3.2.4.1 - Cell Recognition Flashcards
Why is a fetus rarely infected by a pathogen?
It is protected from the outside world by the mother and the placenta.
What is immunity?
When the body’s defences are able to kill a pathogen before it can cause harm.
Does the body produce specific lymphocytes (white blood cells) in response to non self material?
No - there are 10 million different lymphocytes already in the body from birth.
Each one has the potential to bind to a specific antigen.
The lymphocyte with the complementary receptor (clonal selection) undergoes cell division to produce many of the desired lymphocyte.
What is an antigen?
A 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 action
Immediate
Identify the 2 types of white blood cell.
- T-lymphocytes (helpers (Th) or cytotoxic (Tc)
- B-Lymphocytes
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 lymphocyte 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
Why is a fetus not attacked by its own lymphocytes when in the uterus?
Any lymphocytes that contain ‘self receptors’ are supressed or die.
The only remaining lymphocytes are those that respond to non-self material.
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)