BRAINCAKECell-Mediated Immunity
A pathogen may change the cells of an organism upon infection or the cell could be changed by mutation as in the case of cancer cells.
In both cases the cells need to be destroyed and the cell debris cleared quickly and effectively.
Macrophages engulf and digest pathogens by phagocytosis. They then process antigens from the pathogen, combine them with the major histocompatibility complex and present the antigens at the surface of the cell.
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Key terms in this lesson
- phagocytosis
- The process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, engulfs and digests a pathogen or debris.
- mitosis
- Nuclear division producing two daughter nuclei that are genetically identical to the parent nucleus, used in growth, repair and asexual reproduction.
- pathogen
- A microorganism that causes disease.
- antigen
- A molecule, usually a protein, on the surface of a cell or pathogen that triggers an immune response.
- major histocompatibility complex
- A protein found on the surface of body cells that displays antigen fragments, allowing them to be recognised by T lymphocytes.
More in Communicable Diseases
- Opsonins
- Antibodies
- How Antibodies Work
- Lymphocytes
- Humoral Immunity
- Auto-Immune Diseases
- Natural Immunity
- Artificial Passive Immunity
All 40 lessons in Communicable Diseases · All OCR AS-level Biology topics