Innate Immunity Lab

White blood cells are part of the immune system and help defend the body from antigens.

51) What activity does cell 1 undertake to contribute to the body's defense against injury and infection? phagocytosis of foreign materials

Protection- By white blood cells, antibodies and complement proteins that circulate in blood and defend again foreign microbes and toxins. Also white blood cells clot when body is injured.

Ed’s blood contains white blood cells, which combat infection and inflammation. Foreign invaders attract phagocytic neutrophils and macrophages by means of chemotaxis. These particular cells eat and dispose of pathogens in a process called phagocytosis.

Innate Immune System – Nonspecific and abrupt first response; comprised of epithelial surfaces (physical barriers), neutrophils, and macrophages.

When pathogens enter our body the Leukocytes and Antibodies destroy the pathogen and remember the pathogen so it is aware and can attack immediately if the presence of the pathogen is seen again. A neutrophil is what protects us against bacteria while antibodies protect against pathogens.

The immune system is an important and complex part of the human body, guarding it against bacteria

For this experiment, whole bovine blood was used. The first process was to separate the blood into cellular and plasma fractions. 100 µL of whole bovine blood was transferred into a yellow microcentrifuge tube that was labeled WB using a P-200. 50 µL of whole blood was added to a blue microcentrifuge tube labeled WB. Both tubes were capped and placed in ice. 2 mL of the remaining blood was transferred into a Clear 2 mL tube using a P-2000 and centrifuged for 5 minutes at 8000 RPM. Afterward, 800 µL of the supernatant from the Clear tube was transferred into a yellow tube labeled WP and 50 µL of the supernatant was added to a blue tube labeled WP. These tubes were then capped and kept on ice.

Finally, white blood cells are crucial to the immune system to serve as a defense against invaders such as bacteria, viruses and parasites with the ability to recognize between “friend or

The immune system is the bodies surveillance system to keep it safe from intruders. The important cells and organs inside the body are initially kept safe by mechanical barriers such as skin and cough reflexes. If the intruder gets past the physical barrier, there are security guards patrolling the body including good bacteria, buffers and pH changes and secretion of enzymes (Price, 2015, p.13). Unfortunately, this security system is not completely protected. There is potential for bacteria and viruses to get past each layer of defense causing an infection.

The neutrophils and macrophages are phagocytic leukocytes that are present in large numbers and are evident within hours at the site of inflammation. The neutrophil is the primary phagocyte that arrives early at the site of inflammation, usually within 90 minutes of injury, and is often referred to as PMN’s (polymorphonuclear neutrophils or segmented neutrophils (segs). The neutrophil count in the blood often increases greatly during an inflammatory process, especially with bacterial infections (Porth, p. 379). Neutrophils have a lifespan of only about 10 hours, and as a result, the circulating WBC count is increased, causing leukocytosis. With excessive demand for phagocytes, immature forms of neutrophils are released from the bone marrow. These immature cells are called bands. Within 24 hours, mononuclear cells arrive at the inflammatory site, and by 48 hours, monocytes and macrophages are the predominant cell

The phagocytes caused the infected area to become red, warm and swollen (inflamed). This indicates that second lines of defense has been triggered. Phagocytes also destroy the pathogen with enzymes and send out chemical messages for lymphocytes to find and destroy. Finally, the third line of defense is in lymphatic system which the lymphocytes produce antibodies to fight the invaders. Lymphatic system consists of lymph vessels, lymph and white blood cells which means lymphocytes that latch on pathogens to destroy them as well as coating them so that intestine can easily break down.

Another type of cells that protect your body is the Phagocytes. Phagocytes are types of white blood cells that directly ingest the harmful pathogens through the process of phagocytosis. They bind to the pathogen and engulf it. When it engulfs the pathogen, Phagocytes keep the antigen so it can be presented to cells to make antibodies. (Kidshealth.org)

INTRODUCTION and AIM: This experiment will demonstrate a type of immunoprecipitation reaction, known as ouchterlony. Immunoprecipitation is a process by which antibodies bind to their soluble cognate antigens, which forms an aggregation.1 Ouchterlony is a method whereby solutions of antigens and antibodies are placed in adjacent wells, that have been punched in a radial pattern on a gel agar plate.2 Following incubation, a line of precipitation will form, if the antibodies are specific for the antigens.3 The pattern of the precipitin is then used to analyse and deduce the presence and relationship between the initial reagents.4

Our immune system is made up of two parts that work together to keep us healthy. The first part is called the innate immune system, it is made up mostly of ‘scavenger’ and ‘killer’ cells that fight off bacterial infections and give the body a general defense against harmful substances. The second part of the immune system is called the adaptive immune system. This part