malfunctions of the immune system this lesson meets the following doe specific curriculum outcomes...
DESCRIPTION
IMMUNODEFICIENCY Immunodeficiency diseases may be caused by a foreign agent, such as the HIV virus, which attacks T cells. It may also result from a hereditary condition, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) that results in the inability to produce B cells and T cells.TRANSCRIPT
MALFUNCTIONS of the IMMUNE SYSTEM
This lesson meets the following DoE Specific Curriculum Outcomes for Biology 11: 116-7
MALFUNCTIONS of the IMMUNE SYSTEM
• Abnormal functioning of the immune system can cause two types of problems:– Immunodeficiency diseases – Inappropriate attacks of the
immune system against non-threatening agents (harmless cells)
IMMUNODEFICIENCY
• Immunodeficiency diseases may be caused by a foreign agent, such as the HIV virus, which attacks T cells.
• It may also result from a hereditary condition, such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) that results in the inability to produce B cells and T cells.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
• T cells or antibodies mistakenly identify your own body cells as foreign and consequently attack them.
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
• Renegade lymphocytes treat the body’s cells as aliens and make antibodies to attach to their own cell membranes.
• Drugs or serious infections can weaken the suppressor T cells, leaving the body vulnerable to autoimmune diseases.
ALLERGIES• A hypersensitivity to harmless agents,
or a response in which the immune system begins to attack normal cells in one’s own body, can destroy tissues and organs.
• Allergies occur when your immune system mistakes harmless cells for harmful invaders.
• If you are allergic to peanuts, your immune system recognizes one of the proteins in the peanut as dangerous.
ALLERGIC RESPONSE• For allergies to
materials such as dust mites, pollen, mould and animal dander, the reaction of the antibodies releases histamines that cause sneezing, watery eyes and runny nose.
• Food allergies can be more severe.
AIDS
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - retrovirus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).
• HIV virus contains one RNA molecule and two reverse transcriptase molecules.
• After entering the host’s Helper T cell, the reverse transcriptase triggers the production of viral DNA (provirus) by the host nucleus.
AIDS
• The host’s transcribes the viral DNA into RNA for new viruses resulting in the destruction of the host cell.
• The destruction of the helper T cells impedes the discover of pathogens by the immune system.
• See page 480 of Bio 12 text book .
