Answer
The body produces several substances to fight harmful viruses and bacteria, including antibodies, interferons, complement proteins, cytokines, lysozyme, defensins, natural killer cell products, acidic stomach juices, mucins, and reactive oxygen species. These substances work together to identify, neutralize, and eliminate pathogens.
Solution
The human body is equipped with a sophisticated immune system that produces various substances to identify, neutralize, and eliminate harmful viruses and bacteria. Here are some key substances involved in this defense mechanism:
1. **Antibodies (Immunoglobulins):**
- **Description:** Proteins produced by B cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to specific antigens (foreign substances).
- **Function:** Bind to pathogens, marking them for destruction by other immune cells and neutralizing toxins produced by bacteria.
2. **Interferons:**
- **Description:** A group of signaling proteins released by virus-infected cells.
- **Function:** Help nearby cells resist viral infections by activating immune responses and increasing the presentation of antigens to immune cells.
3. **Complement Proteins:**
- **Description:** A series of plasma proteins that work in a cascade to assist the immune system.
- **Function:** Enhance the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes and damaged cells, promote inflammation, and attack the pathogen's cell membrane.
4. **Cytokines:**
- **Description:** Small signaling molecules released by various cells, including immune cells.
- **Function:** Regulate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis (formation of blood cells), coordinating the body's response to infections.
5. **Lysozyme:**
- **Description:** An enzyme found in various body fluids like saliva, tears, and mucus.
- **Function:** Breaks down the cell walls of certain bacteria, leading to their destruction.
6. **Defensins:**
- **Description:** Small antimicrobial peptides produced by a variety of cells, including epithelial cells and immune cells.
- **Function:** Disrupt the membranes of bacteria, viruses, and fungi, leading to their inactivation.
7. **Natural Killer (NK) Cell Products:**
- **Perforin and Granzymes:**
- **Description:** Molecules released by NK cells, a type of lymphocyte.
- **Function:** Perforin forms pores in the membranes of infected or cancerous cells, allowing granzymes to enter and induce programmed cell death (apoptosis).
8. **Acidic Stomach Juices:**
- **Description:** Primarily hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach lining.
- **Function:** Kills or inhibits many pathogens that enter the body through ingestion of food and drink.
9. **Mucins:**
- **Description:** Glycoproteins found in mucus secretions.
- **Function:** Trap microbes and prevent their entry into the body, facilitating their removal through physical means.
10. **Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS):**
- **Description:** Highly reactive molecules produced by phagocytes (e.g., neutrophils and macrophages).
- **Function:** Damage and kill engulfed pathogens during the respiratory burst.
These substances work in concert as part of the body's innate (non-specific) and adaptive (specific) immune responses to protect against a wide array of microbial threats.
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