Fighting Back!
Figure 1. The organs of the immune system.Copyright National Library of Medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ hmd/emotions/frontiers.html
Students learn about the major components and functions of the immune system and the role engineers play in keeping the body healthy through the design of medical care such as vaccinations and antibiotics. They also learn how an astronaut's immune system is suppressed during spaceflight due to stress and other environmental factors.
Chemical engineers study the immune system in order to develop treatments for people with compromised immunity. Vaccinations, antibiotics, disinfectants and sterilizers are designed by engineers in order to help keep people healthy. Additionally, environmental engineers work to keep the air we breathe and the water we drink free of toxins via air purifiers and water filters. Aerospace engineers need to understand the human immune system and how it is affected in space in order to prepare for longer missions that take astronauts further away from the medical resources on Earth.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Describe the basic functions of the immune system.
- List several invaders of the immune system, including viruses and bacteria.
- Describe what happens to the immune system in space.
- Give examples of engineering innovations related to the immune system.