Third Line of

Defence
Third Line Of Defence

-Involves the immune system.

-The immune system is a specific or targeted

defence.

-It recognises specific pathogens, cancer cells and

certain chemicals and defends the body against
them.

-Immunity means the body resistance to the

pathogen which causes a specific disease.
Antigens
-The external surface of an invading
microorganism contains specific
molecules called antigens.

-Antigens are subtances, usually proteins,

that the immune system recognises as
foreign or not part of the body. Antigens
are normally found on the outer surface of
an invading microorganism.

-Example: snake venom and bacterial

toxins.
Immune
response

-When the immune system

identifies the antigens
invading the body, it is
stimulated to defend the body
against those antigens. This
type of defence is known as
an immune response.

-Each antigens induces

certain lymphocytes to
secrete specific antibodies
that only react specifically
with that antigens.
Antibodies
-Antibodies are proteins
found on the surface of
lymphocytes, or proteins
released by lymphocytes into
the blood plasma.

-The interaction between the

antibody and the antigen
which result in the elimination
of the antigen from the body-
immune response.
Antigen-binding site or
antigen receptor
-Highly specific.
-Each binding site has a particular
shape that fits the one found on
the antigen.
 How antibodies work
-After is bound to the antibody molecule, the antigen can be
destroyed in several way. Hence the lymphatic system not only
plays a role in returning excess interstitial fluid to the circulatory
system, but -it also helps defend the body against invasion by
pathogens.

-When a person has an infection, pathogens and white blood

cells collect in great numbers in the lymph nodes.

The lymph nodes may be swollen.

-The lymph nodes contain macrophages that destroy bacteria,

dead tissues and other foreign substances through
phogocytosis.They also contain lymphocytes that destroy
antigens and foreign organism.
 4 ways antibodies work
NALO
Neutralisation- An antibody neutralises the toxins
produced by the bacteria by binding to a toxin molecule.
This prevents the toxin molecule from attaching to a cell
and causing damage.

Agglutination- Antibodies cause the pathogen to clump

together. This clumping makes it easy for the phogocytes
to capture and destroy the pathogens.

Lysis-Antibodies that bind to the antigens and cause the

antigens to rupture and disintegrate.

Opsonisation-Opsonins are antibodies that bind to

antigens toact as markers so that antigens can be easily
recognised and destroyed by phagocytes.