Complement System Flashcards
what contains a factor capable of killing bacteria
serum / plasma
what is the ‘factor’ in serum that is used to kill bacteria
antibody
what aids in killing bacteria through non-specific activity against an organism
complement proteins
what do complement proteins complement
activity of antibody
what immune system are complement protein a part of
non-specific innate immune system
what system is the antibody a part of
acquired immune system
how does the complement system get involved with the acquired immune system
by complementing the activity of the antibody
how do complement components exist in the body
as pro-enzyme or zymogens
what are zymogens / pro-enzymes
inactive enzymes until cascade is activated
what is the complement system
a system of molecules activated leading to a sequence of events to destroy a pathogen
what is present in the complement system
proteins in the serum primarily
True or False:
There are cells in the complement system
FALSE
There are no cells in the complement system
what is generated in the event of the activation of the complement system
- opsonizing complement proteins
- membrane attack complex
- chemotactic factors
- pro-inflammatory factors
what is the purpose of generating opsonizing complement proteins in the complement cascade
work with phagocytic cells to kill pathogen
what is the purpose of generating the membrane attack complex in the event of the activation of the complement cascade
kill pathogens by being present on the surface
during involvement with the complement cascade, when can opsonization of complement proteins occur
with or without an antibody
how is the complement system activated directly
by the microbe
how is the complement system activated classically
by antibody attached to the microbe
what are the 2 possible pathways the complement system can be activated
- alternate / natural pathway
- classical / specific pathway
how is the alternate / natural complement system pathway activated
initiated by microbial surface molecules
how is the classical / specific pathway of the complement system initiated
initiated by antibody bound to a microbe
which immunity is involved with the alternate / natural complement system pathway
innate immunity only
which immunity is involved with the classical / specific complement system pathway
both innate and adaptive in its own ways
in the classical pathway, what must bind to a pathogen before it can activate the complement system
antibody
what is the complement system activated by
- molecules on the pathogen
OR - antibody that binds to the antigen on the pathogen
which complement system pathway is activated without the help of antibody
alternate / natural pathway
True or False:
The alternative pathway of the complement system is triggered by the acquired immune system
FALSE
because of the lack of need for an antibody, this pathway does not need the acquired immune system
when can the alternative / natural pathway be activated
right away after a microbe infects the host
what complement system pathway is a specific immune response
classical pathway
