3.2.4- Cell Recognition- Immunity & Response Flashcards
non-specific barriers
prevent pathogens from getting in- immediate and works for most pathogens
specific barriers
immune response to kill pathogens- slower and pathogen specific
non-specific barrier examples
skin, stomach, eyes, breathing system- physical barrier or phagocytes
specific barrier examples
Immune system: white blood cells, antitoxins, memory lymphocytes. Cell mediated or humoral response
Pathogen
A microorganism that causes disease
Infection
interaction or invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism. Cannot be killed by medication
immunity
the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
2 options upon infection
- pathogen overwhelms defences-> death
- defences overwhelm the pathogen->recovery
What must lymphocytes be able to do?
distinguish between self and non-self cells
what would happen if lymphocytes were unable to distinguish between self and non-self?
our immune system wouldn’t combat pathogens and would destroy our own tissues
how can lymphocytes distinguish between pathogens and self-cells?
markers are present on cell surfaces
antigen
molecule on the surface of pathogens that triggers an immune response.
clonal selection
antigens bind to specific receptors, causing a fraction of lymphocytes to clone themselves
Why do we not want lymphocytes to be complementary to self cells?
Because the lymphocytes would attack self cells and leave our immune system weak
Lymphocyte production in adults
In the bone marrow
Apoptosis
programmed cell death
How does cell recognition impact transplant patients?
The organ may often get rejected as the lymphocytes see it as a non-self cell. This causes the person to be very ill due to the strong immune response so they have to take immunosuppressant drugs.
Immunosuppressant drugs
drugs which suppress the immune system of the recipient of a transplanted organ to prevent rejection
White blood cells
fight infection and combat pathogens
Types of WBC
Lymphocytes and Phagocytes
Phagocytes
White blood cells that attack invading pathogens, non-specific and travel in blood but can move out to other cells due to segmented nucleus
Phagocytosis
Process in which a pathogen is engulfed
Phagocytosis step 1
Pathogen releases chemoattractants and the phagocyte is attracted to them so moves towards the pathogen.
Phagocytosis step 2
Receptors on the phagocyte attach to chemicals on the pathogen surface.
chemoattractants
chemical signals and products of a pathogen
Phagocytosis step 3
formation of phagosome because the bacteria is engulfed. Lysosomes move closer to the phagosome
Phagocytosis step 4
Lysosomes fuse with the phagosome, and they release lysozymes (lytic enzymes) into the phagosome which hydrolyses the bacterium.
Phagocytosis step 5
The hydrolysis products of the bacterium are absorbed by the phagocyte. Antigens are presented on cell membrane of phagocyte
Purpose of presenting bacterium products
signals other areas of the immune system that there is an infection that they must fight & also they can produce antibodies.
Impact of pH change on immune response
could alter charges on the active site which break down pathogens so this could prevent pathogen hydrolysis.
What is a specific response?
A slower response that is specific to each pathogen
Advantage of specific response
Develops immunity in the long term
Disadvantage of specific response
Slower as it targets certain pathogens
Which cells are required to initiate a specific response?
Requires lymphocytes
T lymphocytes
cell-mediated immunity
Mature in thymus gland
What do t lymphocytes respond to?
Responds to foreign material inside body cells so it only responds if pathogen is directly affecting body cells
Antigen presenting cells
Cells that display foreign antigens on their surface
T cells and phagocytes
When phagocytosis occurs, the pathogen is engulfed by a phagocyte and displays antigens. This means the T cells can bind