gr+immune+SAC

One of the criteria for the immune response SAC requires you to show your progress in developing your presentation. On this page you should have the following. You should show your planning of the presentation, such as the images chosen and information you want to convey. This includes how you broke up your topic into the various sections. You should also include why you sequenced the images the way you did and the collating of information. It is important that you acknowledge any sources of information (including images) below. You will also need to upload your audio file onto this page.

i have decided to work on autoimmune diseases. i find these conditons fascinating that the body can just turn on its self due to unknown reasons. i have started my presentation (and images) explaining the concepts of 'self' and 'non-self'. from then i branched off into explaining autoimmune diseases as a general condition. using an example of one, i decided to relate the autoimmune disease multiple sclerosis and how the myelin sheath and damaged. i will also talk about immunosuppresent drugs and how these often help to 'inhibit' the diesease (although there is no known cure).

i am not sure what other images i will use and in what order. i hope that using movie maker and audacity(i think thats how you spell it) will not be as complicated as it looks. i am not the smartest when it comes to using those materials on a computer.

The images i chose i think were most relevant to the main points of my presentation. i think i collaborated the information in a systemitic and relevant way, which helped explain my topic to the best of my ability.

__areas i will cover(as stated on handout):__ explained using images and brief overview
 * concept between self and non-self**

very general
 * comparision of non-specific and specific defences**

how B and T cells fail to recognised the 'good' form the 'bad'
 * link between your topic and that of the immune response**

immunosuppresent drugs.
 * application to medicine**

The job for our immune system is to protect us from disease and infection. If you have an autoimmune disease, your body attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake. Autoimmune diseases can affect many different parts of the body. The body is essentially producing antibodies against its own cells. Before we can understand the effect autoimmune diseases have it is important to understand the basic differences between non-specific and specific defences. Non-specific defences are general responses (physical, chemical and cellular defences) that prevent microbes from entering the body. All non-specific defences act the same way irrespective of the different types of invading pathogens. It holds no previous memory stored about previous infections. The level of response is the same for each infection. Specific defences react in a specific manner to each infection. It involves cells and proteins within the blood that aim to destroy pathogens. Specific immunity does retain memory about prior infections, which causes a greater response for secondary infection of the same invading body. Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune response fails to distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’. Here are examples of self markers within a healthy body. ‘Self’ refers to antigens that are recognised in the body as “belonging”; whereas “non-self” shown here refers to antigens that are not familiar by the body and are therefore seen as a threat. In autoimmune diseases B and T cell lymphocytes attack own or ‘self’ body tissue. The body might have the ability to initially detect self from non-self but eventually looses the ability to differentiate. For an unknown reason, B-cell antibodies bind to self antigens triggering an immune response. Attacks on specific tissues lead to a variety of conditions. A well known condition known as Multiple Sclerosis is when the Myelin Sheath layer on nerve cells is damaged. Multiple Sclerosis (also known as MS) is a condition that attacks the central nervous system. Multiple Sclerosis affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. Nerve cells communicate by sending electrical signals called action potentials down long fibers called axons, which are wrapped in an insulating substance called myelin. In Multiple Sclerosis, the body’s immune system attacks and damages the myelin. When myelin is lost, the axons can no longer effectively conduct signals. As depicted in this image you never know in a sense which nerve responses will be affected next. Another example of an autoimmune disease is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints producing an inflammatory response. Although the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown, autoimmunity plays a key role the causes of which are still unknown. It is a systemic disorder principally affecting tissues. Rheumatoid arthritis can also produce inflammation in the lungs and most commonly tissue under the skin. Research suggests that the disease involves abnormal B cell - T cell interaction, with presentation of antigens by B cells to T cells via T helper cells. Inflammation is then driven either by B cell or T cell products stimulating release of TNF and other cytokines. There is no known cure for rheumatoid arthritis, but many different types of treatment can alleviate symptoms and modify the disease process. The treatment of autoimmune diseases is typically with immunosuppressant- medication which decreases the immune response. Immunosuppressant drugs are those that inhibit or prevent the activity of the immune system. These drugs are not without side-effects and risks. Because the majority of them act non-selectively, the immune system is less able to resist infections and the spread of malignant cells.
 * Autoimmune Diseases **

references: Vojtechs handy course notes. Year 12 Lecture Series (Biology mid-year exam- student lecture matrerial) Evergreen Quest Pty.Ltd (2009) [] [] [] [] images:
 * __note:__** some of these websites also contain some images i used