Antigens (7.1) Flashcards

1
Q

Describe antigens

A

A substance that reacts with antibodies and T lymphocyte receptors that may induce an immune response

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2
Q

State what antigens can be classified as

A
  • self

- non-self

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3
Q

State what an organism’s immune system is normally able to do

A

Differentiate between self and non-self antigens and respond accordingly

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4
Q

Provide a possible location to which antigens can be bound

A

Surface of B lymphocytes

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5
Q

State 2 agents which can detect antigens

A
  1. T lymphocytes

2. antibodies produced by B lymphocytes

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6
Q

State whether or not antibodies can be secreted and by what cell they may be secreted from

A

Yes. Secreted by B lymphocytes

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7
Q

State why antigens are important

A

Allow for recognition of potentially harmful pathogens to trigger immune response

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8
Q

State whether or not all antigens trigger an immune response

A

Although many antigens trigger an immune response, some do not.

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9
Q

Describe immunogens

A

Antigens that elicit an immune response

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10
Q

Describe the basic structure of an antigen

A
  • protein-based

- one or more polypeptide chains

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11
Q

State where antigens are expressed or presented

A

Surface of the plasma membrane of cells

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12
Q

State what antigens pose as for the immune system

A

Recognition sites

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13
Q

State whether or not all antigens are attached to a cell

A

No. Some antigens can circulate freely within bodily fluid

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14
Q

Describe self-antigens

A

Organism’s own antigens which are normally tolerated and do not cause an immune response

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15
Q

Describe non-self antigens

A

Antigens that do not belong to an organism’s own cells

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16
Q

State what antigen recognition is dependent upon

A

Detection of antigens by receptors

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17
Q

Describe B lymphocytes

A

Lymphocytes that when stimulated produce large quantities of antibodies specific to a particular antigen

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18
Q

Provide an alternative term in reference to B lymphocytes

A

B cells

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19
Q

Describe T lymphocytes

A

Lymphocytes that originate in the bone marrow and a mature in the thymus that are responsible for cell-mediated immune responses

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20
Q

Provide an alternative term in reference to T lymphocytes

A

T cells

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21
Q

Describe T cell receptor

A

A molecule found on the surface of T lymphocytes that are responsible for recognising fragments of antigens

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22
Q

Describe B cell receptor

A

A molecule found on the surface of B lymphocytes that mirror the structure of produced antibodies, recognising antigens

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23
Q

State what the term ‘antigen’ stands for

A

Antibody generator

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24
Q

Describe antibodies

A

Proteins produced by B lymphocytes that bind to certain antigens

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25
Q

State what MHC stands for

A

Major histocompatability complex

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26
Q

Describe MHC proteins

A

Proteins found on the surfaces of cells that help the immune system recognize foreign substances.

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27
Q

Provide an alternative term to describe MHC proteins

A

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA)

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28
Q

Describe clonal deletion

A

Two-stage process of selecting T lymphocytes that recognise MHC proteins and eliminate those that react to self-antigens

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29
Q

Describe the 2 stages of clonal deletion

A
  1. T lymphocytes that do not react with MHC proteins are destroyed by apoptosis
  2. T lymphocytes that react with self-antigens bind tightly to cells in the thymus and die
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30
Q

State the process by which T lymphocytes that react with MHC proteins in clonal deletion are destroyed

A

Apoptosis

31
Q

Describe self-tolerance

A

Inability to respond to self-antigens

32
Q

State what occurs if self-tolerance breaks down

A

Autoimmune diseases prevail

33
Q

State whether or not all self antigens elicit an immune response

A

Not all self antigens elicit an immune response

34
Q

State whether or not all non-self antigens elicit an immune response

A

Not all non-self antigens elicit an immune response

35
Q

Provide a term to describe antigens that elicit an immune response

A

Immunogens

36
Q

Provide a term used to describe an inability to respond to self-antigens

A

Self-tolerance

37
Q

Describe allergens

A

Antigens that trigger an allergic response

38
Q

State what occurs in an allergy

A

Certain antigens elicit an allergic immune response

39
Q

Describe pathogens

A

Agents that cause disease

40
Q

State the 2 classifications of pathogens

A
  1. Primary

2. Opportunistic

41
Q

Describe primary pathogens

A

Pathogens that cause disease any time they are present

42
Q

Provide a term used to describe agents that cause disease

A

Pathogens

43
Q

Describe opportunistic pathogens

A

Pathogens that only cause disease when the host’s defences have been weakened

44
Q

Provide 2 examples of factors that may satisfactorily weaken the host’s defences for an attack by an opportunistic pathogen

A
  1. stress

2. poor nutrition

45
Q

State what most pathogens contain

A

Unique antigens that can be recognised by the immune system

46
Q

State whether or not toxins secreted by pathogens can act as antigens

A

Yes. Toxins secreted by pathogens can act as antigens.

47
Q

State the 2 characteristics which further divide pathogens

A
  1. cellular

2. non-cellular

48
Q

Describe cellular pathogens

A

Cellular organisms that are a source of non-self antigens and cause disease

49
Q

Describe non-cellular pathogens

A

Non-living organisms that retain the ability to cause disease

50
Q

Provide the 6 classes of cellular pathogens

A
  1. bacteria
  2. fungi
  3. oomycetes
  4. protozoans
  5. parasitic worms
  6. arthropods
51
Q

Describe bacteria

A

Prokaryotes that are not members of the domain Archaea

52
Q

Describe fungi

A

Non-phototrophic eukaryotes that have rigid cell walls composed of chitin

53
Q

Describe oomycetes

A

Fungus-like pathogens of plants that penetrate living cells and absorb nutrient or release enzyme that digest cytoplasms

54
Q

Describe protozoans

A

Unicellular, eukaryotic organism that can replicate within the cells of its host

55
Q

Describe parasitic worms

A

Worms that derive nourishment from its host

56
Q

Describe arthropods

A

Organisms with an exoskeleton

57
Q

Describe viruses

A

Infectious agent composed of genetic material

58
Q

Describe viroids

A

Infectious agents of plants that are self-cleaving RNA enzymes

59
Q

Describe prion

A

Mutated protein that causes protein aggregation toxic to neurons

60
Q

Provide the 3 classes of non-cellular pathogens

A
  1. viruses
  2. viroids
  3. prions
61
Q

State what the first line of defence is for immunity

A

Infection barriers

62
Q

State the 3 types of infection barriers

A
  1. physical
  2. chemical
  3. microbiological
63
Q

State what the second line of defence is for immunity

A

Innate immune response

64
Q

State what the third line of defence is for immunity

A

Adaptive immune response

65
Q

State the process by which T lymphocytes that react to self-antigens and bind tightly to cells in the thymus die

A

Apoptosis

66
Q

State what changes in the secondary structure of prions are caused by

A

Interaction of a defective prion with a normal PrPc molecule inside a cell, causing a change in folding pattern

67
Q

Provide a term used to describe antigens that invade cells to replicate

A

Intracellular pathogens

68
Q

State what pathogens antibiotics are useful against

A

Bacteria

69
Q

State what a virus is composed of

A

Genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein coat

70
Q

State what some viruses are surrounded by

A

Lipoprotein envelope

71
Q

State what viroids are composed of

A

Short, circular strands of RNA

72
Q

State whether or not viroids have a protein coat

A

No

73
Q

State whether or not prions contain genetic material

A

No

74
Q

State what is consistent on both arms of an antibody

A

Variable region