Immune defences functions and challenges Flashcards

1
Q

What is the primary function of immunological defence?

A

To eliminate pathogens, minimise body damage

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2
Q

What cells defend against intracellular pathogens eg. viruses?

A

Cytotoxic T cells

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3
Q

What cells defend against extracellular pathogens eg. bacteria, small parasites, fungi?

A

Phagocytes

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4
Q

What cells defend against large parasites?

A

Mast cells, eosinophils

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5
Q

What are immune privileged areas?

A

Anatomical areas where there is naturally no immune response, as they can tolerate antigens introduced without immediately triggering immune response

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6
Q

Why is there no immune response in immune priviledged areas?

A

less risk of being potentially damaged by inflammatory response to pathogens

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7
Q

Give 4 examples of immune priviledged areas

A

Eyes, CNS, placenta, testes

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8
Q

What are commensals?

A

Microbes that reside in body or on mucous surfaces without harming human health, so they are tolerated

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9
Q

What are 3 functions of commensal bacteria in the stomach?

A

Provide essential nutrients, aid metabolism of indigestible compounds, defend against colonisation of opportunistic pathogens

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10
Q

What is the primary response?

A

Immune response to first exposure of a specific pathogen

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11
Q

How long does it take for the primary response to become active?

A

Days to weeks

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12
Q

What occurs in the time taken for the primary response to activate?

A

Symptoms of disease, production of antibodies and memory B cells

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13
Q

What is the secondary response?

A

Immune response to subsequent exposure of a previous pathogen

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14
Q

Why is the secondary response quicker to activate?

A

Memory B cells produced from primary response can respond very fast

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15
Q

Does secondary response activation time cause disease symptoms?

A

No, because antibodies are produced before symptoms develop

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16
Q

What is immune dysregulation?

A

non-balance between immune response activation and suppression

17
Q

What is hypersensitivity and what are the classes?

A

Overreaction to benign antigens with classes from type I-IV

18
Q

What is autoimmunity?

A

Immune response against self-proteins or tissues, caused by tolerance breakdown

19
Q

What is tolerance?

A

Mechanisms used to distinguish between ‘self’ and ‘non-self’ cells

20
Q

Why is multiple sclerosis an autoimmune disease?

A

Immune response against myelin sheaths of neurons in CNS which causes neurological dysfunction

21
Q

Why is Crohn’s disease an autoimmune disease?

A

Immune response against gut epithelium and microbiota, causing poor nutrient absorption from food

22
Q

What is immunodeficiency?

A

Failure to protect against foreign antigens

23
Q

How can innate or adaptive immunity cause immunodeficiency?

A

One of their components is absent or defective

24
Q

What is the difference between primary and secondary immunodeficiency?

A

Primary is inherited but secondary is caused by an external agent

25
Q

What is Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)?

A

No functional adaptive immunity

26
Q

What causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)?

A

Initial infection of HIV causes destruction of T helper cells

27
Q

What can exacerbate AIDS?

A

Opportunistic infection

28
Q

How can transplantation trigger an immune response?

A

Body doesn’t recognise the transplanted organ as ‘self’, so will reject the transplant

29
Q

What is given to the transplant patient to reduce chances of transplant rejection?

A

Immunosuppressants

30
Q

How do cancer cells evade immune response?

A

Rapid mutation and active inhibition of immune response by producing inhibitory cytokines

31
Q

How is the damage caused by cancer cells reduced with immunotherapies?

A

Teaches body how to recognise cancer cells and initiate immune response

32
Q

What drugs are used in chemotherapy?

A

anticancer/cytotoxic drugs that kill cancer cells

33
Q

What is used in radiotherapy?

A

high-energy rays that kill cancer cells

34
Q

What autoantibodies are used as diagnostic markers for cancer?

A

p53 Abs