Koko2

1. Describe the difference between leukocyte and white blood cells. White blood cells are a general term. White blood cells are called white blood cells because the scientist that discovered them found out he couldn't see them without the use of dyes, and therefore named them white blood cells to compare with the transparency The name does not, however, tell what it does or how they apply to immunology. Leukocyte is the scientific term that can be divided into different classes.

2. The term proteins are frequently used in the study of immunology. Explain the term/concept proteins.

3. Explain why the Black Death virus, which has caused millions of deaths, was deadly using concepts of immunology. The black death virus (which targeted the lymphatic system), was deadly for different reasons. At the time that the epidemic strook, medicine was not very good and affected by beliefs. The cause was also not known, making it a medical mystery in that time. The black death became deadly for the people who caught it, were in unhygienic conditions and had to work hard. The immune system would be working hard all the time, as the streets doubled as cellars and animals shared houses with people. This way the black death virus could easily enter the body while the immune system was already occupied. If the virus entered and started to reproduce, the immune system would have to work very hard to eliminate them, while other pathogens were trying to enter. If this happened often, then the bacteria (the black death was caused by a bacteria) could have become stronger and adaptive to it's environment. This means that they could easily reproduce and target more areas in the body.

4. The recent bird flu virus, H7N9, has a 20% fatality rate if one is infected. a) what does it mean - 20% fatality rate? It means that if you catch H7N9 there would be a 20% chance of it ending up fatally (death/permanent damage)

b) How is this virus different from a common flu virus? It is different as it originates from birds and not from humans. What I think it may mean is that the human immune system is not used to this kind of virus and it's properties. It is also fairly new, meaning that there is/was no vaccine for it.

c) Are there ways to prepare our body immune system against such fatal, deadly virus? Vaccinating and building up the immune system. This can be done by resting and eating well, as the body will function better and therefore also the immune system.

d) The bird flu virus wasn't infectious to humans before; explain why it could become viral and harmful to humans. The viruses adapted to their environment and started looking for a new host.

e) Right now, the flu is unable to infect a person through human to human transmission; if it can infect through human to human transmissions, what could have changed in the virus? It could have started to adapt to environments such as mucus and saliva. If this happens and the victim exposes these to another person, they could inhale or touch it, giving the virus a chance to enter.