Defence mechanisms in animals and plants

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Name: João Manuel Fernandes Da Silva

Personal identifier: W6306192

Course code and assignment number: S204 02

Defence mechanisms in animals and plants

The aim of this report is to compare and contrast the molecular and cellular differences that enable animals and plants to protest themselves from organisms. In animals, the main forms of molecular defence that I’m going to write about are:

  • Cytotoxcicity;
  • Agglutination;
  • Wound closure;
  • Cascade reactions;

And in plants the main molecular defence is cascade reactions. In animals, cellular defences involve various types of Leukocytes: phagocytes, cell-mediated cytotoxicity and together they synthesize and secrete many molecules defences (listed above). In plants, cellular defences involve chemicals compounds (alkaloids). Plant apparency theory and the resource availability hypothesis explain diversity of plant chemical defence.

Cytotoxicity, a molecular defence were molecules are capable of entering some bacteria and cells of animal pathogens. Vertebrates and Invertebrates both have Lysozyme, an enzyme that splits bonds in bacterial cell walls. Antimicrobial peptides are another example of cytotoxicity that destroys many fungi, bacteria, and protoctists parasites.

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Agglutination, a molecular defence that involves production of molecules (agglutinins) that binds pathogens together by forming cross-links between short-chain carbohydrates on their surface. This immobilizes them near entry site, not allowing them to move about the host’s body, which makes it harder for them to acquire nutrients by diffusion. All animals have agglutinins, which is something they have in common with plants.

Wound closure is another type of molecular defence that prevents loss of body fluids and entrance of more pathogens. Examples of this are phyla like Annelida, Arthropoda and Echinodermata that contain specialized cells that congregate ...

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