I have 4 case study that i need help i already upload i need to done by june 2

Biol 2256

Name:____________________________________________

Case Study 3

Below are three (3) narratives about the immune system, answer the questions associated with each. You may work in small groups, but make sure that each team member turns in a sheet with their name on it. Feel free to ask questions to clarify any of the information below.

1: Recent research is exploring the link between a common housecat parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, and schizophrenia. This parasite is transmitted to people from infected cat feces (wash your hands after you change the litter) and later encysts in the brain. For most healthy adults infection causes only minor symptoms, but it can cause serious encephalitis (brain swelling) in the young, immune compromised, and can be fatal to a developing fetus. The parasite is fairly common, infecting a third of the world’s population.

Question 1: Which type of white blood cell you would expect to respond to a Toxoplasma gondii infection? Is it a granulocyte or agranulocyte?

Question 2: When encephalitis does occur it is generally due to the immune systems response to the parasite and not the parasite itself. Is inflammation a component of the innate or adaptive immune response? Detail the steps of inflammation and the changes they would cause in the brain.

Question 3: Toxoplasmosis can have serious life threatening affects on the developing fetus. Why is the fetus so susceptible to serious infection? What is the only type of antibody that can pass through the placenta? Which type of antibody is secreted in breast milk?

2: When Johnny was 7 he got sick with chicken pox, it was an itchy and miserable week. Now three years later he comes in contact with the virus again, his younger brother has it now. This time he doesn’t get sick.

Question 1: Explain innate responses his body had to the virus during his initial exposure to the virus. Make sure to include those responses that are geared to combating viruses.

Question 2: Explain the adaptive responses his body had to the virus during his initial exposure. Make sure to explain the actions of both the cellular and humoral immune responses and how they both differ and work together.

Question 3: Explain the how the reaction to the virus differs between his first response (sick) and his second response (not sick). Make sure to explain the difference between primary and secondary immune response. Which type of antibody do you think is responsible for him not becoming sick the second time.

3: At the age of 56 Jenifer is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an auto-immune disorder that attacks myelin, the insulation for nerves in the body. The loss of myelin is responsible for the debilitating symptoms of MS.

Question1: In an autoimmune disorder the body’s own defenses attack itself. Explain four (4) possible explanations of how the body could become confused.

Question 2: What is the normal way that our immune system is able to discern between our own cells and foreign cells?

Question 3: Some scientists have speculated that auto-immune disorders and allergies are actually due to the fact that our immune systems have nothing to do. We have long lost the normal infections (bacteria, viral, parasitic) that plagued or ancestors. In areas of the world where parasitic infections are still prevalent auto-immune disorders and allergies are almost none existent. There are even some that believe infection with parasites could rid people of allergies and auto-immune disorders. What similarities exist between how our body responds to a parasitic infection and to an allergen or to our own cells would support this line of reasoning? Would you sign up to become infected with a parasite to rid you of hay fever?