The Immune System

Infectious diseases are caused by the invasion and growth of microorganisms in the human body. But the human organism has a specific capacity of resistance against infections which is called immunity. Immunity is classified into natural and artificial. Under various conditions it may be entirely lacking, it may be relative, rarely it may be absolute. Previous attacks of diseases produce a more or less permanent protection against their recurrence.

In the course of growth in the body many microorganisms produce virulent poisons or toxins which cause characteristic symptoms of a particular disease. To meet the infection the cells of the body produce a chemical antidote which is specific for this particular infection and is known as an antitoxin. If the patient can produce a sufficient amount of this antidote to the toxins before the vital organs are injured recovery occurs. If the toxin can be isolated from bacterial cultures and injected into men an artificial immunity can be produced.

The cellular elements of tissues also take an active part in the protection of the organism against various infections. The presence of any infection usually produces leucocytosis and bacteria in the tissues are surrounded by white cells or phagocytes which prevent the spread of bacteria destroying them.

If the reaction against invading bacteria is insufficient, vaccines may be injected subcutaneously to produce a more active resistance of the protective mechanisms of the body. Vaccines are employed not only to contribute to the treatment of a disease but to establish an active artificial immunity.

If the human body had not this capacity we would suffer from all infectious diseases.

Exercise 6. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the main cause of infectious diseases?

2. What specific capacity does the human organism have?

3. What are the two main types of immunity?

4. When do the microorganisms produce virulent poisons or toxins in the organism?

5. What specific substance do the cells of the body produce to meet the infection?

6. When can artificial immunity be produced?

7. What elements of the tissues also take an active part in the protection of the organism against the infection?

8. What is the main cause of leucocytosis?

9. Why are vaccines used?

Exercise 7. Find corresponding equivalents:

Exercise 8. Translate the following word combinations into English:

Вторгнення мікроорганізмів, виникати внаслідок прямого контакту, особлива здатність організму людини, природній імунітет, протидія інфекціям, постійний захист, перебіг хвороби, отруйні речовини, характерні симптоми, достатня кількість антидоту, страждати від інфекційних хвороб, викликати лейкоцитоз, перешкоджати розповсюдженню бактерій, вводити ліки підшкірно, опір захисного механізму, сприяти успішному лікуванню.

Exercise 9. Match the words with their definitions:

Exercise 10. Fill in the blanks with the right word from the list below. You may use each word only once:

Doctors use two main types of drugs for the ……… of disease:

Vaccines contain dead or ………… germs. They cause the body to develop …………. called ……….. that act to ………. disease. Doctors ………… …………… before a person has been exposed to such ………… as poliomyelitis or …………... Vaccines are usually ………….. but sometimes are given ………...

Serums contain antibodies that …………. off the germs of certain diseases, ………… scarlet fever and lockjaw. These drugs are given ……… a person has been exposed to the disease, or after ……….. of the disease have appeared. ……….. are ………. administered by injection.

Exercise 11. Arrange the following statements in the correct order to explain the term “immunity”:

___ To function properly, an immune system must detect a wide variety of agents, known as pathogens.

___ Immunology is a science that studies the structure and function of the immune system.

___ Paul Ehrlich, Illya Metchnikoff, Robert Koch are considered to be the main contributors to the development of immunology.

___ Immune system can be classified into the innate immune system (вроджений імунітет) versus the adaptive immune system (адаптивний, набутий імунітет), or humoral immunity (гуморальний імунітет) versus cell-mediated immunity (клітинно-опосередкований імунітет).

___ The immune system is a system of many biological structures and processes in an organism that protects against diseases.

Exercise 12. Arrange the following statements in the correct order to explain the term “vaccine”:

___ Vaccines can be prophylactic or therapeutic.

___ A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active artificial immunity to a particular disease.

___ In order to provide best protection, children are recommended to receive vaccinations as soon as their immune systems are adequately developed to respond to certain vaccines. This has led to the development of vaccination schedules.

___ A vaccine agent stimulates the body’s immune system to recognize any pathological microorganisms, destroy them, and “remember”.

___ The administration of vaccines is called vaccination.

Exercise 13. Put the verb in brackets in the correct form (Conditional Sentences Type I):

1. If I see him, I (to give) him your report on the anatomy of the kidneys.

2. If he (to be) late for the anatomy lecture, he won’t know anything about the digestive system.

3. I’ll be angry if he (to lose) my book “Urinary System”.

4. If you (to come) late, the teacher (not to let) you in.

5. When I (to become) a gynecologist, I (to specialize) in the care, diagnosis, and treatment of the female reproductive system disorders.

6. Tell him to ring me up after pediatrics if you (to see) him.

7. I (to feel) really happy when I (to become) a successful doctor.

8. If the muscle (not to contract), the urine (not to be expelled) from the bladder.

Exercise 14. “If I were…”. Finish the dreams of medical students matching the lines in the first column with the line in the second column. Translate sentences into Ukrainian paying attention to the Conditional Sentences Type II:

Exercise 15. Make up interrogative sentences to the underlined words:

1. All food consists of proteins, fats and carbohydrates.

2. Nervous tissue consists of nerve cells and nerve fibers.

3. The patient has lost 3 kilograms of weight this month.

4. Various specialists give medical consultations to patients at the polyclinic.

5. Brain coordinates the activity of the whole body.

6. The surgeon is making the limb immobile at the point of fracture at the moment.

7. The treatment has just been prolonged as the patient is still complaining of a general weakness.

8. Biologists discovered new kinds of microorganisms last month.

9. Students were dissecting a corpse for 1 hour yesterday.

10. If the infection is serious the patient will have to take strict preventive measures.

Завдання для самостійної роботи студентів (СРС)

Exercise 1. Topic Vocabulary:

Exercise 2. Read the word combinations and sentences with the new words and translate them into Ukrainian:

Attribute: attribute one’s success to their hard work; attribute good health to proper diet; attribute a failure to one’s lack of experience;

Consumption: yogurt consumption; meat consumption; consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables; consumption of organic food;

Inspire: inspire somebody to do something; inspire to write a book; inspire to continue work; inspire to change way of life; inspire to help somebody;

Prolongation: prolongation of life; prolongation of treatment; prolongation of hospitalization; prolongation of a heart attack; prolongation of pain;

Recognition: receive world-wide recognition; receive no recognition; in recognition of one’s services; public recognition; win recognition.

Exercise 3. Complete the table with the words from the text derived from the following words:

Exercise 4. Read and translate the following word combinations:

Pioneering research; complete a course; newly established university; larvae of starfish; site of inflammation; engulf and destroy harmful bodies; be met with skepticism; spread through the body; toxic bacteria in the gut; attributed longevity to yogurt consumption; inspire to begin investigation; causal relationship; worldwide marketing; fermented milk drinks; heart failure.

Exercise 5. Read and translate the text:

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