1 What is the relationship between specific and non-specific defense mechanisms?
2 What is the purpose of the first line of defense? What are the advantages and limitations of this method?
3 Why do pathogens enter the body through surfaces such as the eyes, nostrils, and mouth but generally cannot penetrate the skin?
4 The skin acts as the body's first line of defense, but it is composed of dead cells, which are still a food source for microorganisms. What characteristics of the skin help reduce microbial growth?
5 Why can the skin generally block viral invasion and growth?
6 If microorganisms grow on the skin surface, what might be the consequences for the human body? Provide examples of pathogens.
7 The lining of the respiratory tract secretes mucus to block pathogens. Why isn’t this considered a chemical barrier?
8 If someone lacks sufficient platelets, what impact would this have? What precautions should these individuals take in daily life?
9 Phagocytes engulf pathogens but also ingest the toxins from the pathogens. What might happen to the phagocytes as a result?
10 Is inflammation of a wound a good or bad phenomenon? Discuss.
11 During inflammation, wounds exhibit the following symptoms. Explain their causes:
(1) Redness
(2) Heat
(3) Pain
(4) Swelling
12 When a wound is inflamed, should heat or cold compresses be used? Explain.
13 Intact skin (i.e., without wounds) can block pathogen invasion. The epidermis is made of dead cells, and viruses must parasitize living cells. However, some microorganisms are saprotrophic. How does the epidermis block them?
14 Compare B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.
15 How do lymphocytes reach the location of pathogens?
16 Compare self-antigens and foreign antigens.
17 What happens if the body mistakenly identifies self-antigens as foreign antigens?
18 Why don’t the body’s lymphocytes react to self-antigens?
19 During pregnancy, the fetus in the mother’s body should theoretically be a foreign entity. Why doesn’t the mother’s immune system attack it?
20 Compare antigens and antibodies.
21 Why are antigens generally large protein molecules rather than sugar or lipid molecules?
22 Memory cells don’t actually recognize pathogens. Do you agree? Explain.
23 Why doesn’t the immune response always successfully fight off the same pathogen (e.g., the cold virus)?
24 Viruses affect the human body through their genetic material. Some suggest using detergents to destroy the genetic material inside viruses. Evaluate this approach.
25 Antibodies are Y-shaped. What advantages does this shape have compared to a linear shape?
26 The mechanism by which antibodies fight pathogens is fairly intuitive. What strategies might antibodies use?
27 Why, in the same environment, do some people get sick while others do not? Explain.
28 Antibodies are much smaller than pathogens. How do they fight pathogens?
29 Why does the body reject transplanted organs? How can doctors address this issue?
30 Theoretically, how could foreign organs be modified to avoid rejection by the body?
31 HIV attacks helper T cells. How does this affect the body’s immune response?
32 If HIV kills helper T cells, can the body still trigger immune responses to fight the virus? Explain.
33 Vaccination with the cowpox virus can prevent smallpox. Explain how this works.
34 What are the advantages and limitations of artificial active immunity versus artificial passive immunity?
35 If someone contracts a disease caused by the coronavirus, in theory, a recovered person’s body should contain corresponding antibodies. Why isn’t injecting the serum from recovered individuals into patients a common treatment method?
36 Vaccines can be administered via injection, orally, or through sprays. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of these methods.