Where is the immune system located in the animal's body? - Ways to destroy a pathogen

4 important questions on Where is the immune system located in the animal's body? - Ways to destroy a pathogen

What are some ways to destroy a pathogen?

  1. Swallowing pathogens: engulfing pathogens whole or by breaking them down
  2. Killing infected cells: Killer cells stop the virus in the cell that is multiplying by finding them and killing them
  3. Blocking or suppression of pathogens via antibodies: B cells attack pathogens via DIY antibodies to stop bacterial toxins from working

How do Natural Killer cells destroy infected cells?

WIth high levels of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha, pro-inflammatory cytokine) natural killer cells use nuclear factor KB (NF-KB, transcription factor) to degranulate their cytotoxic granules onto an infected cell to kill them. If transforming growth factor Beta 1 (TNF-B1, immunosuppressive cytokine) is present, SMAD within NK cells is activated they produce fewer cytotoxic granules, kill infected cells less effectively, are functionally “turned down”

What are mechanisms to killing infected cells?

1. Complement dependent cytotoxicity: C1q binds to Fc region of the antibody-antigen complex, initiating the classical pathway that ends in cell lysis

2. Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity: FcYRIII (also known as CD16) is a low affinity receptor for Fc region of IgG antibodies found on NK, neutrophils, macrophages, that bind to antibody-antigen complex and initiate pathways that lead to granzyme and perforin release, killing infected cells.

3. Antibody-dependent phagocytosis: Macrophage FcyRs recognize antibody-antigen complex, initiating signaling pathways that lead to phagocytosis of infected cell
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What are direct mechanisms in which a pathogen is destroyed?

  1. Bacteriolysis
  2. Opsonization: tagging and then macrophage eating (more efficient when bacteria coated with antibodies)
  3. Antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity
  4. Agglutination
  5. Neutralization: Antibodies can attach to viruses to prevent them from entering cells
    entering cells. And viruses that can't enter cells can't multiply
  6. Secretion blockade

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