j----_. - New York Civil Liberties Union

Mahopac 392
Teacher Notes on Lesson 10
(J
'-~_.. -.'
Background ' Students need to recognize that with ordinary infections (such as a
cold) the body's immune system creates antibodies that kill the virus.
During this time the person may feel ill, run fever, etc., but the
illness passes and the immune system remains intact and able to
fight off other diseases as they occur,
With AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) the Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) invades the immune system, which
is unable to 'kill HIV; it is HIV that makes deficient or destroys the
immune system. So while a person may feel ill, run fever, etc., and
antibodies are created, in the instanee of AIDS, the immune system
no longer can fight off other diseases as they occur. The patient does
not die of AIDS but of an opportunistic infection or disease that the
body can no longer fight.
This lesson helps students to distinguish between a healthy immune
system (with a large supply of T-cells) that fights off a cold and an
immune system with AIDS (with insufficient T-cells) unable to fight
off opportunistic infections. Thus, people with AIDS are more likely ('\
to contract infections than others. (See diagram.) )
Special Considerations This lesson is best taught after students have studied science or
health topics related to the immune system. If this is not possible,
the lesson should be presented at another grade level after basic immune
system information has been learned.
Teacher Vocabulary AIDS - The initials for the disease ''Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome." A disease caused by a virus which breaks down the
body's immune system, making it vulnerable to opportunistic infections
and caneer.
Antibodies - Substances in the blood produced by the body's immune
system to fight against invading organisms.
HIV - The Human Immunodeficiency Virus. It causes AIDS by attacking
the body's immune system, making infected people vulnerable
to fatal infections, caneer, and neurological disorders.
Immune system - A body system that helps fight off invading organisms
and disease.
Lymphocyte - A type of white blood eell that is produeed in the
bone marrow. Some of these cells migrate to the thymus, where
they develop as 'l-cells. Other lymphocytes that mature in the
bone marrow or in organs other than the thymus are called B-cells. (.. ->, .•.•'
(continued on next page) _
48
_____________ . . ..2_?£ ~_