Chapter 1 AI generated Flashcards
Describe the two main systems of the immune system.
The immune system consists of the innate immune system and the adaptive immune system.
What is the role of macrophages in the innate immune system?
Macrophages are defender cells that engulf and destroy harmful compounds through a process called phagocytosis.
How do monocytes mature into macrophages in the body?
Monocytes exit the bone marrow, enter the blood, travel to tissues, and mature into macrophages by leaving the blood and settling in the tissues.
Define phagocytosis as explained in the content.
Phagocytosis is the process by which macrophages engulf and destroy harmful compounds by forming a vesicle (phagosome) that fuses with a lysosome containing destructive chemicals.
What role do cytokines play in the immune system?
Cytokines are proteins secreted by macrophages that act as messengers to facilitate communication between immune cells and alert them to the presence of invaders.
Describe the function of natural killer (NK) cells in the innate immune system.
Natural killer (NK) cells are professional phagocytes that can destroy bacteria, parasites, and viruses in the body, contributing to the innate immune response.
Describe the structure of an antibody like immunoglobulin G (IgG).
An antibody like IgG has two identicalhands’ (Fab-regions) for binding to antigens and a ‘constant region’ (Fc-region) for binding to cell receptors, determining its class.
What is the role of antibodies in conferring immunity to diseases like smallpox?
Antibodies, produced by plasma B cells in response to antigens, play a crucial role in conferring immunity by binding to and neutralizing pathogens.
How does the immune system generate a diverse range of antibodies despite having a limited number of genes?
The immune system achieves diversity in antibodies through modular design, where gene segments (V, D, J, C) are mixed and matched to create variations, supplemented by junctional diversity.
Define clonal selection in the context of the immune response.
Clonal selection is a process where B cells producing antibodies that bind effectively to antigens are selected for replication and further immune response activation.
Describe the concept of B cell receptors (BCRs) and their role in the immune response.
BCRs are antibodies attached to the surface of B cells, acting as bait for antigens. Each B cell can have around 100,000 BCRs to detect specific antigens.
How does the immune system ensure an adequate number of B cells are available to combat an infection?
The immune system employs clonal selection to produce more B cells with effective BCRs when needed, ensuring a sufficient response to combat infections.
What is the significance of the gene segments V, D, J, and C in antibody diversity?
Gene segments V, D, J, and C contribute to antibody diversity by providing modular components that can be mixed and matched to create a vast array of different antibodies.
How does junctional diversity contribute to the diversity of antibodies in the immune system?
Junctional diversity adds further variation to antibodies by allowing for the addition or deletion of DNA bases when gene segments are joined together, increasing the diversity of antibodies produced.
Describe the role of killer T cells in the immune system.
Killer T cells, also known as cytotoxic lymphocytes or CTLs, are potent weapons that can destroy virus-infected cells.
