Discussion - The Immune System
In this module we have learned that the innate or non-specific immune response provides the body's first and second lines of defense against invading pathogens. This response is rather general, and is designed to block out any invader in a nonspecific way.
We also learned about the adaptive immune response in this module. This system uses a special class of white blood cells known as lymphocytes to attack specific target antigens that the body has seen in the past. This involves B-cells, T-helper cells and T-killer cells. It is these pathways that generate a response against specific antigens (proteins or other molecules) on the surface of the pathogens who have gotten inside our bodies. The antigens are unique to the type of pathogen that they are attached to. They act as labels to identify the pathogen and warn the body that a new infection has occurred.
For this discussion, choose one example of innate or adaptive immunity to focus on. Choose one aspect that was particularly interesting to you. Do some research to find out a little more about it. Here is a list of examples, but you can think of other ones as well:
Examples of discussion topics about innate immunity:
a. Discuss one type of chemical barrier that the body puts up to keep a pathogen from penetrating the outer wall,
b. Discuss one part of the inflammatory response such as non-specific phagocytosis. Tell us how that works.
c. In AIDS, a patient loses the function of his adaptive immune system. The HIV virus attacks a type of lymphocyte known as the T-Helper cell, or CD4 cell. This type of cell is important in mediating BOTH the B-cell pathway AND the cytotoxic T-cell pathway. However, the innate immune pathway is still intact in AIDS patients. Discuss how an AIDS patient can work with his/her non-specific pathways to help them work to their optimal capacity. For example, how can he work with his inflammatory response to get optimal benefit?
Examples of discussion topics about adaptive immunity:
a. vaccines
b. the primary immune response
c. the secondary immune response
d. self-tolerance
e. the allergic response
f. how autoimmunity works
Attachment:- Assignment Files.rar