Francesca2

Francesca


 * 1. Describe the difference between leukocyte and white blood cells. **One difference between leukocytes and white blood cells is that white blood cells are just a general term; leukocytes are actually a specific type of white blood cell.


 * 2. The term proteins are frequently used in the study of immunology. Explain the term/concept proteins. **Proteins, immunology-wise, are a type of antigen found in the pathogens that enter the body. When the phagocytes bond with the pathogens, the vesicles break down the protein molecules into smaller protein molecules. Then, once this is done, they are again broken down into amino acid.


 * 3. Explain why the Black Death virus, which has caused millions of deaths, was deadly using concepts of immunology. **The Black Death virus caused many deaths in the 1300's because the human body's immune system, at that time, wasn't so developed and used to all the bacteria in the environment.

//**a)** what does it mean - 20% fatality rate? //It means that there is a 20% chance for the victim of that specific flu to be severely infected and for him/her to pass away. //**b)** How is this virus is different from a common flu virus? //This bird virus is different to common flu virus' because it has a fatality rate that is worth worrying about - it is quite high. Also, this virus //is// in fact able to infect a person through animal to human transmission. //**c)** Are there ways to prepare our body immune system against such fatal, deadly virus? // There are a few ways to prepare our immune system for a fatal virus such as the H7N9 - one being vaccinations. If you get a vaccine for that specific virus then there will be less chances for it to be a fatal infection. When you get vaccinated, the antigens in the vaccine (similar to the ones in the virus) will trick your body into thinking that it has that virus. Then, the leukocytes will hopefully react on this and eliminate is but at the same time, memorize it so that if it enters the body again, the antibodies or white blood cells will fight it of quickly. There is one major issue with getting a vaccination for this virus though... As it has a 20% fatality rate, if the antigens are injected into the body and the immune system hasn't developed enough to react to them, there are chances for death. //**d)** The bird flu virus wasn't infectious to humans before; explain why it suddenly turned viral and harmful to humans. // //**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? //
 * 4. The recent bird flu virus, H7N9, has a 20% fatality rate if one is infected. **