Exam 1 Flashcards
What is immunology?
branch of biomedical science concerned with the response of the organism to antigenic challenge, recognition of self from non-self, and physical and chemical aspects of immune phenomenon
Define antigen
substance that is recognized by the immune system as foreign and stimulates an adaptive immune response
How can antigen recognize foreign particles?
- immunoglobins (antibodies)
- T cell receptors
- Innate immunity receptors
What are on the surface of bacteria that the immune system can recognize?
- capsule
- LPS
- toxins (and other extracell. proteins)
- flagellum
What part of the virus can the immune system recognize?
- capsid proteins on virus
- viral proteins on surface of cell
If tumor cells generate from our own cells, how does the immune system recognize it?
- a mutant protein
- cancer cells may express fetal proteins which are recognized as foreign
- overexpression of a specific protein
What are the components of innate immunity?
- cellular
- humoral or molecular
- physical barriers
What are the cellular components of innate immunity?
- phagocytes
- natural killer [NK] cells
What are the humoral or molecular components of innate immunity?
- natural/maternal antibodies
- cytokines
- complement
- toll-like receptors
What are the physical barrieres of innate immunity?
- skin
- mucosal surfaces
What are the components of adaptive immunity?
- cellular
- humoral and molecular
What are the cellular components of adaptive immunity?
- antigen presenting cells (APC)
- T cells
- B cells
What are the humoral or molecular components adaptive immunity?
- specific antibodies
- cytokines
Define cytokine
signaling molecules that allow cells to talk to each other
Immunity vs. Susceptibility
- Immunity: exposed to it before and develop immune response
- Susceptible: never been exposed to it
Define tolerance
the immune system’s ability to recognize a foreign substance that’s not a threat; ex. food
alloimmunity
a foreign substance from the same species; ex. tissue from another human
Define biologics
drugs derived from a living source
What are the different types of biologics?
- Active immunizing agents
- Passive immunizing agents
- Diagnostic biologics
- Blood and blood derivatives
- Allergenic extracts
- Biological response modifiers
- Misc. biologics
- Cellular therapy
What are unique products of biologics?
- Natural products
- Relatively crude
- Active constituents are macromolecules
- Standardize by bioassay
- Immunogenic
- Special hazards
What does “relatively crude” mean?
complex mixtures of whole organisms, tissues, or cells
What does it mean to be standardized by bioassay?
units are units by activity; usually unique to the individual drug
With respect to biologics, what does it mean to be immunogenic?
contains complete immunogens that may induce an immune response in the patient
What are examples of nonspecific host defenses?
- physical barrier
- chemical (pH)
- cellular (phagocytes)
- microbiome