Pathogens

A Pathogen is anything that causes disease. For example, any of the following:

-Bacteria

-Fungi

-Virus

The body has three main defenses against disease.

1) The white blood cells release a cell called a Phagocyte which simply consumes the pathogen and engulfs them, Powerful enzymes are then used to digest and kill them

2) White blood cells produce anti toxins which cancel out the effect of any toxins made by the invading bacteria.

3) The white blood cells produce antibodies. Every Pathogen has a unique collection of molecules on the surface of its cells no two species have the same ones. These molecules are called Antigens. When white blood cells called Lymphocytes come across a foreign antigen they produce a antibody which will lock on and kill the pathogen. Then this antibody…