(13) Evasion of Immune Responses Flashcards
Define Antigenic Variation.
Display of New Antigens (by a pathogen) that are not recognized by immune responses formed in response to that pathogen
How do serotypes of Strep. Pneumo. differ?
- what are differences among these serotypes an example of?
Strep. Pneumo. uses antigenic variation to evade host defenses different CAPSULE structures allow the bug to evade the antibody made against the previous capsule
What is the advantage to Strep. Pneumo. being able to undergo antigenic variation?
- Same host can be reinfected several times
- NO MEMORY B CELL RESPONSE SO DISEASE CAN SPREAD BEFORE ACQUIRED SYSTEM CAN ATTACK IT.
What are the two primary targets for antibody response to the flu?
- Neuraminadase
- Hemmagglutinin
**Antibodies bind and prevent interaction with host cell receptors
What types of antigenic variation are seen in the flu?
- which usually leads to more severe disease? why?
- Relative involvement of B and T cells?
2 types:
type 1:
- Flu infects host and begins replicative cycle
- During replicative cycle many mutations occur in the 2 primary antibody targets (Neuraminadase, and Hemagglutinin)
- People who have never been exposed to these Neura. and Hema. isotypes before will be susceptible
***LESS SEVERE, because T CELL response remains relatively the same, only B cell response has changed from altered targets (proteins presented are overall pretty much the same)
type 2:
- 2 different types of Flu infect a non human host
- ssRNA that is SEGMENTED in flu viruses shift around and the two different strains can mix segments
- Neuraminidase and Hemagglutinin proteins are COMPLETELY different now
***MORE SEVERE, because B CELL and T CELL responses from previous infections are evaded because so much variation in proteins
Explain why African sleeping sickness leads to chronic reinfection that ultimately leads to coma?
- Has a Cassette type deal (similar to gonorrhea)
- 1 protein of the 1000’s that are silent can get put into position to be expressed
- The body mounts a response against the Variant Specific Glycoprotein (VSG) being expressed at that time however other types are created at low levels and these will be selected for after the other type is wiped out
**Chronic reinfection in African sleeping sickness ultimately leads to neural tissue damage and coma
What is latency?
a state adopted by some viruses in which they have entered cells but do not replicated
*Usually because the virus has been integrated into the host’s genome (ON CHROMOSOMAL OR EPISOMAL dna)
T or F: herpes is a latent virus.
True, it initially infects the epithelium but later travels up the nerve and integrates into the EPISOMAL DNA in the host’s trigeminal ganglion
When is herpes virus expressed?
- why can it not be eliminated?
- Expressed because of sunlight or mental stressed, travels down from trigeminal and you get herpes lesions on your lip
- Can’t be eliminated because the latent virus hardly makes any proteins while its integrated in the host’s DNA
What virus causes shingles?
- clinical signs?
- where does it reside?
Varicella-Zoster Virus causes it
Clinical Signs:
- Unilateral Lesions that correspond to a single nerve or group of nerves in the midline or on the face
Where:
- Resides in DRG
What are 4 general ways in which viruses can subvert human immune responses?
- Inhibition of Humoral Immunity
- Inhibition of Inflammatory Response
- Blocking of Antigen Processing and Presentation
- Immunosuppression of Host
What are the main ways in which cytomegalovirus can subvert human immune responses?
- Interfere with Antigen Presentation
2. Interfere with NK cell function
What are superantigens and how do they work?
- outcomes?
Superantigen acts as a linker between MHC class II alpha chain and TCR ß-chain
- This creates a non-specific immune response that can activate 1-20% of the T cell repertoire
- CAN CAUSE SYSTEMIC TOXICITY RESEMBLING SEPTIC SHOCK
**May also just cause suppression of immune responsivness
What are 2 examples of superantigens?
SE and TSST-1
T or F: staphylococcus aureus produces molecules that interfere with neutrophil function, complement cascade, antibody opsonization, and that provide resistance to phagocyte killing.
True, if other bugs were studied as closely as staph we would probably find that similar things were happening in them as well.
T or F: evasion mechanisms produced by bugs like staph and strep can completely suppress the response that they interfere with
False, they just reduce the efficacy
What Type of Virus is HIV?
- important surface proteins?
- Lentivirus (a type of RETROVIRUS)
Important Surface Proteins:
- gp 160 and transmembrane gp41
In what ways does HIV make its genome maximally efficient?
- Uses all 3 reading frames
2. Uses alternative splicing to make different transcripts
How does antigenic Variation arise in HIV?
- Reverse Transcriptase has no proof-reading ability so several mutations are created that give rise to antigenic variation