INFECTION &

IMMUNITY

by
VAISHNAVI K
D3 BIO-TECH
ROLL NO 13
 INFECTION
infection & immunity involves interaction between the animal
body and the infecting microorganism .based on their
relationship to their host.
They are found in soil & water & important role in the degration
of organic materials in nature.
Infection may be classified in various ways
Initial infection with a parasite in a host is termed primary
infection,
When a new parasite sets up an infection in a host whose
resistance is lowered by a pre existing infection disease this is
called secondary infection.
SOURCES OF INFECTION
A. HUMANS
. The commonest source of infection for human are human themselves
. The parasite may originate from a patient or a carrier .
. A carriers is a person who harbors the pathogenic microorganism
without suffering from any ill effect.
. Term contact carrier is applied to a person who acquires the pathogen
from a patient ,then term paradoxical carrier refers to a who acquires
the pathogen from another carrier.
B ANIMALS
. Many pathogens are able to infer both human & animals .
. It may asymptomatic such animals serves to maintain the parasite in
nature & as the reservoir of human infection they are called reservoir
host.
. Infection diseases transmitted to human to animals is called zoonoses
C. ANIMALS
Many pathogens are able to infer both human & animals
Infection may asymptomatic such animals serve to maintain the
parasite in nature and act as a reservoir of human infections they
are called reservoir host .
Infection disease transmitted to human to animals is called
zoonoses
D INSECTS
o Blood sucking insect may transmit pathogens to human beings
diseases is called arthropod- borne diseases.
o Insects may be mosquitoes, files, mites, fleas transmit infection
are called vectors
o E . SOIL & WATER
o Some pathogens can survive in soil in long periods .spores of
tetanus bacilli remain viable in the soil serve as source of
infection.
F . FOOD
Contaminated food may act as a source of infection .
The pathogens in food may be due external
contamination.

METHOD OF TRANSMISSION OF
INFECTION
a. CONTACT
. Infection may be acquired by direct or indirect contact
. Sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis. Spread by direct contact.
b Inhalation
respiratory infection such as influenza & tuberculosis are
transmitted by inhalation of the pathogen such microbe by
sneezing ,speaking.
C Inoculation
Pathogen in some instances may be inoculated directly into the
tissue of the host . tetanus spores in planted in deep wounds.
D insects
Insects may act as mechanical or biological vectors of infection
diseases.
E CONGENITAL
Some pathogens are able to cross the placental barrier &
infect the fetus this called vertical transmission result in
miscarriage .
F Ingestion
Intestinal infections are generally acquired by the ingestion
of food or drink.
contaminated by pathogens e g : cholera, food poisoning .
G Iatrogenic & laboratory infections
Infection may some times be transmitted during
administration of injections, lumbar puncture. New
treatment like dialysis & organ transplant surgery.
 FACTORS PREDISPOSING TO
MICROBIAL PATHOGENICITY
A Adhesion.
The initial event in the pathogenesis of many infections is the
attachment of the bacteria to body surface .
Their specific reaction between surface receptors on host cells
&adhesive structure on the surface of bacteria is called
adhesion.
B INVASIVENSES
This refer to ability of pathogen to spread in the host tissue
after establishing infection.
C TOXIGENICITY
Bacteria produce two types of toxins - exotoxins & endotoxins.
Exotoxins are heat labile proteins which are secreted by certain species
of bacteria
Endotoxins are heat stables lipopolysaccharides which forms an
integral part of the cell wall of gram negative bacteria.
 D PLASMID
Genus coding for some virulence characteristics may be plasmid
borne.

E BACTERIOPHAGES
The classical example of phage directed virulence is seen
in diphtheria .
F Communicability
The ability of a parasite to spread from one host to another
is know ad communicability
 IMMUNITY
The term immunity traditionally refer to the resistance exhibited
by the host towards injury caused by microorganisms and their
products.
They are two of immunity
A. Innate immunity
i. Non specific species , racial ,individual
ii. Specific - species , racial ,individual
B ACQUIRED IMMUNITY
I. Active natural , artificial
II. Passive natural , artificial
INNATE IMMUNITY
Innate or native immunity is the resistance to infection
which an individual possess by virtue of his genetic &
constitutional make up.
Species immunity refers to the total or relative
refractoriness to a pathogen ,show by all members of a
species.
With in a species different races may show different in
susceptibility to infections this is called racial immunity .
The difference in innate immunity exhibited by
different individuals is a race is known as individual
immunity
 MECHANISMS OF INNATE
IMMUNITY
Epithelial surfaces
The intact skin & mucous membrane covering the body protect it
considerably against invasion by microorganisms .
Healthy skin possesses bactericidal activity to which the
presence of high concentrations of salt in the drying sweat.
o Antibacterial substances in blood & tissues
The complement system possesses bactericidal activity & play an
important role in the destruction of pathogenic bacteria that
invade the blood & tissues.
Interferon has been shown to be important than specific
antibodies in protection against & recovery from certain acute
viral infections.
 CELLULAR FACTORS IN INNATE IMMUNITY
Natural defense against the invasion of blood &tissues by
microorganisms &other foreign particles.
A class of lymphocytes called natural killer cells are
important in non specific defense against viral infections &
tumors .
o Inflammation
Tissue injury or irritation ,initiated by the entry of the
pathogens or other irritants, leads to inflammation which
is an important in non- specific defense mechanism.
o FEVER
A rise of temperature following infection is a natural defense
mechanism .
Fever stimulates the production of interferon & aids recovery from
viral infections.
 ACUTEPHASE P ROTEINS
Infection or injury leads to a sudden increases in plasma
concentrations of certain proteins, collectively called acute phase
proteins
ACQUIRED IMMUNITY
The resistance that an individual acquires during life is known as
acquired immunity as distinct from in born innate immunity .
There are two type of acquired immunity active & passive
immunity
Active immunity is the resistance developed by an individual as a
result of an antigenic stimulus. It is known as adaptive immunity
it has response to the host to a specific pathogen or antigen.
Active immunization is more effective &confers better protection
than passive immunization .
The resistance that is transmitted passively to a recipient in a
ready made form is known as passive immunity .
Passive immunization is less effective &provides an immunity
inferior to that provided by active immunization .
 Active immunity are two type natural or artificial active
immunity .
A . NATURAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY
A person who has recovered from an attack of masks develops
natural active immunity
The large majority of adults are possess natural active immunity
to poliomyelitis due to repeated in apparent infection with
poliovirus during childhood .
The immunity is life long following many viral diseases such as
chicken pox.
B ARTIFICAL ACTIVE IMMUNITY
Vaccines are preparation of live or killed microorganism product
used for immunization .
a) Bacterial vaccines
I. Live
II. Killed , subunit , bacterial products
b viral vaccines
III. live, killed ,subunit
 LIVE VACCINE
Live vaccine initiate in infection without causing any injury or
diseases.
The immunity last for several years but booster doses may be
necessary .it is administered orally .
Killed vaccines & protection last only for a short period this
known as the primary dose.
C NATURAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY
Natural passive immunity is the resistance passively transferred
from mother to baby.
The human colostrums which is rich in IgA antibodies resistant
to intestinal digestion gives protection to the neonate.
The human fetus acquires some ability to synthesis antibodies
IgM from about the twentieth week of life but its is immunological
capacity is still inadequate at birth .
 D ARTIFICIAL PASSIVE IMMUNITY
Artificial passive immunity is the resistance passively transferred
to a recipient by the administration of antibodies the agent used
for this purpose are hyper immune sera .
Some times a combination of active & passive methods of
immunization is employed this is called as combined
immunization
A special type of immunization is to injection of immunologically
competent lymphocytes is called as adaptive immunity .
COMPARISON OF ACTIVE & PASSIVE
IMMUNITY
Active immunity
Product actively by host
immune system
Immunity effective only after
lag phase
Immunological memory present
Negative phase may occur
booster effect on subsequent
dose
not applicable in the
Immunodeficient.
Passive immunity
received passively no active
host participation
Immedia immunity
No memory
No negative phase
Subsequent dose less effective
Applicable in Immunodeficient