Difference between revisions of "Humoral Factors of Innate Immune System"
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===Lysozyme=== | ===Lysozyme=== | ||
− | Lysozyme is one of the major bactericidal agents in secretions | + | * Lysozyme is one of the major bactericidal agents in secretions |
− | + | * Helps to protect vulnerable sites such as the eyes and nasal passages | |
− | + | * Exerts bactericidal effects by digesting bacterial cell walls | |
− | + | ** Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to lysozyme action than gram-negative bacteria | |
+ | ** The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria helps to protect them | ||
===[[Complement|Complement]]=== | ===[[Complement|Complement]]=== | ||
− | The | + | * The Complement system is a group of about 30 proteins within the body fluids of all vertebrates and some invertebrates |
− | + | * Complement promotes '''phagocytosis''' or causes lysis of an invading organism | |
− | + | * Complement acts as a cascade, like the blood clotting system | |
− | + | ** The early enzymes in the cascade are bound to invading bacteria and fungi | |
+ | *** They have an affinity for components of microbial cell membranes | ||
+ | ** This binding initiates a cascade so that the binding of one molecule will eventually lead to the fixation of millions of later molecules | ||
+ | * The early components act as targets for phagocytes | ||
+ | * The later components punch holes in bacteria, causing their lysis | ||
===Interferons=== | ===Interferons=== | ||
− | + | * Lysozyme and complement have only marginal effects on virus infections because these are intracellular | |
− | + | ** The body has evolved non-specific mechanisms to protect against viruses | |
− | + | *** The most notable of these is the interferons | |
− | Interferons are small polypeptides produced mainly by virus-infected cells | + | * Interferons are small polypeptides produced mainly by virus-infected cells |
− | + | ** Interact with uninfected cells and render them resistant to infection | |
− | + | *** This resistance is mainly due to the production of enzymes that digest viral nucleic acids | |
− | + | <br><br> | |
− | |||
{{Jim Bee 2007}} | {{Jim Bee 2007}} | ||
[[Category:Innate Immune System|B]] | [[Category:Innate Immune System|B]] | ||
− |
Revision as of 16:15, 16 March 2012
Lysozyme
- Lysozyme is one of the major bactericidal agents in secretions
- Helps to protect vulnerable sites such as the eyes and nasal passages
- Exerts bactericidal effects by digesting bacterial cell walls
- Gram-positive bacteria are more sensitive to lysozyme action than gram-negative bacteria
- The outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria helps to protect them
Complement
- The Complement system is a group of about 30 proteins within the body fluids of all vertebrates and some invertebrates
- Complement promotes phagocytosis or causes lysis of an invading organism
- Complement acts as a cascade, like the blood clotting system
- The early enzymes in the cascade are bound to invading bacteria and fungi
- They have an affinity for components of microbial cell membranes
- This binding initiates a cascade so that the binding of one molecule will eventually lead to the fixation of millions of later molecules
- The early enzymes in the cascade are bound to invading bacteria and fungi
- The early components act as targets for phagocytes
- The later components punch holes in bacteria, causing their lysis
Interferons
- Lysozyme and complement have only marginal effects on virus infections because these are intracellular
- The body has evolved non-specific mechanisms to protect against viruses
- The most notable of these is the interferons
- The body has evolved non-specific mechanisms to protect against viruses
- Interferons are small polypeptides produced mainly by virus-infected cells
- Interact with uninfected cells and render them resistant to infection
- This resistance is mainly due to the production of enzymes that digest viral nucleic acids
- Interact with uninfected cells and render them resistant to infection
Originally funded by the RVC Jim Bee Award 2007 |