1+2 - Investigations into immune system function Flashcards
Important white blood cells
lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophils, basophils, neutrophils
Lymphocytes
B cells, Tc cells, Th cells
B cells
Cells manufactured in the bone marrow that create antibodies for isolating and destroying invading bacteria and viruses.
Tc cell (CD8)
Effector form of a cytotoxic T cell; it induces apoptosis in infected or cancerous “self” cells
TH cells (CD4)
Helper T cells
MHC II complex
- recognizes APC and able to release cytokines and attract other cells to the area
B cell receptor
The antigen receptor on B cells: a Y-Shaped, membrane-bound molecule consisting of two identical heavy chains and two identical light chains linked by disulfide bridges and containing two antigen-binding sites.
T cell receptor
Unlike antibodies, T cell receptors are never produced in a secreted form.
immunoglobulins
bind with specific antigens in the antigen-antibody response
Antibody elimination of pathogen
- The pathogen is opsonised = faster phagocytosis
- Antibodies recruit complement proteins
- causes formation of membrane attack complex
- A hole forms in the pathogen’s membrane.
- pathogen destroyed
Acquired immune response
- activated T helper cells release cytokines, activating Tc and B cells.
- Tc cells trigger infected self cells to undergo apoptosis
- B cells stimulate antibody production
HIV Virion
Consists of RNA surrounded by core proteins and capsid
RNA serves as template for DNA synthesis
Outer envelope contains glycoproteins that are needed to attach to CD4 cells
how does HIV infect T helper cells
- GP120 binds to CD4
- GP41 binds CXCR4 on the surface of TH HIV destroys T helper cells, B and T cells.
- mediated immunity lost
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
increased susceptibility to opportunistic infections
example infections
- toxoplasmosis
- tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis)
- pnuemonia (pneumocystis jiroveci)
methods for detection of HIV
what might be detected?
- antibodies to HIV
- Viral RNA
- Fall in T helper cell numbers
- Antibodies to HIV (‘seroconversion’)
- develop 2-8 weeks after infection (prior to this = ‘window period’)
- Often bind to p24 or gp41
- Detection via ELISA, immunochromatography, latex particle agglutination,