Jordan Gaines
Thursday, April 11, 2019
MCB 3060C – 001
PART I
Hallmark
Innate
Adaptive
Level of specificity
Non-specific response
Specific response
Involvement of memory
No memory, can’t react
with equal potency
upon repeated exposure
to same pathogen
Long term memory, can remember the specific pathogens
which have encountered before
Time for first response
to an antigen
Rapid response
Slow response, if innate was unsuccessful, after about four to
seven days the specific adaptive immune response sets in
Time for
secondary/repeated
response to an antigen
Rapid but will be slower
and less efficient than
adaptive
Rapid and a more efficient response
Level of self-
discrimination
Fights any foreign
invader
Fights only specific infections
Duration of the
response
Stops shortly after
infection is gone
Immunity lasts long after initial infection
Key cells involved
Natural killer cells
Dendritic cell
Mast cell
Macrophage
Neutrophil
Eosinophils
B cells and T cells
2. One anatomical barrier which is critical to pathogen elimination is the skin. The skin is dry and acidic,
an unfavorable environment for pathogen growth. The outside layer of skin is made up of dead cells which
are constantly being shed, removing pathogens with them. The body can also send extra blood to the skin
to increase the number of immune cells there and increase the temperature to kill pathogens. This causes
symptoms of redness, inflammation, and fever.
Another barrier is the pharynx, which is the area of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity. Mucous
can act as a physical barrier to stop and trap microbes, and it contains lysosomes and other enzymes to kill
pathogens. When sick, the body increases mucous production, killing and physically removing more
microbes than normal. Coughing and sneezing assists in the removal of this extra mucous.
A third anatomical barrier is the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract constantly flushes food
through the body. If a pathogen enters the digestive tract it can be potentially moved through relatively
quickly. The digestive tract contains many digestive enzymes and reaches very high concentrations of acid
in the stomach, killing most microbes that pass through. The digestive tract also has mucous which traps
microbes and contains antibodies. Sicknesses that focus on the digestive tract often cause vomiting or
diarrhea, as the body tries to remove the contents of the digestive tract.
Jordan Gaines
Thursday, April 11, 2019
MCB 3060C – 001
Part II
Cell type
Role during an infection
(identify the effector mechanism
employed by the cells to stop
infection)
Arm of the Response (Innate or Adaptive
Macrophage
Consumes foreign pathogens and
stimulates response of other
immune cells.
Innate
NK cell
Kill viral infected cells
Innate
B cell
Kill viruses and bacteria outside
of cells
Adaptive
T cell
Kill pathogen infected cells
Adaptive
Mast cell
Recruits macrophages and
neutrophils. Dilates blood
vessels and induces
inflammation. Involved in
wound healing and defense
against pathogens.
Innate
Dendritic cell
Presents antigens on the surface
Innate
of infected cells to T cells,
thereby triggering adaptive
immunity.
kill or inhibit bacteria and fungi
and recruit other immune cells to
the site of infection
Eosinophils
Releases toxins that kill bacteria
and parasites.
innate
