Immune System Basics

Immune Response

It is when the immune system attacks organisms and substances that invade our

body.

Leukocytes (White Blood Cells)

Two Basic types of leukocytes:

Phagocytes – Consume foreign invaders◦Neutrophil – Kills bacteria

Lymphocytes – Allow the body to remember and recognize previous invaders and help the body to destroy them.

Leukocytes

Leukocytes are produced in the bone marrow

Stored:◦Thymus◦Spleen◦Lymph Nodes

2 types of Lymphocytes

B Lymphocytes – create antibodies to protect against invasion in the future.

T Lymphocytes – Come in behind B-Cells and kills the foreign invaders. Known as “killer cells”.

Pathogen

A pathogen is a foreign substance that invades the body.

Two examples:◦Bacteria – Live on their own and are in soil,

animals, and in the human body.

◦Virus – Smaller than bacteria, can only live inside the host cell.

The Lymphatic System

We come in contact with about 60,000 types of germs a day.  ◦One to two percent of them are potentially

dangerous to people with normal immunity◦A cold virus can live up to SIX hours outside the

human bodyColds usually get into your body through

your NOSE or EYES – seldom through your mouth

You can’t catch the same cold virus twice, but there are hundreds of strains of viruses

Average adult has 2-3 colds a year / Average child 6-12 colds a year

Money/loss spent on colds a year in the US:

1.    $75-100 million on physician visits2.    $7.7 billion on physician costs3.    $2.9 billion on over-the-counter drugs4.    $400 million on prescription drugs5.    189 million school days lost a year to colds6.    126 million work days missed by parents

caring for their children7.    150 million employees missed days a year8.    Total cold-related work loss exceeds $20

billion a year

Make a List of the most Germ Riddled Items You come in Contact with Daily?

1.    Kitchen faucet – biofilm on the screen2.    Garbage disposal – 1000 x’s more

bacteria then a toilet3.    Welcome mat4.    Vacuum cleaner5.    Dish towel (7% are contaminated with

MRSA)6.    Car dashboard7.    Soap dispenser8.    Restaurant ketchup bottle9.    Refrigerator seal (83% have molds)10. Cell phones

Top 10 germ-riddled spots in a restaurant1.    Seats2.    Menus3.    Lemon wedges (50% tested positive

for fecal matter)4.    Salt & pepper shakers5.    Tables (especially edges)6.    Rims of glasses7.    Bathroom door knobs8.    Bathroom faucets9.    Ketchup bottles10.  Salad bar thongs

Money is full of germs–paper money the most. The metals in coins often kill the bacteria, especially the nickel.

Most effective mechanism to avoid picking up a cold or other bacteria is washing hands – cuts your risk to almost “Nil”–wash your hands before you eat, drink or touch your face.

Sanitize items-Don’t share things-Stay home if you are sick-Keep tissues handy-Avoid infested areas

Build immune system–good sleep, naps, nutrition Vit C&D and exercise

Hands off – especially your nose and eyes -immunization

Pick Your Team

A. TrojansB. SkippersC. HornetsD. Eagles

Trojans

Skippers

Hornets

Eagles

25% 25%25%25%

T – Lymphocytes are responsible

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. For producing antibodies

2. For producing phagocytes

3. For killing foreign invaders

4. For providing vaccines

Leukocytes are produced in the

1 2 3 4 5

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Spleen2. Bone marrow3. Thymus4. Lymph Nodes5. Digestive System

What is B – Lymphocytes not responsible for

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. Creating Antibodies2. Continue to

circulate in your body for years

3. Killing foreign invaders

4. Send messages to T-Cells

Tiny hair like structures that stop pathogens

1 2 3 4 5

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Mucus Membrane2. Skin3. Fungi4. Digestive System5. Cilia

Which is not a storage area for Leukocytes?

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. Bone marrow2. Spleen3. Thymus4. Lymph Nodes

Infectious Diseases are caused by

1 2 3 4 5

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Phagocytes2. Cilia3. Pathogens4. Vaccines5. Neutrophils

White Blood cells that carry out most of the immune system’s functions are called?

1 2 3 4 5

0% 0% 0%0%0%

1. Neutrophils2. Lymphocytes3. Phagocytes4. Antibodies5. Leukocytes

Team Scores

Points Team Points Team

The first exposure to the pathogen generated…

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. More antibodies than the 2nd exposure

2. Fewer antibodies than the 2nd exposure

3. No antibodies4. The same number of

antibodies than the 2nd exposure

The 2nd exposure occurred how many days after the first?

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. 14 days2. 21 days3. 28 days4. 30 days

The amount of time for the antibody concentration to reach its peak after the 1st exposure

was

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. 4 days 2. 6 days3. 8 days4. 12 days

The amount of time for the antibody concentration to reach its peak after the 2nd exposure

was

1 2 3 4

0% 0%0%0%

1. 4 days2. 8 days3. 12 days4. 14 days

Team Scores

Points Team Points Team

Participant Leaders

Points Participant Points Participant