4.1.1 Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system Flashcards
What is keratinisation?
keratinocytes at the surface of the skin dry out and the cytoplasm is replaced by keratin
Describe the process of blood clotting
- Collagen exposed = Ca2+ ions and clotting factors are released from platelets which activate an enzyme cascade
- inactive thrombokinase = active thrombokinase
- prothrombin = thrombin
- soluble fibrinogen = fibrin
- platelets are trapped causing a clot, scab forms seal
- collagen deposited under and epidermis stem cells differentiate
What is involved in inflammation?
- mast cells detect pathogen -> histamine -> vasodilation and make capillary walls more permeable to WBCs and proteins. Cytokines enhance phagocytosis
- blood plasma and WBCs enter tissue fluid = OEDEMA
- excess fluid drained = swelling of lymph nodes bc of lymphocyte production
What is the role of reflexes?
air expulsion to remove microorganisms in response to irritation
What is the role of mucous membanes?
goblet cells + glands secrete mucus to trap pathogens
stomach acid kills them
gut, ears, nose, airways
Describe the role of neutrophils in phagocytosis
- large numbers, short lived
- binds to opsonin attached to antigen on pathogen
- phagosome formed from pseudopodia -> lysosomes fuse to form phagolysosome
- hydrolytic enzymes released
Describe the role of macrophages in phagocytosis
- monocytes in blood
- don’t fully digest
- antigen saved and moved to special protein complex
becomes ANTIGEN PRESENTING CELL - increases chances that antigen will come into contact with lymphocytes
What is clonal selection?
- activation of specific B/T lymphocytes
Describe the mode of action of B lymphocytes ( HUMOURAL)
- Antigen encountered
- Interleukins released from T-cells and macrophages causes clonal expansion
- Either differentiated into plasma cells to secrete antibodies (stimulated by monokines from macrophages)
- OR differentiated into B memory cells for immunological memory
Describe the mode of action of T lymphocytes ( CELL-MEDIATED)
- T-helper cells recognise APC or antigen
- Interleukins from T-cells and macophages causes clonal expansion
- This then causes differentiation into T-helper cells (release cytokines to stimulate T-cells, B-cells and phagocytosis)
- OR t-killer cells (interferon stimulates these) to attack cells
- OR T memory cells that remain in blood for long time after primary response
- OR t-regulator cells which shuts down immune response -> important in autoimmune disease
What is the difference between primary and secondary response?
PRIMARY: delay since it takes time to recognise antigens, perform phagocytosis and for the specific response to be generated due to clonal selection time etc
SECONDARY: much faster clonal selection due to the B + T memory cells that remain in the blood after primary response. Antibody production starts sooner and is much more rapid, AND the maximum concentration is higher
They remain in the blood for longer too
What is an autoimmune disease?
- own body cells recognised as antigenic and are attacked by the immune system e.g. arthritis
- genetic and environmental factors
Describe the general structure of an antibody
they are IMMUNOGLOBINS - complex proteins.
2 light chains and 2 heavy chains
variable region which binds to antigen
constant region which stays the same, may have binding site for phagocytosis
hinge region to allow flexibility
disulfide bridges
What is the role of opsonins?
bind to antigen and neutralise them, increase phagocytosis
What is the role of agglutinins?
cross-link pathogens by binding to 2 antigens, each on same type of pathogen. it is impeded from imovement. increases phagocytosis also
What is the role of anti-toxins?
bind to toxins, preventing them from entering cells
Role of cytokines in phagocytosis?
attract phagocytes
Outline how synthetic biology can be used in the provision of new medicines
- genetic modification of organisms
- to produce drug/ proteins/ vaccine