11.1 Antibodies production (HL) Flashcards
Define epitopes
Part of the antigen that is exposed
Hoe does the body distinguish between self and non-self?
Specific surface molecules that all nucleated body cells posses (MHC class 1)
What is an antigen?
Any substance that is recognised as foreign and capable of triggering an immune response
Why may the body attack it’s own blood cells?
They do not have a nucleus and thus have no self markers (this is why blood type matters as your body may or may not react against the A or B antigens)
What is a pathogen?
Agent that causes disease
What is an illness?
Deterioration in normal state of health of an organism
What is a disease?
A condition that disturbs the normal functioning of the body
What is zoonoses?
Zoonotic transfer of disease to humans
What are the 5 ways disease can be transmitted?
Direct contact
Exchange if fluids
Contamination
Airborne
Vector
What are dendritic cells
The name given to macrophages which present antigenic fragments to specific lymphocytes?
What are the 5 functions of antibodies?
Precipitation (make soluble antigens insoluble)
Agglutination (clumping)
Neutralisation (eg. mask toxins)
Inflammation (trigger histamine release to increase immune mobility)
Complement (perforate the cell membrane)
(PANIC)
What is an allergen?
Environmental substance that triggers an immune response
What is the name of a severe allergic reaction?
Anaphylaxis
How does the body react to an allergen?
First encounter: Specific B cell encounters the allergen and differentiates into large quantities of antibody which attach to mast cells
Allergic reaction: Allergen binds to mast cell and histamine is released from the mast cell
What is the effect of histamine?
Vasodilation (inflammation)
What components are found in a vaccine?
Adjuvant (promotes immune response)
Antigenic determinant
Define herd immunity
When individuals who are not immune to a pathogen are protected from exposure by large amounts of immune individuals within a community
Define herd immunity
When individuals who are not immune to a pathogen are protected from exposure by large amounts of immune individuals within a community
What are the steps in the production of monoclonal antibodies?
Infect a mouse
Remove spleen and bind antibody producing B cells to tumour cells to produce a hybridoma which produces monoclonal antibodies
Where might monoclonal antibodies be found?
hCG test for pregnancy
