Malaria is caused by one-cell animals
of the genus Plasmodium. The patients suffer from chills and attacks
of fever. The disease is especially prevalent in humid, tropical areas.
Plasmodia are transmitted by the bite of the anopheles mosquito.
Mammography: X-ray examination of the breast.
Mastocytes are large cells which are
distributed in connective tissue throughout the entire body. They contain
large granulomas in which a wide range of intermediary molecules such
as histamine are stored. Mastocytes possess high affinity Fce receptors
(FceRI) which enable them to bind IgE molecules. The binding of antigens
to these IgE molecules triggers the activation of the mastocytes which
release the intermediary molecules from their granulomas. This leads
to an immediate local or systemic hypersensitivity reaction. Mastocytes
play an important role in allergic reactions.
Mature B cells are cells which bear
IgM and IgD on their surface and can react to antigens.
Memory cells: Following infection
by a pathogen, T and B memory cells form which rapidly become active
in the event of a renewed infection with the same pathogen. The immune
defence is prepared and can prevent the excessive spread of viruses
or bacteria.
Messenger substances: Substances acting
as signals, used by the cells to communicate with one another.
Metastases: Tumour cells which break
off from the primary tumour and form subsidiary tumours.
MHC (major histocompatibility
complex) is a group of genes which determines the structure of
MHC molecules. All of the body's cells bear MHC-I molecules on their
surface. In a manner of speaking, the MHC molecules serve as identification
papers. They vary from one individual to the next and help the immune
system to distinguish between own and foreign. MHC-II molecules appear
only on cells which are presenting antigens.
MHC molecules have a kind of depression
in which the antigen, or parts thereof, is presented as if on a display
platter. This is the way other cells of the immune system become aware
of the pathogen and can initiate appropriate defence actions.
MHC-I molecule: Docking station of cytotoxic
T cells with the receptor CD8. Microorganisms are microscopically small
organisms and are, with the exception of some fungi, one-cell. They
include bacteria, yeasts and other fungi and protozoa. Many of them
can cause diseases in human beings.
Microorganisms are microscopically small
organisms and are, with the exception of some fungi, one-cell. They
include bacteria, yeasts and other fungi and protozoa. Many of them
can cause diseases in human beings.
Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies which
are produced by a single B cell clone. They are normally produced by
creating hybrid antibody-forming cells from the fusion of myeloid cells
and immune spleen cells.
Monocytes are white blood cells with a bean-shaped nucleus.
They are the precursor cells of the macrophages.
Monokines are cytokines released by macrophages.
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease characterized by
the loss of myelin sheaths in the central nervous system, the appearance
of lymphocytes in the brain and a chronic progressive course. It is
believed to be an autoimmune disease.
Mutation: As part of cell division, the
genetic information is doubled and distributed among the daughter cells.
During this process, errors can occur which are called mutation.
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which autoantibodies
against the acetylcholine receptors on skeletal muscle cells block the
signal transmission to neuromuscular synapses. This disease leads to
a fatigue paralysis which gradually gains in intensity and ultimately
to death.
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