The Immune SystemThe Immune System

By: Elizabeth Reed, David By: Elizabeth Reed, David Chavez, and Kharletha WilliamsChavez, and Kharletha Williams

IntroductionIntroduction

The immune system is the body's defense The immune system is the body's defense against infectious organisms and other against infectious organisms and other invaders. Through a series of steps called invaders. Through a series of steps called the immune response, the immune system the immune response, the immune system attacks organisms and substances that attacks organisms and substances that invade body systems and cause disease.invade body systems and cause disease.

The immune system is The immune system is made out of various made out of various cells that control the cells that control the protection of the protection of the body. Some devour body. Some devour antigens, some just antigens, some just figure out what they figure out what they are, and some cells are, and some cells act as stations to tell act as stations to tell the fighter cells where the fighter cells where the antigen is.the antigen is.

What happens in the immune What happens in the immune system?system?

• The cells in the immune system are

“born” in the bone marrow, and some

cells, like the T cell, move to the

thymus to mature.

T Cells: T Cells: The T cell is a lymphocyte The T cell is a lymphocyte

cell that fights off pathogens. cell that fights off pathogens. But, the T cell has to be But, the T cell has to be activated. When a diseased activated. When a diseased cell crosses the path of a T cell crosses the path of a T cell, the cell is activated and cell, the cell is activated and begins to fight off the begins to fight off the pathogen that killed the cell. T pathogen that killed the cell. T cells are covered in receptor cells are covered in receptor proteins that show the cell proteins that show the cell what pathogen to “swallow”. what pathogen to “swallow”. Also, a T cell can’t attack any Also, a T cell can’t attack any virus. The proteins show the virus. The proteins show the cell which one to kill.cell which one to kill.

B cells:B cells: Memory B cells remember what Memory B cells remember what

pathogens they have fought and pathogens they have fought and fight them quicker the next time. B fight them quicker the next time. B cells also fight off antigens. B cells cells also fight off antigens. B cells and T cells are also called and T cells are also called lymphocytes. B cells are best lymphocytes. B cells are best known for making antibodies, known for making antibodies, which attach themselves to which attach themselves to pathogens to mark them for other pathogens to mark them for other immune system cells to kill.immune system cells to kill.

Like Tree cuttingLike Tree cutting

• White Blood cells, or leukocytes, help

White Blood cells, or leukocytes, help

in the blood stream to fight off in the blood stream to fight off

antigens. They are the most common

antigens. They are the most common

type of cell in the immune system.type of cell in the immune system.

White Blood cell

T cell

B cell

What is the purpose of the immune What is the purpose of the immune system?system?

The purpose of the The purpose of the immune system is to immune system is to keep out infectious keep out infectious organisms (viruses, organisms (viruses, certain bacteria, fungi, certain bacteria, fungi, etc.) that could invade etc.) that could invade the body.the body.

But, some pathogens But, some pathogens make it into the body. make it into the body. Most of them are Most of them are devoured or destroyed devoured or destroyed before they can do before they can do much harm.much harm.

Pathogen

B cell

How does the immune system How does the immune system work?work?

The immune The immune system is a system is a complex system complex system of many cells of many cells and organs and organs where the cells where the cells mature and mature and travel through. travel through. These cells and These cells and organs are what organs are what make the make the immune system immune system work.work.

• T CELLS have t cell receptors which helps T CELLS have t cell receptors which helps the cell tell what pathogen it needs to kill. the cell tell what pathogen it needs to kill. They also interact with MHC. MHC is a They also interact with MHC. MHC is a protein that resides on all cells and when protein that resides on all cells and when that cell is attacked, the MHC attaches that cell is attacked, the MHC attaches itself to a part of the pathogen and show it itself to a part of the pathogen and show it on the outside. So, if a T cell wanders by, it on the outside. So, if a T cell wanders by, it will realize that there is a pathogen inside will realize that there is a pathogen inside the cell. But, for the T cell to react, one of the cell. But, for the T cell to react, one of its receptors has to find a match with one its receptors has to find a match with one on the infected cell. on the infected cell.

• B CELLS make antibodies that attach B CELLS make antibodies that attach themselves to pathogens to show T cells themselves to pathogens to show T cells and other immune system cells which and other immune system cells which pathogen to kill.pathogen to kill.

• Immune system organs, such as the Immune system organs, such as the thymus and bone marrow are the source of thymus and bone marrow are the source of immune cell maturity.immune cell maturity.

T cell receptor

antibodies

Where is it located?Where is it located?The immune system is located all The immune system is located all over the body. The immune system over the body. The immune system organs help transport and allow the organs help transport and allow the cells in the immune system to cells in the immune system to grow.grow.

Here are some of the immune Here are some of the immune system organs:system organs:•Adenoids (help filter out harmful Adenoids (help filter out harmful microorganisms that can cause microorganisms that can cause infection)infection)•Tonsils (Two masses of tissue on Tonsils (Two masses of tissue on either side of the throat)either side of the throat)•Thymus (an area where some Thymus (an area where some types of immune cells mature. The types of immune cells mature. The thymus also grows smaller as we thymus also grows smaller as we get older.)get older.)•Spleen (filters out harmful Spleen (filters out harmful substances from the blood and substances from the blood and produces white blood cells.)produces white blood cells.)•Peyer’s patches ( they destroy Peyer’s patches ( they destroy bacteria like the tonsils)bacteria like the tonsils)

• Bone marrow (a soft tissue filling the cavities of bones.)

• Appendix (the appendix protects the “good germs” in the digestive system from immune system patrollers.)

• Lymphatic vessels ( lymphatic vessels provide transportation for maturing cells trying to reach the thymus.)

• Lymph nodes (Small, rounded structures along the small vessels of the lymphatic system that produce disease-fighting white blood cells and filter out harmful microorganisms and toxins from the lymph).

How do you keep your immune How do you keep your immune system healthy?system healthy?

There are three ways to keep your immune system healthy. They There are three ways to keep your immune system healthy. They are:are:

Don’t eat sugar or grains. ( sugar immediately decreases the Don’t eat sugar or grains. ( sugar immediately decreases the strength of your immune system)strength of your immune system)

Get 6 or more hours of sleep.( for kids, the amount of hours should Get 6 or more hours of sleep.( for kids, the amount of hours should be higher because of development. Sleep is also necessary be higher because of development. Sleep is also necessary because when you sleep, your body goes in to a restful state where because when you sleep, your body goes in to a restful state where the immune system can work more effectively.)the immune system can work more effectively.)

In my opinion, the best way to keep your immune system strong is In my opinion, the best way to keep your immune system strong is to fight through your colds and flues! When you go to the doctor, to fight through your colds and flues! When you go to the doctor, they give an antibiotic(most of the time) that defeats the purpose of they give an antibiotic(most of the time) that defeats the purpose of the immune system altogether. In return, the next time the bug the immune system altogether. In return, the next time the bug comes around, your sickness could get worse because your comes around, your sickness could get worse because your immune system wasn’t prepared.immune system wasn’t prepared.

What threatens the immune What threatens the immune system?system?

As I said in the slide previous to this, antibiotics can be bad for you. They help As I said in the slide previous to this, antibiotics can be bad for you. They help weaken the immune system after that specific virus has been terminated.weaken the immune system after that specific virus has been terminated.

Some sicknesses of the immune system include:Some sicknesses of the immune system include:• Allergy and and asthma - inappropriate immune responses to substances that are usually - inappropriate immune responses to substances that are usually

harmlessharmless• Graft-vs.-host disease - a life-threatening reaction in people receiving organ Graft-vs.-host disease - a life-threatening reaction in people receiving organ

transplants transplants • Immune deficiency diseases - disorders in which your resistance to disease becomes Immune deficiency diseases - disorders in which your resistance to disease becomes

dangerously low dangerously low • Autoimmune diseases - diseases causing your immune system to attack your own - diseases causing your immune system to attack your own

body's cells and tissues by mistakebody's cells and tissues by mistake• HIV and AIDS- a disease in which the immune system is destroyed beyond repair.HIV and AIDS- a disease in which the immune system is destroyed beyond repair.

Now… to sum this up…Now… to sum this up… The immune system is a collection of cells and organs that protect The immune system is a collection of cells and organs that protect

the body from pathogens(viruses and bacteria).the body from pathogens(viruses and bacteria). The immune system is mainly made up of white blood cells which The immune system is mainly made up of white blood cells which

can be classified into two groups: T cells and B cells.can be classified into two groups: T cells and B cells. To keep your immune system healthy, sleep and avoid sugars and To keep your immune system healthy, sleep and avoid sugars and

grains.grains. Some diseases of the immune system can be as insignificant as Some diseases of the immune system can be as insignificant as

asthma, or as life threatening as AIDS.asthma, or as life threatening as AIDS.

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