3.2.4 Immunity (Unit 2 Cells) Flashcards
What is immunity?
When the body’s defences are able to kill a pathogen before it can cause harm.
What is an antigen?
A (glyco)protein on the surface of a cell membrane.
That (in the case of a foreign antigen) will trigger an immune response.
Describe non-specific defences.
General
Immediate
Identify the 2 types of white blood cell.
- T - Cells (Helper or Cytotoxic)
- B - Cells (Memory and Plasma)
How is the immune response controlled in organ transplant patients to prevent organ rejection?
Immunosupressant drugs
Organs donated by family members - for a close tissue match.
Why is there a time lag between infection and an immune response?
Clonal selection takes time i.e. the correct T/B Cell binding to the non self antigen.
Antigens that belong to the body have _____ antigens on their cell membrane.
SELF
When can the immune system cause problems for medical patients?
People who have received organ transplants.
The transplanted organs have non self antigens.
The immune system will destroy the non self material.
Foregn antigens are usually found on which 4 materials that can trigger an immune response?
- Pathogens
- Cells from other or the same species (organ transplants)
- Toxins from pathogens
- Cancer cells
Describe specific defences
Less rapid
Long lasting
Highly specific
Identify the non-specific defences against infection.
- S.T.E.M.S (Skin, Tears, Earwax, Mucus, Stomach Acid)
- Pagocytosis
Antigens can be which biological molecules?
Proteins (glycoproteins)
Lipids (glycolipids)
What is it about proteins that makes them useful as antigens?
Their specific 3D structure can form a variety of different ‘labels’.
Antigens that do not belong to the body have _____ antigens on their cell membrane.
NON SELF
What is a pathogen?
A microorganism that causes infectious disease.
What is meant by a SELF antigen?
A glycoprotein or glycolipid found on a cell surface membrane of a cell that belongs to the organism.
What is meant by a NON-SELF antigen?
A glycoprotein or glycolipid found on a cell surface membrane of a cell that does not belong to the organism.
How do phagocytes protect against pathogens, toxins, cancer cells or foreign tissues?
Phagocyte recognizes antigen
Pathogen is engulfed into a phagosome
Lysosome fuses with phagosome forming a phagolysosome
Lysozyme (hydrolitic enzymes) hydrolyse pathogen
Antigens from pathogen may be presented on the surface of the cell
What is phagocytosis?
When foreign material is ingested by a phagocyte to form a phagosome.
T-Cells can be one of 2 types. What are they?
Helper T-Cells
Cytotoxic T-Cells
Identify the 2 types of white blood cell.
Phagocytes
Lymphocytes (B cells and T cells)
What are lysozymes?
Hydrolytic enzymes found inside lysosomes that digest foreign material.
What is a phagosome?
A vesicle containing foreign material within a phagocyte that is formed during phagocytosis.
Is phagocytosis a specific or a non-specific response to a non-self antigen?
Non-specific
Are Phagocytes ‘antigen presenting cells’?
Yes - they present foreign antigens on their surface after engulfing a foreign material.
Describe how phagocytosis of a virus leads to presentation of its antigens
Phagosome FUSES with lysosome
lysosome contains lyzozymes which destroy virus]
antigen displayed on cell MEMBRANE of phagocyte (APC)
Which type of immunity are T-Cells mainly involved in?
Cell Mediated Immunity (they are just used to stimulate B-cells in humoural immunity)
Where can non-self antigens be found that T-Cells may bind to?
- The surface of an antigen presenting cell (phagocyte)
- Body cells invaded by a virus may present viral antigens.
- Transplanted cells from organ donors.
- Cancer cells
- Toxins produced by pathogens.
Can T-Cells bind to non-self antigens floating around freely in the blood?
No - they can only bind to foreign antigens that have been presented on an antigen presenting cell e.g. phagocyte.
How do cytotoxic T Cells (Tc) protect against disease?
They kill cells infected by pathogens or cancerous cells.
They produce a protein called perforin.
Perforin creates holes in target cell membranes, which kills the cell.
Where do T-Cells mature?
In the thymus