_Immune system Flashcards
What does the immune system protect our body from?
foreign invaders such as harmful bacteria and viruses (pathogens)
what is the first line of defence in our bodies?
our skin
What are antibodies?
Y shaped proteins made to destroy antigens
What produces antibodies?
Special wbcs called B-cells
Where do B-cells mature?
Bone marrow
What does an antibody bind with?
Antigens
What are antigens?
Harmful invaders
What type of antigen do antibodies bind with?
certain antigens that have the same shape
One type of antibody can identify how many types of antigens?
One
One type of B-cell can create how many types of antibodies?
One
What are macrophages?
a special type of wbc
What do macrophages do?
they kill microorganisms
1 step of process of protection?
pathogen (antigen) enters the body (bloodstream)
2 step of process of protection?
A special type of macrophage (dendritic cell) consumes the pathogen
3 step of process of protection?
Info about pathogen is sent from macrophage to helper T-cells
Where do helper T-cells mature in?
the thymus
4 step of process of protection?
Helper T-cells transfer pathogen info to B-cells
What is step 4 called?
cell-mediated immunity
5 step of process of protection?
B-cells build specific antibodies to fight the pathogen
What is step 5 called?
Humoral immunity
What do you call the reaction where antibodies bind to antigens?
Antibody-antigen reaction
What can be happened when Antibody-antigen reaction occurs?
antibodies can destroy antigens
Sometimes pathogens leave the bloodstream and enter where?
Cells
What do cells do to the pathogen?
They dissolve it and display parts of it around the cell membrane
Why do the cells display parts of the pathogen around the cell membrane?
For killer T-cells to recognise
What do killer T-cells do?
destroy cell and pathogen
What does HIV stand for?
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
What does AIDS stand for?
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
How does HIV killing helper T-cells affect us?
it makes it hard to produce antibodies & fight infection
What’s the name of the antibodies that remain in your blood for a long time?
memory T-cells
What happens when you’re exposed to the same pathogen again?
Your body can quickly fight off the infection thanks to memory T-cells
What is the vaccine’s function?
the body remembers infection
What does a vaccine usually contain?
A dead/inactive strain of the virus
What does our body do with the vaccine?
It memorises the shape of the antigen (we only get minor side effects)
What are allergies?
The body overreacting to foreign substances entering the bloodstream
