Defence against disease - the immune system Flashcards
What is the innate immune system?
The innate immune system is able to recognise and respond to any non-self items entering the body.
What types of items can the innate immune system recognize as non-self?
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Viruses
- Protists
- Pollen grains
- Dust
What are non-self antigens?
Non-self antigens are molecules that trigger an immune response from the innate immune system.
What is an antigen?
An antigen is a molecule that can trigger an immune response.
How does the innate immune system distinguish between self and non-self cells?
Self cells have self antigens, while foreign cells have non-self antigens.
What happens when the innate immune system recognizes allergens like pollen grains?
It leads to the symptoms of allergy.
Is the innate immune response changeable over an individual’s lifetime?
No, the innate immune response does not change during an individual’s lifetime.
What role do phagocytes play in the innate immune response?
Phagocytes engulf and digest any item that displays non-self antigens.
How are innate immune responses characterized?
Innate immune responses are sometimes described as non-specific immune responses.
What distinguishes the adaptive immune system from the innate immune system?
The adaptive immune system responds to specific non-self antigens.
What occurs when the adaptive immune system first encounters a new non-self antigen?
A sequence of events occurs that leads to antibody production and memory cell presence.
What happens during subsequent encounters with the same antigen in the adaptive immune system?
The response occurs much more quickly and produces more antibodies.
What is immunological memory?
Immunological memory is the buildup of memory of different pathogens as exposure occurs.
Do young babies have adaptive immunity?
No, young babies have no adaptive immunity.
How does vaccination relate to the adaptive immune system?
Vaccination introduces the adaptive immune system to new pathogens, speeding up the immune response.
What are adaptive immune responses referred to as?
Adaptive immune responses are sometimes referred to as specific immune responses.
Fill in the blank: The innate immune system’s responses are _______.
non-specific
True or False: The adaptive immune system does not change over an individual’s lifetime.
False
