2.4 Immune system Flashcards
describe how a pathogen can be destroyed by phagocytosis in the body (5)
- phagocyte attracted by chemo-attractants released by pathogen
- phagocyte engulfs pathogen enclosing it in a vesicle called phagosome
- lysosome membrane fuses with phagosome membrane
- lysosome contains hydrolytic enzymes called lysozymes -> released into phagosome
- enzymes hydrolyse the molecules that the pathogen is made of
- soluble molecule eg. amino acids and glucose absorbed into the cytoplasm of phagocyte
What is an antigen
A foreign protein or glycoprotein (often found on the surface of a cell) which stimulates an immune response
What is a toxin
A poison produced by a living organism
A pathogen is
a disease causing agent
What organisms do nonspecific immune responses target
- toxins
- foreign cells / cells from other organisms of the same species
- abnormal cells (damage / cancerous)
- pathogens
Why do we need antigen presenting cells?
T cells will only respond to antigens that are attached to an antigen presenting cell rather than to antigens on the pathogen / within the body’s fluid
With reference to the immune system, explain the importance of cell to cell recognition
- To recognise pathogens so that T helper cells / phagocytes can be activated
- To detect the presence of abnormal / cancer cells so that they can be destroyed by T helper cells
- Ability to recognise self and non self cells and molecules so non self cells can be targeted by B lymphocytes
describe what happens after phagocytosis of a pathogen (regarding T cells)
- once phagocyte engulfs pathogen ➜ can display pathogen’s antigens on its cell surface membrane
- phagocyte acts as an APC
- Tₕ cells w/ receptors complimentary to a specific antigen binds to the APC
- Tₕ cells become activated
- these divide by mitosis to make many more Tₕ cells
- also produce chemicals
T cell clonal selection definition
- activation of a specific T cell that has receptors that are complimentary to a specific antigen
- this T cell divides by mitosis to produce genetically identical T cells (clones)
- (same happens for Tₕ and Tc cells)
4 things that a Tₕ cell can do :
- stimulate B cells
- stimulate cytotoxic T cells
- stimulate phagocytosis
- Th cells become T memory cells
how are cytotoxic T cells activated by Tₕ cells (2)
- cytotoxic T cells also have receptors on their cell surface membrane
- can be activated by binding to the APC together with chemical secreted by Tₕ cells
how do Tc cells kill APC’s
- Tc cells produce proteins (perforin) ➜ can make the APC’s membrane permeable ➜ can kill cell
- holes allow toxins to get in, will deffo kill the cell and everything in it (eg. viruses that have invaded cell)
how can the body quickly respond to the same pathogen invading again?
- some Tₕ cells that had receptors complimentary to specific antigen on pathogen stay in blood after infection has passed
- Th cells become T memory cells
- helps body respond quicly if it encounters the same pathogen again
Describe the cell mediated immune response and the role of different T cells (6)
Phagocyte engulfs pathogen
phagocyte presents antigens on its cell surface membrane becoming an antigen presenting cell
* helper T cells with receptors complementary to the specific antigen bind to the APC
* T helper cells become activated
* Th cells divided by mitosis
* activated TH cells secrete cytokines which activate other T cells called cytotoxic T cells
* t cells activate specific B cells which have receptors complementary to the same antigen
* t cells can also stimulate phagocytosis
* t cells become T memory cells
The specificity of an antibody depends on its variable regions how? (2)
- variable regions have specific tertiary and primary structures
- creates a complimentary binding site to one specific antigen
how does antibody-antigen complexes help you not get harmed by pathogens
agglutination: clumping together of antigen bearing cells in the prescence of their complimentary antigen
* antibody binding to antigen also attracts phagocytes
Non self cells….
Stimulate an immune response
Vaccine definition
A vaccine contains an antigen, or several, from a pathogen that stimulates an immune response, resulting in formation of memory cells
Immunity definition
Ability of an organism to resist a particular infection (or toxin) by the action of the specific immune response
Explain why this antibody will only detect one antigen: (4)
- antigen has specific primary structure
- antibody has a certain tertiary structure that forms the binding site
- that is complementary to a specific antigen
- forming an antibody antigen complex
what should be checked during making a vaccine (4)
- dose to be given
- no serious side effects
- how effective
- cost of drug
monoclonal antibody definition
antibodies with the same tertiary structure prod. by clones of a specific B plasma cell
Describe how antibodies are produced in the body following a viral infection. (6)
- The virus has an antigen on its surface.
- The virus is engulfed by a phagocyte.
- The phagocyte presents the antigen to the B cell.
- Memory cells and B cells are activated
- And they divide by mitosis to form clones.
- Plasma cells release antibodies.
- Antibodies are specific to an antigen.
Explain how changes in numbers of Golgi body. Mitochondria and RER is related to the function of B lymphocytes.
- More GOLGI BODY to PACKAGE more PROTEINS for SECRETION.
- MORE MITOCHONDRIA provide more ATP.
- MORE RER so that RIBOSOMES can SYNTHESISE PROTEINS.
- ALL OF THESE FUNCTIONS ALLOW THE B LYMPHOCYTES TO PRODUCE ANTIBODIES.