INFECTION & IMMUNITY

WHAT IS INFECTION??
Exposure to pathogen
multi-factorial process which depends on the
immune status of the host, the nature of the
species or strain (virulence factors) and the
number of organisms in the initial exposure.
acute, chronic
 SOURCE OF INFECTION
Exogenous infection : patient, carrier, diseased
animal or animal carrier.
Endogenous condition : most are normal flora,
cause infection under abnormal condition.
 TRANSMISSION
Airborne droplets
Food
Water
Sexual contact
 ROUTE OF INFECTION
Respiratory
Gastroenteric
Genitourinary tract
closely contact
insect bitting
blood transfusion
Parenteral route
Mucous membranes
Types of Pathogenic
Organisms
Viruses
Bacteria
Protozoan
Fungi
Animal
Parasites
 Mechanisms of
Disease by Pathogens

Utilization of host nutritional

resources
Physical damage to host tissues
Production of toxic substances
Chromosomal and gene damage
Body cells behave abnormally
 IMMUNITY
Immunity is a state in which the body is
protected from infectious disease.
Immune system kept out of the body, and to
destroy any infectious microorganisms that do
invade the body. The immune system is made
up of a complex and vital network of cells and
organs that protect the body.
The immune response is how your body
recognizes and defends itself against bacteria,
viruses, and substances that appear foreign
and harmful.
Defense Mechanisms
1. External defense
2. Internal Defense
3. Immune Defense
 1st Line of Defense
Skin acts as barrier to microbes and viruses
- sweat has a low pH
Mucus traps foreign particles
Tears
- Lysozyme has antimicrobial action
Gastric stomach acid
 2nd Line of Defense
Phagocytic cells (WBCs)
- N L M E B
- Natural Killer (NK) Cells: attack virus
infected cells
Inflammatory Response
Antimicrobial proteins
- Lysozyme
- Interferon
- Antibodies
Mechanism of Phagocytosis
Mechanism of Phagocytosis

Macrophage
Lymphatic System
 Inflammatory Response

Histamine & Capillaries dilate Chemotactic Phagocytes

prostaglandins Clotting begins factors attract consume
released phagocytic cells pathogens &
cell debris
 Characteristics of Immunity

Recognition of self versus non-self

Response is specific
Retains a memory allowing an
accelerated second response
Can respond to many different
materials
Involves lymphocytes and
antibodies
 Types of Immunity
Active Immunity
- Naturally-Acquired Active Immunity
- Artificially-Acquired Active Immunity

Passive Immunity
- Naturally-Acquired Passive Immunity
- Artificially-Acquired Passive Immunity
 Types of
Acquired
Immunity
 Active Immunity
The production of antibodies against a
specific disease by the immune system.
Naturally acquired through disease
Artificially acquired through vaccination
Vaccines include inactivated toxins, killed
microbes, parts of microbes, and viable but
weakened microbes.
Active immunity is usually permanent
 A vaccinated person has a secondary
response based on memory cells when
encountering the specific pathogen.
Routine immunization against infectious
diseases such as measles and whooping
cough, and has led to the eradication of
smallpox, a viral disease.
Unfortunately, not all infectious agents are
easily managed by vaccination.
HIV vaccine in the works
 Passive Immunity

Passive Immunity- Protection

against disease through antibodies
produced by another human being
or animal.
Effective, but temporary
Ex. Maternal antibodies
Colostrum.
 Passive immunity can be transferred
artificially by injecting antibodies from an
animal that is already immune to a disease
into another animal.
Rabies treatment: injection with antibodies
against rabies virus that are both passive
immunizations (the immediate fight) and active
immunizations (longer term defense).
 Immune System Response to
Antigens

Humoral Immunity
Involves antibodies (secreted from B
cells) dissolved in the blood plasma.
Demonstrated as a immune response
using only the blood serum.
Defense against bacteria, bacterial
toxins, & viruses.
 Immune System Response to
Antigens
Cell-Mediated Immunity
Involves the activities of specific
white blood cells (T cells).
Defense against cancer cells, virus-
infected cells, fungi, animal parasites,
& foreign cells from transplants.
 TERMINOLOGY
Hospital acquired infection: Infections acquired during hospital
stays.
Pathgen: A microorganism capable of causing sisease.
Nonpathogen: A microorganism that does not cause disease;
may be part of the normal flora.
Opportunistic pathogen: An agent capable of causing disease
only when the hosts resistance is impaired (ie, when the patient
is immunocompromised).
Pathogenicity: The ability of an infectious agent to cause disease
Virulence: The quantitative ability of an agent to cause disease.
Virulent agents cause disease when introduced into the host in
small numbers. Virulence involves invasion and toxigenicity.
LD 50 (age /sex /health /route of entry, etc )
 LD50: The number of pathogens required to cause lethal disease
in half of the exposed hosts is called an LD50.
ID50: The number of pathogens required to cause disease (or, at
least, infection) in half of the exposed hosts is called the ID50
Adherence(adhesion, attachment): the process by which bacteria
stick to the surfaces of host cells. Once bacteria have entered the
body, adherence is a major initial step in the infection process.
The terms adherence, adhesion, and attachment are often used
interchangeably.
Invasion: The process whereby bacteria, animal parasites, fungi,
and viruses enter host cells or tissues and spread in the body.
Toxigenicity: The ability of a microorganism to produce a toxin
that contributes to the development of disease.