1- Intro to Immune System

Question 1

The 4 classes of pathogens

Answer 1

Parasites, Fungi, Bacteria and Viruses

Question 2

General function of the innate system

Answer 2

Functions to either obstruct pathogen entry into the host or directs the ultimate demise of an invader

Question 3

Key advantage and disadvantage of the Innate Immune System

Answer 3

ADVANTAGE: it can be activated almost instantaneously

DISADVANTAGE: it lacks the ability to precisely target pathogens (though it has SOME training ability) and limit collateral damage (it is nearly indiscriminate and can hurt good things as well as the bad)

Question 4

Key advantage and disadvantage of the Adaptive Immune System

Answer 4

ADVANTAGE: memory + precise specificity

DISADVANTAGE: it takes more than a week to become fully operational

Question 5

1st level of innate defense

Answer 5

Physical Obstructions and Simple Biochemical Toxins:

SKIN: barrier + antimicrobial peptides (defensins)

MUCOSA: trapping of pathogens, low pH in gut, hydrolytic enzymes in tears and saliva., etc.

Question 6

2nd line of innate defense

Answer 6

Cells that provide protection against pathogens that have successfully breached physical barrier. These cells can be rapidly mobilized and have very effective killing mechanisms

Question 7

PAMPs

Answer 7

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (a form of molecular danger signal)

Question 8

DAMPs

Answer 8

Damage-associated molecular patterns (a form of molecular danger signal)

Question 9

PRR

Answer 9

PATTERN RECOGNITION RECEPTORS: The receptors on the innate cells that recognize both PAMPs and DAMPs

Activation of these serve as “on” switch for an innate immune response.

Question 10

The 3 major families of PRRs

Answer 10

TLR, RLR and NLR

Question 11

The 2 general pathways used by innate immunity to neutralize threats

Answer 11

• soluble proteins synthesized in the liver (i.e. mannose binding receptors which facilitate the uptake of bacteria into phagocytic cells).
• immune effector cells

Question 12

Which innate immune cells are considered “trainable” and how are they trainable?

Answer 12

Monocytes/Macrophages

They can be trained via epigenetic mechanisms.

Question 13

NK cells

Answer 13

Natural Killer Cells

Large granular lymphocytes

Constantly sample the cell surface of host cells looking for evidence of viral infection or mutations. Can recognize PAMPs and DAMPs.

Question 14

Gamma-delta and NKT lymphocytes

Answer 14

Can interface with both innate and adaptive immunity and are assigned to patrol certain anatomical sites.

Question 15

Cytokines

Answer 15

Mandatory participants in all immune responses.

The MEDIATORS of cellular communication: used by cells to “talk” to each other.

Question 16

Antigens

Answer 16

Sometimes called immunogens.

Usually foreign proteins/peptides that stimulate immune responses.

Question 17

Small lymphocyte

Answer 17

The orchestrator of the adaptive immune response. HAs the ability to generate specific antigen receptors on its surface, communicate with other cells after it recognizes an antigen and then proliferate and amplify in order to kill a pathogen.

Question 18

B cells

Answer 18

Specialized adaptive lymphocyte.

Ultimately differentiate into plasma cells which produce highly specific protein antibodies.

HUMORAL IMMUNE RESPONSE

Question 19

T cells

Answer 19

Specialized adaptive lymphocyte.

Orchestrate and regulate immune response and specifically target and kill when needed. Particularly effective against infections hidden within host cells.

CELL-MEDIATED IMMUNITY

Question 20

Cytokines

Answer 20

The communicators of the innate immune system.