2.10 Genetics of the immune system Flashcards
What is humoral immunity?
the production of antibodies by B CELLS
What is cellular immunity?
Depends on T CELLS
how is antibody diversity generated?
Produced by somatic recombination.
What is the antibody structure?
There is a light and heavy chain
What is the significance of the MHC?
To bind to peptide fragments derived from pathogens and display them on the cell surface for recognition by the appropriate T-cells. Immune rejection.
What are some diseases of the immune system?
Type 1 diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Multiple sclerosis
What is the hygiene hypothesis?*
proposes that childhood exposure to germs and certain infections helps the immune system develop.
How is the hygiene hypothesis connected to increased asthma in wealthy nations?
An immune system exposed to a bad environment teaches the body to differentiate harmless substances from the harmful substances that trigger asthma.
What is clonal selection?
Primary response, memory cells, and secondary response
What is a T-cell receptor composed of?
Two polypeptide chains, alpha and beta, held together by disulfide bonds.
How are T cells activated?
By binding both to a foreign antigen and to a histocompatibility antigen on the surface of a self-cell.
What does immune rejection depend on?
MHC antigens. The greater the mismatch the stronger the immune rejection.
What does immune rejection depend on?
MHC antigens. The greater the mismatch the stronger the immune rejection.
What is Rheumatoid arthritis?
Autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of synovial joints.
What amino acid sequence is targeted in RA?
QKRAA, QRRAA
