity
Immunity is our ability to ward off
diseases caused by pathogens or their
products and to protect against
environmental agents.
There are two general types of immunity:
Innate Immunity: refers to defences that
are present at birth, does not elicit a
specific recognition of pathogen, nor does
it have a memory response
Adaptive Immunity: a specific response
to a specific microbe (slower) and it has a
memory component

Immunity Map (By

R.WINT)
Immunity
Adaptive

Cell
Mediate
d

Phagocyt
osis

Humoral
(Antibody
)

Active

Natural

Innate

Inflammati
on

Passive
Artificial

Natural

Artificial

Anatomi
c
Complem
ent

Phagocytosis, Inflammatory Response, Complement

System

INNATE IMMUNITY

Innate Immunity
Innate immunity are the defences that are
present since birth.
Innate immunity is our first line of defence
against invading microbes and foreign agents
Innate immunity serves to provide a rapid
response.
Innate immunity is non-specific recognition
meaning that the same response is mounted
against different invaders

Anatomic/Physical
Barriers

Anatomic barriers are the physical

body parts/secretions that act as our
first line of defence against infection.
Physical Body Parts (skin, mucus
membranes, lacrimal apparatus)
Secretions/Chemical ( saliva, sweat,
sebum, tears, gastric juice)
Urine flushes bacteria from urinary
tract

Anatomical Barriers
Body Part
Skin

Defensive Role
Epidermal cells are closely packed,
Dryness of keratinised epidermis inhibit
microbial growth,
periodic shedding of skin removes
microbes,

Mucus membrane (lines

many internal organs)

Secrete thick mucus that trap invaders,

Cilliary aparatus remove mucus with
invaders from tract

Lacrimal Apparatus
(produce tears)

Tears wash away microbes, dust etc

Eyebrows/lash trap some particles and
microbes

Sebum (skin oil

glands)

Acidic pH discourage some microbial

growth

Sweat

Contains lysozyme that disrupts

bacterial cell wall

Gastric Juice

Highly acidic to destroy many bacteria

Types of White Blood

Cells
White blood cells are properly termed
leucocytes
White blood cells offer the second
line of defence when physical
barriers are breached
2 types: Granulocytes (stained
granules can be seen under light
microscope) and Agranulocytes

Lymphatic System
Lymphatic System: lymph nodes,
spleen, thymus, bone marrow, lymph
vessels, lymph fluid
Lymphatic system is where stem
cells are produced (red bone marrow)
and mature into white blood cells
(thymus, spleen)

Lymphatic System

Granulocytes
1. Neutrophil: nucleus has 2-5 lobes,
most abundant in blood (60%)
Function: Highly phagocytic,
present initial stage of infection, can
migrate from blood to damaged
tissue

Granulocytes
2. Basophil : (0.5-1%)
Function: inflammatory and allergic
response, produce histamine

Granulocytes
3. Eosinophils: (2-4%)
Function: produces toxic proteins
against parasitic worms
Little phagocytosis

Agranulocytes
Monocytes (mature into Macrophages)
Function: Phagocytosis

Dendritic cells:
Phagocytosis for antigen presentation
Initiates adaptive immunity response

T-lymphocytes:
Function: responsible for cell-mediated adaptive
immunity

B-Lymphocytes:
Function: produce antibodies for humoral immunity

Natural Killer Lymphocytes:

Immunologic surveillance
Targets and destroys foreign/cancerous/tumor cells

Agranulocytes
Lymphocytes have very Large
round nucleus

Dendritc

Phagocytosis
Phagocytosis: the ingestion and digestion
of a microorganism/debris by a cell.
Phagocytes: white blood cells that carry
out phagocytosis. (neutrophils,
macrophages, dendritic cells, eosinophils)
Possess the ability to migrate from blood
to site of infection

During infection: there is an increased

blood count in first neutrophils and then
macrophages)

Phagocytosis
How does a phagocyte recognise an
invader cell from a self cell?
Phagocytes possess Toll-like
receptors TLR on their plasma
membranes that bind to PAMPS found
the surface of microbes or foreign
materials
PAMPS: Pathogenic Associated
Molecular Patterns

Steps in Phagocytosis
1. Chemotaxis: this is the chemical attraction of
phagocytes to microorganisms.
2. Adherence: binding of phagocytes Toll-like
receptors (TLR) to PAMPS on microorganism. This
binding also helps to recruit more phagocytes.
3. Ingestion: phagocyte extends pseudopods to engulf
microbe.
Pseudopods then fuse to form a vesicle around the microbe
called phagosome.

4. Digestion: Phagosome fuse with lysosome

=(Phagolysosome) containing hydrolytic enzymes
that breaks down microbe
5. Discharge of waste: residues left over from
digestion are ejected by phagocyte by exocytosis

Mechanism of
Phagocytosis

Phagocytosis

Inflammatory Response
Damage to the bodys tissue trigger another form
of innate immunity known as inflammation.
4 signs of inflammation:

Pain

Swelling

Redness

Heat/Fever
3 stages of inflammatory response:
1) Vasodilation 2) Phagocyte migration 3? Tissue
Repair

1. Vasodilation Histamine
Vasodilation: this increases blood flow to
damaged area
Blood vessels dilate and become more
permeable so that phagocytes can escape
bloodstream and enter tissue fluid at injury
site.
Basophils and mast cells secrete
histamine when tissues are damaged
Histamine binds to nearby capillaries and
vessels causing vasodilation and increased
permeability

2. Phagocyte
Migration/Phagocytosis
Now that blood vessels have dilated and the
walls are more permeable, phagocytes
(neutrophils) can enter the damage tissue.
Phagocytes are able to locate the injured
area by chemotaxis
Phagocytes carry out phagocytosis to
remove source of infection and damaged
tissue

3. Tissue Repair
The final stage of inflammatory
response is tissue repair which is
the replacement of damaged or dead
tissue.
Tissue regeneration
Some tissues lack the ability to
regenerate so scar tissue is formed

Inflammatory Response

Complement System
The complement system is an arm
of innate immunity that consists of
over 30 proteins produced by the
liver and other tissues
Complement proteins enhance or
complement the response of the
immune cells in eliminating
pathogens

Complement Activation: Classic

Pathway
1. Inactive C3 splits into C3a and C3b
2. C3b binds to surface of microbes by coating the
microbe = opsonisation. Opsonisation enhances
phagocytosis
3. C3b splits inactive C5 into C5a and C5b. C5b
recruits C6, C7, C8, C9 to form a membrane
attack complex MAC that perforates cell
membrane of microbe resulting in cytolysis
4. C3a and C5a bind to mast cells, stimulating
them to release histamine for inflammatory
response

Complement Activation
Classical Pathway

References
Tortora .Microbiology, 10th Edition
Kuby Immunology (really good
immunology textbook)