Chapter 1 Vocab Flashcards
Immune system
The immune system is a complex network of organs, cells and proteins that defends the body against infection, whilst protecting the body’s own cells.
Vaccination
treatment with a vaccine to produce immunity to a particular infectious disease or pathogen.
Pathogen
Pathogens are microorganisms that cause disease. They can be known infectious agents or ones that normally colonize the body.
Opportunistic pathogen
Opportunistic pathogens are microbial species that do not normally cause disease, but if they infect an immunocompromised person or infect the wrong tissue, they cause disease.
Commensal species
Species of microorganisms that are benign and beneficial to humans. Humans and commensal species have co-evolved to take advantage of beneficial relationships.
They aid in human nutrition by helping with digestion and making vitamins.
They also block colonization by pathogenic organisms.
Emerging pathogen
Pathogens that infect hosts organisms outside their normal host range which often leads to a high mortality rate.
Barrier defenses
Non-specific defenses such as skin and epithelial cells that prevent access to internal tissues.
Mucosal surfaces
Mucosal surfaces are those that produce mucus and are in the linings of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital tracts.
Innate immunity
The immunity you are born with and that is common across organisms. It is non-specific and acts in minutes to hours. While it cannot recognize particular pathogens by species, it can recognize the type (ex. bacteria)
Inflammation
a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
Adaptive immunity
The subsystem of the immune system that is slower acting (days to weeks) but pathogen specific (recognizes species).
Immunological memory
After the resolution of an infection, some cells such as lymphocytes can become “memory cells” that can be rapidly activated in response to subsequent infection by the same pathogen.
Primary response
The primary response from an initial infection. It takes 1-2 weeks to occur and is responsible for the formation of memory immune cells.
Secondary response
A response by the immune system to a subsequent infection from a pathogen that the host has already encountered. It is faster due to the presence of memory cells.
Hematopoiesis
Hematopoiesis is the process by which cells of the innate and adaptive immune system are produced in the bone marrow.
Hematopoietic stem cell
They are cells that give rise to all of the different types of immune cells.
Myeloid cell
Myeloid cells are those that make up the innate immune response.
ex. neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells
Granulocyte
rapidly mobilized white blood cells that home in to the site of infection. They are short lived and die at the infection site to form pus.
ex. eosinophils, neutrophils, basophils
Macrophage
Macrophages engulf and degrade neutrophils after they die. They also phagocytize microbes and activate T cells.
Megakaryocyte
Megakaryocytes work in platelet formation and wound repair.
Erythrocyte
Erythrocytes are red blood cells, they transport oxygen.
Dendritic cells
Dendritic cells are derived from myeloid and lymphoid progenitors. They work in both innate and adaptive responses. Their main function is to activate adaptive immune response and respond to PAMPS. They also activate T cells.
Lymphoid cell
Cells that generate the adaptive immune response.
ex. B cells, T cells, NK cells
B cells
B cells create antibodies to attack pathogens
T cells
T cells destroy bodily cells that have been taken over by pathogens or help activate B cells.
NK cells
NK cells kill cells infected with pathogens.
Primary lymphoid organ
Primary lymphoid organs are the regions that create lymphocytes.
They include the bone marrow (makes B cells) and thymus (makes T cells).
Secondary lymphoid organ
The secondary lymphoid organs are the sites of immune response.
They include the lymphatic system, spleen, and lymph nodes.
Lymphatic vessels
Lymphatic vessels are tube-like structures that carry fluid (called lymph) away from the tissues to deliver it back into the blood’s circulation. Unlike blood vessels that circulate blood in a continuous, closed-loop system, lymphatics carry fluid in one direction.
Lymph node
Lymph nodes are specialized organs where adaptive immune responses are initiated. Draining lymph nodes are those closest to an arriving infectious pathogen.
GALT, MALT, BALT
GALT: gut associated lymphoid tissues (tonsils, adenoids, appendix, and Peyer’s patches)
BALT: bronchial associated lymphoid tissue
MALT: mucosal associated lymphoid tissue
Spleen
A secondary lymphoid organ that filters blood and acts in response to infections of the blood.
