BPS 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Innate Immune System, White Blood Cell, Defensin

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Biopharmaceutical sciences
• Course: BPS 1101
• Professor: William Ogilvie

Document Summary

When we get sick, we develop immunity against illness. What if we could skip being sick: even minor illness creates damage (acne can leave scars on the skin ) The human body is under constant attack: without a defense the microbes win. Immune system defends us by using many weapons. Antibodies: immobilize invaders, selectively destroy invaders. Macrophages: specialized cells to eat foreign cell, specialized cells to kill infected cells. Non-specific reaction: all cells are targeted, immediate maximum response. Innate immune system responds to damage: tissue damage. Inflammation (gives easier access for immune cells), redness, swelling. Lag-time between exposure and maximum response 2 3 days. Response is selective: only invading cells are targeted. Immune system retains a memory of the infection: next time same microbe invades the response is immediate and strong. Has a sticky surface stick to epitopes. Antibody production is random: cannot store large amounts of antibodies.