The Immune System
Immune System Webquest
In this webquest, you will explore how the body protects itself from invaders through three lines of defense. You will be going to different websites to see videos, animations, and images and to read explanatory text that will give you information that you will need in order to answer a series of questions about the immune system and how it works. Write your answers to the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to write in your own words and use complete sentences.
Use the link below for questions 1-3.
Use the navigation bar in the left column to click on each topic. Read through the “Introduction,” “The immune system -- three lines of defense” and “First line of defense – nonspecific barriers” and answer questions 1-3.
1. Define pathogen and list 4 types of pathogens.
2. Define antigen and give 3 examples of common antigens.
3. What is the purpose of the first line of defense? Is it general or specific?
Watch the first 4:30 of the following video that gives an overview of how the body protects itself from microbes and explains how the first and second lines of defense work
Body Defenders!
4. What is the bodies initial defense against an unknown threat?
5. What is the roll of white blood cells in this process described?
6. What immune cell is typically the first at an injured site? What is their job? How do they do it?
Search the internet or use your textbook to answer the following questions.
7. What are 4 ways that skin defends the body from infection? Is this a specific or a nonspecific defense?
8. What is an “antigen”?
9. How was the name “antigen” derived? Carefully draw an antibody and its antigen. Explain how and antibody works to protect the body and explain how the structure of an antibody relates to its function.
10. Explain what it means for a person to have specific immunity to an antigen.
11. What are lymphocytes and what are the two major classes of lymphocytes?
12. In what part of the body are each type created?
13. Explain the humoral response. What causes this type of response? What kinds of cells and chemicals are involved? Explain the functions of each of these cells and chemicals.
14. Explain the cell-mediated response. What causes this type of response? What kinds of cells are involved? Explain the functions of each of these cells.
15. What is the role of a macrophage in the immune response?
16. What specific kind of cell is attacked by HIV? Why is this so damaging to the immune system? Be specific.
17. Give three examples of cell-cell communication in the immune response to an antigen.
18. Explain how a person can be infected by a disease pathogen and not know it.
19. How do viruses and bacteria get around the immune system?
Go to this web page that further explains the difference between primary and secondary immune response to answer questions 20 - 21.
Primary and Secondary Response
20. How long does it take the body’s defenses to build up a large supply of antibodies when first exposed to an antigen?
21. What speeds up this process in the future?
Types of Immunity
22. Distinguish between natural and artificial immunity. Give an example of each.
23. Distinguish between passive and active immunity. Give an example of each.
Read through this webpage
Antibiotics
28. How do antibiotics work against bacteria?
