PATHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Tear components long recognized to have antimicrobial function include lysozyme, lactoferrin, lipocalin, secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) and complement. Lysozyme was shown to be present in human tears and to kill Gram-positive bacteria by Alexander Fleming (Fleming, 1922).

Detailed explanation-2: -Lysozyme is an enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls and provides protection against bacterial invasion in the skin, mucus membrane and many body fluids. It is found in tears, sweat and saliva.

Detailed explanation-3: -Salivary amylase is a glucose-polymer cleavage enzyme that is produced by the salivary glands. It comprises a small portion of the total amylase excreted, which is mostly made by the pancreas.

Detailed explanation-4: -Many active proteins including enzymes have been observed in human tears. Some of these proteins, including the enzymes lysozyme and amylase, are secreted by the lacrimal gland. Other enzymes found in tears are lysosomal in origin and the tissue source is not yet known.

Detailed explanation-5: -In fact, saliva is rich with effectors that exert direct antimicrobial activity, such as enzymatic breakdown of bacterial cell walls by lysozyme and sequestering iron by lactoferrin [4, 5].