[04] Immune Response and Memory Flashcards
What are the two types of immune responses?
- Innate immune response
- Adaptive immune response
What characterizes the innate immune response?
It is non-specific and provides immediate defense against infection
What characterizes the adaptive immune response?
It is specific, slower to activate, and provides long-term defense
What is the primary immune response?
It’s the immune system’s response to the first encounter with an antigen
What is the secondary immune response?
It’s the immune system’s response to subsequent encounters with the same antigen
How does the secondary immune response differ from the primary response?
The secondary response is faster and more robust
What is immune memory?
It’s the immune system’s ability to “remember” antigens that it has previously encountered
Which cells are responsible for immune memory?
Memory B cells and Memory T cells
How does immune memory work?
Upon first exposure to an antigen, some B and T cells become memory cells. On subsequent exposure to the same antigen, these cells rapidly reproduce to mount an immune response
What are memory B cells?
They are long-lived B cells that remember the same pathogen for faster antibody production in future infections
What are memory T cells?
They are a subtype of T cells that persist long after an infection has resolved. They quickly expand to large numbers of effector T cells upon re-exposure to their cognate antigen
How are vaccines related to immune memory?
Vaccines introduce harmless versions of antigens to stimulate the immune response and establish immune memory
What is the role of antibodies in the immune response?
They bind to antigens, neutralizing them or marking them for destruction
How does the immune system respond to bacteria?
By recognizing bacterial components, activating inflammatory response, producing specific antibodies, and triggering cell-mediated immunity
How does the immune system respond to viruses?
By recognizing viral components, producing specific antibodies, and through cell-mediated immunity (especially cytotoxic T cells)
