Treating, curing and preventing diseases

• White blood cells kill pathogens by consuming them, producing antibodies and producing antitoxins
• The skin acts as a barrier to pathogens.
• The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to kill bacteria.
• Antibiotics are drugs that destroy or stop the growth of bacteria.
• Mucus traps pathogens.
• Vaccinations involve injecting a small amount of dead or inactive pathogens
• what are disadvantage of vaccines?


  They don't always work and you could have a bad reaction to it however it is very rare.
• Antibiotics kill or prevent the growth of bacteria.
• Some bacteria are resistant to antibiotic as they can mutate and not be killed by an antibiotic.
• Aspirin is a painkiller and was developed from willow bark.
• Digitalis is used to treat heart conditions and it is developed from foxgloves.
• Penicillin is made from Penicillium mold.
• Alexander Fleming found penicillin.
• In preclinical testing, the drug is tested on animals to see if it is safe and effective.
• Monoclonal Antibodies are identical copies of one type of antibody.
• Antibodies are proteins produced by a type of white blood cell called lymphocyte.
• Steps of making monoclonal antibodies:

  1. Antigen is injected into a mouse.
  2. The lymphocytes and the tumour cell fuses to make a hybridoma.
  3. The hybridoma cell divides and produces the antibodies.
  4. The antibodies are collected and purified.
• What are uses of monoclonal antibodies?

  • Pregnancy test kits
  • Cancer diagnosis and treatments
  • Diagnose infections such as HIV ,AIDS, chlamydia etc.
• A hormone called HCG is found in the urine of women who are pregnant.
• Monoclonal antibodies treat cancer by being bound to a radioactive substance, a toxic drug or a chemical which stops cells growing and dividing.