4 Immune System Failure Flashcards
What is serotype diversity?
antigenically different strains of the same pathogen
What is antigenic drift?
mutations in the viral genome driven by selective pressure as the virus infects a population
What is antigenic shift?
genetic recombination that leads to significant change in viral antigens
What is responsible for viral pandemics?
antigenic shift
What are the five ways a pathogen can evade the immune system?
Serotype diversity, antigenic drift, antigenic shift, gene conversion, latency
What are the six methods of immune system subversion by pathogens?
endocytic hijacking, protein mimicry, humoral inhibition, inflammation inhibition, immunosuppression, and superantigens
Does serotype diversity mean the pathogen is highly mutable?
No, it just means there are different strains. Not that it constantly changes.
What is antigenic drift driven by?
selective pressure
What drives antigenic shift?
genetic recombination responsible for pandemics
Gene conversion is trying to evade what part of the immune response?
humoral immune response
What is pathogen latency?
a viral dormant state in host tissue
What happens to the viral load during the latent stage?
It is reduced (because the pathogen is in hiding)
What is endocytic hijacking?
It’s a method of entering a host cell through endocytosis instead of phagocytosis
What is antigen mimicry?
It’s when the pathogen coats itself in host proteins so it appears to be a host cell to the immune system
Superantigens can lead to what?
non-specific T cell activation, or antibody and complement inactivation
