Immune/Defense Systems

Objectives

• 1. Explain the three levels of vertebrate immunological defense including how skin prevents invasion by microbes.

  2. Describe the three kinds of cells that kill invading microorganisms.

  3. Compare how the complement and interferon systems augment other immunological defenses.

  4. Know how the inflammatory response helps to fight infection.

  5. Differentiate among the four primary types of T cells and know their involvement in the cell-mediated immune response.

  6. Understand the role of MHC proteins in T cell function.

  7. Understand the primary events of the humoral immune response.

  8. Describe the structure of B cell and T cell receptors.

  9. Understand how clonal selection prepares a body to fight off future invaders more efficiently.

  10. Know the result of loss of immunological tolerance.

  11. Understand the reactions associated with ABO and Rh blood typing.

  12. Compare how invertebrates and vertebrates recognize foreign tissue and indicate the advantages and disadvantages of each method.

  13. Describe the three ways in which the AIDS virus interferes with the immune response.

  14. Explain antigen shifting and how it is associated with man’s failure to develop vaccines against diseases like malaria.

  15. Compare immediate and delayed hypersensitivity reactions.

Spiritual Concept

Matthew 4:23. Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness.

Matthew 10:1. Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness.

Revelation 21:3-4. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Healing diseases was a characteristic of Jesus' ministry. He even gave his disciples the authority to heal people with diseases. It is typically thought that diseases did not exist before Adam and Eve sinned and that pathogens are a consequence of The Fall. However, in Revelation 21, it does NOT mention that there will be no more disease in God's future kingdom.

Questions:

• 1. How do you think diseases and the pathogens that cause diseases came into existence?

  2. Do you think there will be pathogens in heaven?

  3. What was the purpose of Jesus’ ministry being characterized by so many people being healed of diseases?