2c the immune system Flashcards
What is an antigen
Molecules that can generate an immune response when detected by the body
Found on the surface of cells used by immune system to identify pathogens
What is a pathogen
Organism that causes disease or abnormal body cells or toxins
what is a phagocyte
a type of white blood cell which carries out phagocytosis
found in blood and in tissues and are the first cells to respond in immune response
1–how do phagocytes work
1- recognise foreign antigens on pathogen
2-cytoplasm of phagocyte engulfs pathogen
3-pathogen now contained in phagocytic vacuole in cytoplasm
4-lysosome fuses with phagocytic vacuole , lysozyme breaks down pathogen
5- phagocytes then present the pathogen is antigen is it sticks the antigens on its surface to activate other immune system cells
what’s a lysosome
organelle that contains enzyme called lysozyme
2–describe phagocytes activating t cells
T cells have receptor proteins on surface which bind to complimentary antigens presented to it by phagocytes this activates the T-cell
How do you helper T cells respond
Release chemical signals that activates and stimulates phagocytes and cytotoxic T cells which kill abnormal foreign cells
Also activate B cells which secrete antibodies
What are B cells and T cells
Types of white blood cells
Describe B cells
covered with antibodies - proteins that bind antigens form an antigen-antibody complex
each B cell has different shape antibody on its membrane so form to different antigens
3–Describe how T cells activate b cells which divide into plasma cells
1) When antibody on the surface of the cell meets complimentary shaped antigen and they bind
2) this with substances released from helper T-cell is activate B-cell process called clonal selection
3) activated B cell divides into plasma cells
what are monoclonal antibodies
Plasma cells are identical to be cells secrete loads of antibodies specific to the antigen
How many binding sites does an Antobody have and what does this mean
Two so it can bind two pathogen is at same time meaning pathogen is become clumped together called agglutination
Phagocytes then bind to antibodies and phagocytose many pathogens at once process leads to destruction of pathogen is carrying this antigen in the body
what’s a cellular response
T cells and other immune system cells that they interact with
what’s a humoral response
B cells clonal selection and the production of monoclonal antibodies form the humoral response
describe primary response
When antigen enters body for first time
Response is slow as not many B cells present that can make Antibody needed to bind to auntigen
Body will then produce enough of right Antibody to overcome infection
B cells and T cells produce memory cells memory cells stay in body for long time
Person is now immune
Describe the cells and T cells in primary immune response
Memory T cells remember specific antigen and will recognise it a second time round
Memory B-cell is record specific antibodies needed to buy to antigen
Describe secondary response
If same pathogen enters body again immune system produces quicker stronger immune response
Clonal selection happens faster memory B-cell is activated dividing into plasma cells which produce right antibodies for antigen
Memory T cells activated dividing into correct type of T-cell to kill cell carying antigen
Gets rid of pathogen before person shows any symptoms
Describe vaccine
Contain antigens causing your body to produce memory cells against pathogens without pathogen causing disease meaning immunity without any symptoms
Describe herd immunity
Vaccine protecting individuals this reduces occurrence of disease therefore those who are not vaccinated also less likely to catch disease
What does vaccines contain
Antigens free or attached to a dead attenuated pathogen
What is disadvantage of taking vaccine orally
Could be broken down by enzymes in gut
or molecules of vaccine too large to be absorbed into blood
What are booster vaccines
Given later on to make sure memory cells are produced
What is antigenic variation
When pathogens change the surface antigen is different antigens are formed due to the changes in the genes of a pathogen
What are the strainss of influenza
Immunologically distinct
Why is the influenza vaccine changed every year
The strains are immunologically distinct meaning it has different antigens