Immunity Flashcards
What is a pathogen?
A pathogen is any disease causing microorganism
How is each type of cell identified?
Each cell has a specific molecule on it’s surface usually a protein which in pathogens is called an antigen thi0s has a specific tertiary structure only complementary to one antibody
How do surface molecules help to identify foreign cells?
All have specific antigens on their surface which allow them to identify the cells as foreign
What are the bodies physical barriers to disease?
Skin, membrane linings, cilia, scabs on injuries
What are the bodies chemical barriers?
Sweat, oils, saliva, stomach acid, urine, tears and mucus
What is immunity?
When we can fight off disease without getting ill because we already have the antibodies
What type of cells produce a non specific response?
Phagocytes
What type of cells produce a specific immune response?
Lymphocytes
How do lymphocytes recognise self cells?
In the foetus lymphocytes constantly collide with self cells as very little infection some lymphocytes fit specifically with the own body cells these are suppressed and die so the only remaining ones will fit and respond to foreign cells. In adults in the bone marrow lymphocytes are produced and only encounter self cells any that bind with the antigen undergo aptosis- programmed cell death.
What is an antigen?
A molecule often a protein that the body recognises as foreign and triggers an immune response.
What is the effect of antigen variability?
Where the antigen mutates which alters it’s tertiary structure so the antibodies are no loner complementary so disease will have a greater effect on the immune system and spread more. It also means we can’t develop vaccines because the antigen injected will not be the same as the pathogen so the incorrect antibodies will be made and stored.
What is the process of phagocytosis?
- Pathogen releases chemicals which attracts the phagocyte
- Phagocytes have several receptors on their cell surface membrane which recognise and attach to chemicals on the surface of the pathogen
- Phagocyte engulfs pathogen by endocytosis/ phagocytosis and digests pathogen to form a phagosome
- Lysosomes fuse with the phagosome and release hydrolytic enzymes lysozymes which hydrolyse the pathogen and the products are absorbed
- Phagocyte displays important antigens on the cell surface
How does the specific immune response work?
- Pathogen is engulfed by phagocyte by phagocytosis and the pathogen displays the important antigens on it’s cell surface membrane
- A specific T helper cell with complementary receptor binds to antigen which activates the T cell
- T cell proliferates by mitosis to form many clones
- Specialise to become T helper cells, stimulate phagocytosis, killer T cells and memory T cells
- Specific helper T cell activates a B cell with complementary antibody on it’s surface to the pathogen
- B cells proliferate by mitosis to form many clones
- Most of the B cells specialise to become plasma cells which produce and secrete monoclonal antibodies and some memory B cells
What is an antibody?
A protein produced by lymphocytes in response to the presence of an appropriate antigen.
What is the structure of an antibody?
4 polypeptide chains - 2 light and 2 heavy with two binding sites in the variable region and the rest is made up of a constant region.