cell recognition & the immune system Flashcards
pathogen =
microorganism that causes a disease (& immune response)
> eg. virus, bacteria
cell recognition
- every cell has specific molecules on its surface membrane
- can be identified
- self/ non-self cells
antigen =
foreign protein that stimulates an I.R
antibody =
protein specific to an antigen, produced by B cells
struc. of antibody
- quaternary struc (2 polypeptides)
- variable region (comple. to antigen)
- light chain & heavy chain
- hinge region
- disulfide bonds join 2 diff. polypeptides
antigen variability
- mutation of DNA
- altered tertiary struc. of antigen
- it can bind to receptors of other species
- memory cells no longer comple. to antigen
capsid variability
- mutation of RNA
- altered tertiary struc. of viral attachment protein
- it can bind to receptors of other species
types of cells that can stimulate an I.R (immune response)
- pathogens
- cancer/tumour cells
- cells from other organisms/transplants
- self-cells if infected by virus
phagocytes
- large, white blood cells
- engulf & remove dead/invading pathogens
the 2 types of phagocytes
- macrophages
- neutrophils
neutrophils
- rapid reaction force
- lobed nucleus to squeeze through capillaries
process of phagocytosis
1.phagocyte binds to antigen
2.cytoplasm of the phagocyte engulfs the pathogen
3.this forms a phagosome vesicle which fuses with lysosomes
4.lysozymes digest the pathogen
5.antigen from pathogen displayed on cell-membrane
the 2 types of lymphocytes
- T cells
- B cells
T cells
- mature in thymus gland
B cells
- mature in bone marrow
the specific, cell-mediated response
(role of T cells)
1) Helper T cell binds to antigen displayed on the phagocyte
2) Helper T cell releases cytokines
3) cytokines stimulates killer T cells & specific B cell (clonal selection)
the humoural response
(role of B cells)
1) antibody on surface of activated B cell binds to comple. antigen
2) B cell divides by mitosis to make plasma cells
3) plasma cells produce antibodies
4) some plasma cells release monoclonal antibodies
monoclonal antibodies =
antibodies with same tertiary struc, made by identical B cells specific to one antigen
function of monoclonal antibodies
- carries drugs to specific cells
- blocks receptors on cells
vaccine =
injection of antigens from a pathogen which stimulates the production of antibodies
process of vaccination
1) injection of antigens from pathogen
2) describe specific, cellular response
3) describe humoural response
antigen + antibody =
antigen-antibody complex
β> effects of this formation:
* bacterial cells can agglutinate β> destroyed via phagocytosis
* can neutralise toxins
differences between active & passive immunity
1) active involves memory cells, passive doesnβt
2) active involves production of antibody by plasma cells, passive involves antibody introduced into body from outside
3) active = long term β> antibody produced in response to antigen, passive = short term β> antibody broken down
HIV struc
- attachment proteins
- round lipid envelope
- capsid
- RNA
- reverse transcriptase