Adaptive System Overview

Question 1

Explain the Dual nature of the Adaptive System.

Answer 1

• Humoral Immunity
  
  • ​Antibody mediated
  • B-cells
• Cell Mediated Immunity
  
  • ​T-cell mediated
    
    • production of cytokines

Question 2

Antigens

Answer 2

• Highly specific immune response
• Result in production of Antibodies
• Most are proteins or polyssacharides
• Epitopes: Specific regions of antibody
• Molecular Patterns:“warning flags”

Question 3

Antibodies and Structure

Answer 3

• Gobulin Proteins; Immunogobulin (Ig)
• made in response to an antigen and can recognize and bind to the antigen

Structure:

• Bivalent
  
  • Monomer
    
    • Four protein chains: 2 light, 2 heavy
    • Chains joined by disulfide bonds
    • C-region = stem
    • FC-regions allows for stronger responses.

Question 4

Antibodies and function

Answer 4

Types and Functions:

• IgM
  
  • ​Pentamer structure
  • Especially effective against microorganisms and agglutinating antigens
  • First antibodies produced in response to initial infection
  • Short-lived
• IgA
  
  • Localized protection on mucosal surfaces; fights attachment ​
  • Breast milk
  • 2nd most abundant
• IgG
  
  • Most abundant serum
  • Fetal development
  • Enhances phagocytosis; neutralizes toxins and viruses; protects fetus and newborn
• IgE
  
  • ​Allergic reactions; possibly lysis of parasitic worms
• IgD
  
  • ​Low levels
  • unkown, present with B-cells

Question 5

Antigen-Antibody Binding & Effect

Answer 5

Ag-Ab complex triggers events:

• Oposonization
  
  • ​Coating antigen with antibody enhances phagocytosis
• Agglutination:
  
  • ​Reduces number of infectious units to be dealt with
• Phagocytosis​
• Neutralization
  
  • Blocks Adhesion
• Complement Activation
  
  • ​Causes inflammation and cell lysis

Question 6

Types of Adaptive Immunity

Answer 6

• Naturally Aquired:
  
  • ​Active:
    
    • ​Antigens enter body naturally
    • Body induces antibodies and specialized lymphocytes
    • “Become ill, recover”
  • Passive:
    
    • ​Antibodies passed from mother to fetus via placenta or mother’s milk
• Artificially aquired:
  
  • ​Active
    
    • ​Antigens are introduced into vaccines
    • Body produces antibodies and specialized lymphocytes
    • Immunizatoin
  • Passive
    
    • ​Preformed antibodies in the immune serum introduced by injection.
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