Fighting Disease

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  • Created by: 12eyoung
  • Created on: 04-04-17 19:48
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  • Fighting Disease
    • Defence System
      • Tries to prevent micro-organisms getting into the body through cuts.
        • Small fragments of cells (Platelets) help blood clot.
        • If a micro-organism gets in to your body, your immune system kicks in --> white blood cells patrol for microbes.
          • If they find an invading microbe the white blood cells attack it.
      • Consuming microbes
        • White blood cells can engulf foreign cells and digest them
      • Producing antibodies
        • Every invading cell has unique antigens. So when the white blood cells discover an antigen (they do not recognise) --> they produce proteins (antibodies) to kill invading cell.
        • Antibodies are specific to a type of antigen
          • Antibodies are produced rapidly and carried around body to kill all similar bacteria and viruses.
      • Producing antitoxins
        • Counteract toxins produced by invading bacteria
    • Bacteria and Antibiotics
      • They can mutate --> which causes them to become resistant (not killed by) an antibiotic.
      • Only non-resistant strains of bacteria will be killed.
        • Individual resistant bacteria will survive and reproduce
          • The population of resistant strains will increase --> NATURAL SELECTION.
          • This can cause serious infection that can't be treated by antibiotics e.g. MRSA (resistant to methicillin).
      • Bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics
      • Slowing down the rate of development of resistant strains
        • Important that doctors avoid over-prescribing antibiotics
      • Antibiotic Resistance
        • Bacteria evolve antibiotic resistance.
          • People infected with these bacteria can't get rid of them easily
            • Forces drug companies to make a new antibiotic that are effective against resistant strains.
    • Fighting Disease - Past & Future
      • Ignaz Semmelweis
        • Worked in 1840's where women were dying in huge numbers after childbirth.
        • Reduced deaths by using antiseptics.
        • Believed that doctors were spreading disease through their unwashed hands
        • Doctors using an antiseptic solution cut death rates from 12% to 2%. As it killed bacteria on their hands.
      • Nowadays, basic hygiene is important.
    • Vaccinations
      • Vaccinations - protects you from future infections.
        • New micro-organism takes white blood cells a few days to learn how to produce antibodies for a particular antigen
          • Involves injecting a small amount of dead or inactive micro-organisms (which carry antigens) --> causes body to produce antibodies to attack them.
            • If same type of micro-organism appears later on --> white blood cells can rapidly mass-produce antibodies to kill of the pathogen.
      • Booster injections --> increase levels of antibodies
  • Antibodies are specific to a type of antigen
    • Antibodies are produced rapidly and carried around body to kill all similar bacteria and viruses.
  • If a person is infected with the same pathogen, white blood cells will produce antibodies quicker to kill pathogen.
    • Person is naturally immune --> won't get ill.
  • Vaccinations - protects you from future infections.
    • New micro-organism takes white blood cells a few days to learn how to produce antibodies for a particular antigen
      • Involves injecting a small amount of dead or inactive micro-organisms (which carry antigens) --> causes body to produce antibodies to attack them.
        • If same type of micro-organism appears later on --> white blood cells can rapidly mass-produce antibodies to kill of the pathogen.

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