Review Questions:
1. What is the role of the immune system, and how can it protect humans from disease?
2. Why is the rapid detection of a disease important?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have ever had sex with?" Explain.
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SOLUTION to Bio-205L Microbiology Lab - Topic 6 Immunology Lab Assignment
SAMPLE 1
Topic 6 Immunology Lab
This paper will seek to answer questions such as what the role of the immune system is and how it can protect humans from disease, why rapid detection of disease is important, and why I agree with the statement that when you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have ever had sex with.
The Immune System
What is the role of the immune system, and how can it protect humans from disease?
The immune system can be conceptualized as the body's response to pathogens and diseases since it is the first line of defense. McComb et al. (2019) note that it is a system made up of cells, tissues, and organs that help us find and rid the body of anything that is not healthy for us. Thus, the immune system’s main function includes identification of the aggressors, response to them, and forming of the immunologic memory. To achieve this function, the defense system includes physical barriers like the skin and mucous membranes, innate immunity which includes non-pathogen-specific mechanisms as a rapid response, and adaptive immunity which recognizes and focuses on particular pathogens (Sompayrac, 2022).
Additionally, there are subcomponents like white blood cells, antibodies, and the lymphatic system that work together to keep the body in check. Two examples of such components are T-cells, which are crucial for the process of cell-mediated immunity, and B-cells, which play an important role in establishing humoral immunity (McComb et al., 2019). This highly developed arrangements make sure that humans are protected from disease causing pathogens, hence underlining the importance of immunity in the survival of man.
Rapid Detection
Why is the rapid detection of a disease important?
Early diagnosis of diseases is another positive trend in modern medicine, which has many benefits for people and communities. Early detection leads to early intervention and this is sometimes good for patients as it usually averts worst outcomes of diseases. In the case of infectious diseases, early identification is critical to organizing strict isolation measures and contact tracing that can help to prevent the proliferation of the disease (Samson et al. , 2020). This capability is instrumental in managing public health crises, as evidenced by its role in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Additionally, early disease diagnosis can help to minimize costs connected with further disease progression; by saving the healthcare system’s time and money in terms of priority in providing medical resources, as well as offering up-to-date epidemiological data for public health monitoring and assessment (Samson et al., 2020). Alternatively, one cannot underestimate the psychological impacts for patients that results in lesser anxiety from quicker diagnoses. This is all possible because of molecular diagnostic tests and other sophisticated diagnostic tools such as the PCR test, rapid antigen test, and next-generation sequencing diagnostics which have dramatically changed how diseases are diagnosed thus improving the possibilities to act quickly and effectively in combating any health threats (Zimmerman et al., 2021).
Interconnected Nature of Sexual Networks
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: "When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have ever had sex with?" Explain.
I agree with the statement: "When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have ever had sex with." This is because I believe there is an interconnected nature of sexual networks and a number of associated health risks. This particular view acknowledges how STDs are transmittable from one individual to another, beyond immediate partners to their former sexual contacts, as well as to other subsequent contacts. This idea emphasizes the necessity of practicing responsible sexual behaviors that encompass frequent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) screenings, discussing the risks of infection with partners, practicing safe sex consistently through the use of protective measures, and discussing possible strategies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent new HIV infections (Grov et al. 2021).
In my opinion, the validity of this statement is supported by factors such as the asymptomatic nature of many STIs, varying incubation periods that may delay detection, potential incompleteness in disclosed sexual histories, and inconsistent testing practices among individuals. While the statement might seem alarming, it serves as a crucial reminder to all of us, of the responsibilities and risks associated with sexual activity, thus the need to make informed decisions and take protective measures.
References
Grov, C., Westmoreland, D. A., D’Angelo, A. B., & Pantalone, D. W. (2021). How has HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) changed sex? A review of research in a new era of bio-behavioral HIV prevention. The Journal of Sex Research, 58(7), 891-913. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.1936440
McComb, S., Thiriot, A., Akache, B., Krishnan, L., & Stark, F. (2019). Introduction to the immune system. Immunoproteomics: Methods and Protocols, 1-24.
Samson, R., Navale, G. R., & Dharne, M. S. (2020). Biosensors: frontiers in rapid detection of COVID-19. 3 Biotech, 10(9), 385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13205-020-02369-0
Sompayrac, L. M. (2022). How the Immune System Works. John Wiley & Sons.
Zimmerman, P. A., King, C. L., Ghannoum, M., Bonomo, R. A., & Procop, G. W. (2021). Molecular diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2: assessing and interpreting nucleic acid and antigen tests. Pathogens and Immunity, 6(1), 135. https://doi.org/10.20411/pai.v6i1.422