Immunity Flashcards
(33 cards)
What is cellular response?
Activation of phagocytes, helper T and Killer T cells
What is humoral response?
Activation of B cells and the production of antibodies
What is active immunity?
Immunity which results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to an antigen
What is passive immunity?
Short term immunity which results from the introduction of antibodies from another person or animal
What is phagocytosis?
The destruction of ingested pathogens by lyzosomes
What type of immune cell destroys infected body cells?
T killer
What is a phagocyte?
A type of white blood cell that carries out a process called phagocytosis
What is the role of macrophage cells?
Engulf and digest pathogens
What is a phagocytic vacuole?
It is formed which has the pathogen engulfed in it
What is a lysosome?
A lysosome is a membrane-bound cell organelle that contains digestive enzymes
It fuses itself with the phagocytic vacuole which contains lysosomal enzymes that breaks down the pathogen
How do macrophages activate other immune cells? (T cells)
Phagocyte presents the antigens to them
What two roles do T cells have?
- It releases substances to activate B-cells
- Attach to antigens on a pathogen and kill the cell
What is a B cell?
A type of immune cell that makes plasma cells that secrete lots of anitbodies and memory cells
What is an antigen-antibody complex?
B-cells are covered with antibodies that bind with antigens making an antigen-antibody complex
What is the term for a range of chemicals which are released by cells to signal instructions to other cells?
Cytokines
Which type of immune cell can respond more quickly to a second infection by a particular pathogen thereby giving immunity?
Memory
What are three functions of an antibody?
- Coating the pathogen to make it easier for the phagocyte to engulf it
- Coating the pathogen to prevent it from entering host cells
- Binding to and neutralizing toxins produced by the pathogens
What is an antibody?
A Y-shaped protein molecule made of 4 polypeptide chains held together by disulfide bridges
What is an antigen?
Substance that causes an immune response/production of antibodies
What is an antibiotic?
A microorganism used to kill bacterial cells e.g. penicillin
What is a monoclonal antibody?
Antibody produced by a single clone of cells with identical antibody molecules. Merging tumour cells with specific antibody to replicate wanted antibody
What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies?
Pregnancy test, AIDS test - cancer treatment to destroy cancer cells - transplant surgery to knock out specific killer T cells.
What are some ethical considerations of the use of monoclonal antibodies?
Involves the use of mice to produce antibodies and cancer tumour cells. Testing for the safety of new drugs presents certain dangers. On the other hand, has been used to save many lives against cancer and diabetes.
What is the ELISA test?
Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. It uses antibodies to not only detect the presence of a protein in a sample but also the quantity.