The Immune System & Treatments/Medicines

• What is the primary function of the immune system?

  To protect the body by attacking pathogens
• What type of cells are part of the immune system?

  Lymphocytes
• Why are antibodies specific to one kind of pathogen?

  Because they can only destroy that particular kind of pathogen
• What is the reason for the delay in antibody production after pathogen exposure?

  It takes time for lymphocytes to identify the specific antigen and secrete antibodies
• How does the secondary immune response differ from the primary response?

  The secondary response is faster due to the presence of memory cells
• What do antigens trigger when they enter the body?

  An immune response that results in antibody production
• What is the role of memory lymphocytes in the immune system?

  They remain in the body to quickly produce antibodies upon re-exposure to the same pathogen
• How does immunisation work?

  It involves giving a vaccine to prevent illness from a disease
• What are antibiotics used for?

  To treat bacterial infections
• Why must the correct antibiotic be used for a bacterial infection?

  Because specific bacteria are only killed by specific antibiotics
• What is bacterial resistance?

  When bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and are no longer effectively killed
• How do antibiotics kill bacteria?

  They target bacterial cell components, disrupting their structure
• Why do antibiotics not harm human cells?

  Human cells have different cellular structures than bacteria
• What are the stages of testing new medicines?

  Discovery, preclinical testing, clinical trials
• Why is it unethical to test a new medicine on many people at once?

  To ensure the medicine is safe and effective before widespread use
• What factors can affect the risk of diseases?

  Genes and age are two factors that can influence disease risk
• What is the trend shown in the graph for lung disease deaths?

  Deaths from lung disease increase with age
• What are possible reasons for the trend in lung disease deaths?

  Smoking habits and air quality may contribute to the trend
• What are the differences between a vaccine and immunisation?

  • A vaccine is a substance that stimulates an immune response.
  • Immunisation is the process of administering a vaccine to prevent disease.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of using animals for drug testing?

  Advantages:

  • Allows for initial safety testing before human trials
  • Can provide insights into biological processes

  
  

  Disadvantages:

  • Ethical concerns regarding animal welfare
  • Results may not always translate to humans
• Describe how the immune system helps to fight infection.

  • Lymphocytes identify pathogens.
  • Antibodies are produced to target specific pathogens.
  • Memory cells provide a faster response upon re-exposure.
• What are the effects of antibiotics on bacteria?

  • Antibiotics kill specific bacterial cells.
  • They inhibit bacterial growth.
  • Resistance can develop if antibiotics are misused.