The Complement System

The complement system part of the immune system and is very effective at killing bacteria and viruses. The complement system contains proteins that can change chap and interact with each other when they are activated. The complement system is like a table of matches, if one is lit then the others get lit too and so one. If a bacteria were to invade the complement would get activated and start to attack. The most notable atatack is the memebrane attack conplex. Thsi requires a lot of steps and is quite complicated. First, a protein called C3b changes shape and turns into two protiens. The first one goes out into the blood stream to alert the immuen system while the other goes to attach itself to a bacteria. Once it attaches to a bacteria a multiple steps happen. Other proteins such as Bb and anotehr C3b attach to the C3b and create C5 convertase. This then sets up more changes with the help of C6 C7 C8 and C9 which create a hole in the bacteria. Once the immmune system arrivesthe cirrppled bacteria are all wiped out.