3.2.4 Cell recognition and the immune system Flashcards
What is an antigen?
A molecule/protein that triggers an immune response
Name the 4 main stages of immune response
- Phagocytosis
- phagocytosis activate T-cells
- T-cells activate B-cells which divide into plasma cells
- Plasma cells make more antibodies to a specific antigen
where are phagoyctes found
in blood and tissues
Describe phagocytosis (5)
Phagocyte is attracted to pathogen by chemicals it produces
Phagocyte attaches itself to the surface membrane of the pathogen
phagocyte engulfs the pathogen within a vesicle to form a phagosome
lysosomes in the phagocyte fuse with the phagosome to form a phagolysosome
lysozymes in the lysosome hydrolyse/digest the pathogen
Why does phagocytes moves towards pathogens
they’re attracted to pathogen’s chemical products
Phagocytes engulf pathogens by _____
endocytosis
Waste products removed by _____
exocytosis
How do lysozymes break down bacteria
Hydrolyse the cell walls of bacteria
What do phagocytes do at the end of phagocytosis?
Phagocyte presents pathogen’s antigens on its surface to activate other immune system cells
What do T-cells only respond to
Antigen-presenting cells
Where do T-cells (aka T-lymphocyte) mature?
In thymus gland
Describe what T-cells do and what response are they usually associated with mainly?
Respond to antigens on foreign and infected cells
Specific receptors on helper T cells bind to specific antigen presented by phagocytes (antigen-presenting cell)
This activates T-cell: Binding triggers rapid mitosis = T cells are cloned
Cellular response
Name 4 things that the cloned helper T-cells do
Activate cytotoxic T cells
Activate B-cells to divide and secrete their antibodies
Develop into memory cells
Release chemical signals that activate and stimulate phagocytes
Describe how cytotoxic T-cells kill infected cells
Produce protein called perforin that makes holes in cell-surface membrane
Holes means cell membrane becomes freely permeable
Control of substances no longer controls and cell dies
Why is the action of T-cells most effective against viruses?
they replicate inside cells, sacrificing these body cells prevents viruses from multiplying and infecting more cells
What is the role of macrophages in stimulating B lymphocytes?
Antigen in membrane presented to lymphocytes
Produce cytokinins
What are B-cells (B-lymphocytes)? Where do they mature?
White blood cell that’s covered with antibodies
thymus gland
What are antibodies?
A protein produced by lymphocytes in response to the presence of an appropriate antigen
Describe how T-cells activate B-cells, which divide into plasma cells
When antibody on surface of B-cells meets complementary shaped antigen = binds to it
This, together with chemicals released from helper T-cells, activates B-cell = divides by mitosis
Clonal selection: form clones/produce plasma cells
Make antibodies
Plasma cells produce memory cells
What do plasma cells do?
Secrete loads of antibodies specific to antigen
called monoclonal antibodies
Describe what antibodies do to destroy pathogens
Antibody has 2 binding sites = can bind 2 pathogens at same time
Means pathogens & antibodies become clumped together = called agglutination
Phagocytes bind to antibodies and phagocytose many pathogens at once
Process leads to destruction of pathogens carrying this antigen in
All antibodies have same _____ region
All antibodies have same constant region
What does the constant region allow antibodies to do?
To bind to receptors on B-cells
What does the hinge region allow antibodies to do?
Allows flexibility so molecules can group more than one antigens
Why are antibodies specific to one antigen? (3)
Variable region has specific primary structure
Tertiary structure of binding site is complementary to bind with these antigens
Forms complex between antigen and antibody
What is the primary response?
When antigen enters body for 1st time & activates immune system
Why is the primary response slow?
there aren’t many B-cells that can make antibody needed to bind to pathogen
Primary Immune Response
After being exposed to antigens, T- and B-cells produce ____ ___
memory cells
Memory cells remain in body for ____ time
long
What do memory B-cells do
Record specific antibodies needed to bind the antigen
What do memory T-cells do?
Remember specific antigen and will recognise it 2nd time round
Explain why antigenic variability causes some people to get infected more than once
Memory B/T cells don’t recognise new antigens
Antibodies previously produced are not effective ∵ shape not complementary to new antigen
What is the secondary response?
When same pathogen enters body = immune system will produce quicker, stronger immune response
Why is the secondary response quicker than the primary response? Explain in terms of memory T-cells/B-cells
Clonal selection happens faster
Memory T-cells are activated and divide into correct type of T-cells to kill cell carrying antigen
Memory B-cells are activated and divide into plasma cells that produce right antibody to antigen
Why do you suffer from symptoms?
B-cells busy dividing to increase their numbers to deal with pathogen