CMB1003/L18 Intro to Immunity

Question 1

Define immunity.

Answer 1

The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specialised cells or molecules

Question 2

Give an example of active natural infection.

Answer 2

Catching a virus

Question 3

Give an example of active artificial infection.

Answer 3

Immunisation

Question 4

Give an example of passive natural infection.

Answer 4

Placental transfer of maternal IgG

Question 5

Give an example of passive artificial infection.

Answer 5

Human IgG (normal or immune)

Question 6

Briefly describe innate immunity. (3)

Answer 6

Present from birth
Simple recognition systems
Rapid response with no memory

Question 7

Briefly describe adaptive/acquired immunity. (3)

Answer 7

Not present from birth
Sophisticated, highly specific
Slower response with memory

Question 8

What is the goal of the immune system?

Answer 8

To clear potential pathogens in a controlled and efficient process

Question 9

Give 3 factors that affect immunity.

Answer 9

General health
Infection
Nutrition
Adverse environmental conditions
State of microbiome
Pregnancy
Genetic disorders
Stress

Question 10

Describe herd immunity.

Answer 10

Disease in a population declines declines is majority of population is immune

Question 11

What percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated for herd immunity to be effective?

Answer 11

> 95%

Question 12

When was the MMR vaccine introduced?

Answer 12

1988

Question 13

What are the 4 main types of vaccine?

Answer 13

Live/attenuated
Killed/inactivated
Subunit
Nucleic acid

Question 14

Define serology.

Answer 14

Looking at antibodies in the blood to determine infection

Question 15

Where are antibodies synthesised?

Answer 15

Plasma cells (mature B/lymphocyte cells)

Question 16

Where are myocytes NOT found?

Answer 16

In tissues

Question 17

Describe clonal selection. (4)

Answer 17

Single progenitor cell gives rise to large number of lymphocytes with different specificities
Removal of potentially self-reactive immature lymphocytes by clonal deletion
Pool of mature naive lymphocytes
Proliferation and differentiation of activated specific lymphocytes to form a clone of effector cells

Question 18

Give 2 primary lymphoid tissues.

Answer 18

Bone marrow
Thymus

Question 19

What is the role of bone marrow in the immune response? (3)

Answer 19

B cells mature here; T cells leave to thymus
Clonally diverse
Cells specific to antigen

Question 20

What is the role of the thymus in the immune response?

Answer 20

T cells educated here (2-4% survival)

Question 21

Give 2 secondary/peripheral lymphoid tissues.

Answer 21

Lymph nodes
Spleen
Tonsils
Mucosal associated lymphoid tissues (MALTS)

Question 22

What occurs in secondary lymphoid tissues?

Answer 22

Developed B and T lymphocytes recirculate and undergo clonal expansion in these tissues

Question 23

Describe mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue.

Answer 23

A diffuse system of non-encapsulated, submucosal lymphoid tissue in intestinal and respiratory tracts

Question 24

What are different effector mechanisms dependent on?

Answer 24

Type of pathogen
Localisation
Stage of infection
Challenge