Unit 12 D
Assessor - Hasan Urus
Daniella Ntang Nzekwi
Vocational scenario
You are completing a clinical work experience placement where you are shadowing the work of
a healthcare science team within their immunology department. The science of clinical
immunology is a fast developing area of the NHS and the immunology wishes to promote the
vocational opportunities available in this field via the NHS practitioner training programme and
their own clinical work experience placements programme. Your role is to prepare informational
leaflets and posters relating to human defences; these will be used as part of the student
induction programme.
Specific and non-specific defences
In order to protect the body from any harmful pathogens and diseases, there are several
defences in place to do so. These defences can either be specific or non-specific. As the name
suggests, specific defence mechanisms target specific pathogens, whereas, non-specific
defences work to protect the body against any foreign objects or materials that may cause
diseases or contain harmful microbes. Due to their differences, these defence mechanisms will
work in different ways.
Specific defence mechanisms
Specific defence mechanisms are a much slower response compared to non-specific defence
mechanisms. This is because specific defence mechanisms are made to protect the body from
specific pathogens such as mycobacterium tuberculosis which causes tuberculosis. In
order to do this lymphocytes are used. The response from a specific defence mechanism can
either be a cell mediated response or a humoral response.
Phagocytosis is the process whereby certain organisms called phagocytes, absorbs or take up
other particles / organisms. A phagocyte can either be a type of body cell such as a white blood
cell or a single-cell organism like an amoeba that is free living. Phagocytosis is a form of eating
in some animal species, this includes amoebas and sponges, however in “higher” animals like
humans it serves as a protective barrier against foreign objects that have entered the body that
can potentially cause infections. These foreign objects are known as antigens.
On the other hand, a humoral response produces antigen specific antibodies and is mainly
driven by B-lymphocytes. These B-cells are a crucial part of white blood cells as they produce
antibody proteins that selectively identify and bind to the antigens that lay on the surface of the
pathogen. When this process occurs, it can directly neutralise the pathogen or “mark” it so that
phagocytes and other immune cells can destroy it. Furthermore, B cells can also potentially
transform into memory B cells, giving long term immunity by being able to memorise the shape
of antigens and therefore allowing the cells to react quicker.
Assessor - Hasan Urus
Daniella Ntang Nzekwi
Vocational scenario
You are completing a clinical work experience placement where you are shadowing the work of
a healthcare science team within their immunology department. The science of clinical
immunology is a fast developing area of the NHS and the immunology wishes to promote the
vocational opportunities available in this field via the NHS practitioner training programme and
their own clinical work experience placements programme. Your role is to prepare informational
leaflets and posters relating to human defences; these will be used as part of the student
induction programme.
Specific and non-specific defences
In order to protect the body from any harmful pathogens and diseases, there are several
defences in place to do so. These defences can either be specific or non-specific. As the name
suggests, specific defence mechanisms target specific pathogens, whereas, non-specific
defences work to protect the body against any foreign objects or materials that may cause
diseases or contain harmful microbes. Due to their differences, these defence mechanisms will
work in different ways.
Specific defence mechanisms
Specific defence mechanisms are a much slower response compared to non-specific defence
mechanisms. This is because specific defence mechanisms are made to protect the body from
specific pathogens such as mycobacterium tuberculosis which causes tuberculosis. In
order to do this lymphocytes are used. The response from a specific defence mechanism can
either be a cell mediated response or a humoral response.
Phagocytosis is the process whereby certain organisms called phagocytes, absorbs or take up
other particles / organisms. A phagocyte can either be a type of body cell such as a white blood
cell or a single-cell organism like an amoeba that is free living. Phagocytosis is a form of eating
in some animal species, this includes amoebas and sponges, however in “higher” animals like
humans it serves as a protective barrier against foreign objects that have entered the body that
can potentially cause infections. These foreign objects are known as antigens.
On the other hand, a humoral response produces antigen specific antibodies and is mainly
driven by B-lymphocytes. These B-cells are a crucial part of white blood cells as they produce
antibody proteins that selectively identify and bind to the antigens that lay on the surface of the
pathogen. When this process occurs, it can directly neutralise the pathogen or “mark” it so that
phagocytes and other immune cells can destroy it. Furthermore, B cells can also potentially
transform into memory B cells, giving long term immunity by being able to memorise the shape
of antigens and therefore allowing the cells to react quicker.
