Bacteria are the cause of many infectious diseases.
They are prokaryotic microorganisms which can live on the body surfaces,
in extracellular spaces, in cellular vesicles or in the cytosol. Basedov's Disease is an autoimmune disease in which antibodies
against the receptor for the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are formed.
This leads to the production of excess thyroid gland hormones and an
illness called hyperthyroidism. B cells or B lymphocytes are one of the two most important
classes of lymphocytes. The antigen receptor of the B lymphocytes, also
known as B cell receptor, is a cell surface immunoglobulin. If B cells
are activated by contact with an antigen, they differentiate to plasma
cells which shape antibodies with the specificity of the original receptor. Blood-brain barrier: The brain is especially well protected
by the blood-brain barrier. It normally prevents dangerous substances
in the blood from harming the brain. Blood platelets are small cell fragments formed from megakaryocytes
which play an important role in the coagulation of the blood. Blood poisoning (sepsis): Sepsis is an infection of the blood
which often ends fatally. An infection with gram negative bacteria often
results in a so-called septic shock from the release of the cytokine
TNF . Blood type antigens are surface molecules of the red blood cells
which can be identified with the help of antibodies from other individuals.
The most important blood type antigens are called ABO and Rh (Rhesus
factor). They are used for typing blood in blood banks. There are also
many other blood type antigens which can be detected using a cross sample. Bone marrow: The cellular components of the blood are formed
in the bone marrow. They include the erythrocytes, monocytes, polymorphonuclear
leukocytes and blood platelets. This is also where B cells mature in
mammals. In addition, it is the origin of the stem cells which migrate
to the thymus gland and mature there into T cells. So a bone marrow
transplant can restore all cellular elements of the blood, including
those which are necessary for an acquired immune response. |