IMMUNE RESPONSE TO INFECTIOUS DISEASE

 Viral infections
 Bacterial infections
 Protozoan disease
 Disease caused by parasitic worms (Helminthes)

Pathogen use a variety of strategies to escape immune destruction (specific and non –
specific)

• Flow cytometry (count cells) and nephelometry (count molecules)

Mechanism of humoral and cell – mediated immune response to viruses:

Response type Effectors molecule or cell Activity
Ab (especially secretory Blocks binding of virus to
IgA) host cells, thus preventing
infection
IgG, IgM, IgA Blocks fusion of viral
envelope with host cells
plasma membrane
IgG, IgM Enhances phagocytosis of
Humoral
viral particles
(opsonization)
IgM antibody Agglutinates viral particles
Complement activated by Mediates opsonization by
IgG or IgM Ab C3b, lysis of envelop viral
particles by membrane –
attach complex (C5 – C9)
IFN – γ secreted by T Has direct antiviral activity
helper or T cytotoxic cells
Cytotoxic T - cells Kill virus that infected the
cells
Cell – mediated
Natural kiler cells and Kill virus – infected cells by
macrophages antibody dependent cell
mediated cytotoxicity
(ADCC)

Host immune response to bacterial infection and bacterial evasion mechanisms:

Bacterial evasion on
Infection process Host defense
mechanism
 Secretion of protease that
cleave secretory IgA
Blockage of attachment by dimmers
Attachment to host cells
secretory IgA Antigenic variation in
attachment structures (like
trypanosomes)
Production of surface
structures that inhibit
phagocytic cells
Intracellular mechanisms
Phagocytosis
for surviving within
phagocytic cells
Induction of apoptosis in
macrophages
Generalised resistance to
complement – mediated
Proliferation lysis by gram negative
bacteria
Insertion of membrane
attack complex that
Complement – mediated
prevented by long side
lysis
chain in cell wall with
lipopolysaccharides (LPS)
Secretion of elastase that
inactivates C3a and C5a
(involve in anaphylatoxin
reaction)
Secretion of hyaluronidase
Invasion of host tissues Ab mediated agglutination which enhances bacterial
invasiveness
Toxin – induced damage to Neutralization of toxin by
-
host cells Ab