Complement System

Question 1

what contains a factor capable of killing bacteria

Answer 1

serum / plasma

Question 2

what is the ‘factor’ in serum that is used to kill bacteria

Answer 2

antibody

Question 3

what aids in killing bacteria through non-specific activity against an organism

Answer 3

complement proteins

Question 4

what do complement proteins complement

Answer 4

activity of antibody

Question 5

what immune system are complement protein a part of

Answer 5

non-specific innate immune system

Question 6

what system is the antibody a part of

Answer 6

acquired immune system

Question 7

how does the complement system get involved with the acquired immune system

Answer 7

by complementing the activity of the antibody

Question 8

how do complement components exist in the body

Answer 8

as pro-enzyme or zymogens

Question 9

what are zymogens / pro-enzymes

Answer 9

inactive enzymes until cascade is activated

Question 10

what is the complement system

Answer 10

a system of molecules activated leading to a sequence of events to destroy a pathogen

Question 11

what is present in the complement system

Answer 11

proteins in the serum primarily

Question 12

True or False:

There are cells in the complement system

Answer 12

FALSE
There are no cells in the complement system

Question 13

what is generated in the event of the activation of the complement system

Answer 13

1. opsonizing complement proteins
2. membrane attack complex
3. chemotactic factors
4. pro-inflammatory factors

Question 14

what is the purpose of generating opsonizing complement proteins in the complement cascade

Answer 14

work with phagocytic cells to kill pathogen

Question 15

what is the purpose of generating the membrane attack complex in the event of the activation of the complement cascade

Answer 15

kill pathogens by being present on the surface

Question 16

during involvement with the complement cascade, when can opsonization of complement proteins occur

Answer 16

with or without an antibody

Question 17

how is the complement system activated directly

Answer 17

by the microbe

Question 18

how is the complement system activated classically

Answer 18

by antibody attached to the microbe

Question 19

what are the 2 possible pathways the complement system can be activated

Answer 19

1. alternate / natural pathway
2. classical / specific pathway

Question 20

how is the alternate / natural complement system pathway activated

Answer 20

initiated by microbial surface molecules

Question 21

how is the classical / specific pathway of the complement system initiated

Answer 21

initiated by antibody bound to a microbe

Question 22

which immunity is involved with the alternate / natural complement system pathway

Answer 22

innate immunity only

Question 23

which immunity is involved with the classical / specific complement system pathway

Answer 23

both innate and adaptive in its own ways

Question 24

in the classical pathway, what must bind to a pathogen before it can activate the complement system

Answer 24

antibody

Question 25

what is the complement system activated by

Answer 25

1. molecules on the pathogen
   OR
2. antibody that binds to the antigen on the pathogen

Question 26

which complement system pathway is activated without the help of antibody

Answer 26

alternate / natural pathway

Question 27

True or False:

The alternative pathway of the complement system is triggered by the acquired immune system

Answer 27

FALSE
because of the lack of need for an antibody, this pathway does not need the acquired immune system

Question 28

when can the alternative / natural pathway be activated

Answer 28

right away after a microbe infects the host

Question 29

what complement system pathway is a specific immune response

Answer 29

classical pathway