Immunity Flashcards
Antigens
Proteins found on the surface of cells. Foreign antigens trigger the immune response
Non-Specific Response
1) Inflammation: Site of infection becomes red, swollen and painful
- Immune system cells recognise antigens as foreign. They release cytokines that trigger inflammation.
- Vasodilation increases blood flow so more W.B.C reach the area
- Immune system cells then destroy the pathogen
2) Interferons: When cells become infected by a virus they produce Interferons.
- Interferons prevent viruses spreading by Preventing viral replication of proteins and they activate specific immune cells Eg T cells
3) Phagocytosis and lysozyme:
A phagocyte (macrophage) recognises foreign antigens.
- The cytoplasm of the macrophage engulfs the pathogen
- The pathogen is stored in the phagocytic vacuole where a lysosome binds
- Lysozyme enzymes them break it down
- Macrophage then becomes and A.P.C
Specific Immune Response
This response is specific and has specific cells
How do phagocytes activate T cells?
T cells are covered in receptors specific to certain antigens. -
These bind to antigens on the A.P.C (Macrophage)
This binding activates the T cell, it divides into clones
- Clones :
- T helper cell: Release substances to activate B cells, T killer and macrophages
- T Killer: Attach to antigens and kill the infected cell
- T memory: Remember and recognise the specific antigens
How do T cells activate B cells?
B cells are covered in proteins called antibodies
- Antibodies bind to specific antigens to form Antibody-Antigen complex.
- The binding along with substances from T cells activate B cells
- The B cell divide by mitosis into plasma cells( B effector) and B memory cells
Antibodies
Plasma cells secrete antibodies specific to an antigen
- made from 4 polypeptide chains 2 heavy and 2 light
- Variable region: Form the antigen binding site
- Hinge region: Allows flexibility during binding
- Constant region: Allows binding to receptors on immune cells
- Disulphide bridges: Hold the chains together
How do antibodies clear infection?
1) Agglutination: Each antibody has two binding sites so an antibody can bind to two pathogens at once. Pathogens clump and can be engulfed by a phagocyte all at once
2) Neutralise Toxins: Antibodies bind to toxins produced by a pathogen. The toxins, therefore, are neutralised.
3) Prevent pathogen binding to cells: Antibodies bind to antigens on pathogens blocking the surface receptors of the pathogen so they cannot bind to cells.
The membrane or secreted antibodies
Antibodies can be bound or secreted
mRNA modification before Translation
- Genes contain sections that do not code for amino acids
- These are called Introns
- The sections that do code for amino acids are Exons
- During transcription Introns and Exons are copied
- This is called Pre-mRNA
- Introns are then removed by splicing. This is a post-transcriptional change
- Sometimes some exons are removed to form different mRNA strands.
- This means more than one amino acid sequence is formed and so more than one protein can be produced from one gene
Degenerate code and Universal code
The genetic code is degenerate and universal There is more than one codon for once amino acid. Stop codons do not have anticodons for them.
Immunity
This is the body’s defence against disease
Memory cell production
- When a pathogen enters the first time the primary response is triggered.
- This is slow because B cells haven’t made specific antibodies for the pathogen
- When enough antibodies are made the infection will be overcome
- T and B cells produce memory cells that remain in the body for a long time
- When the pathogen enters for a second time the secondary response is faster and stronger as Memory cells remember the antigens.
- This occurs before symptoms show
Active Immunity
This is when your immune system makes it’s own antibodies.
- Active natural: When exposed to a pathogen your body produces antibodies and memory cells
- Active Artificial: When you are given a vaccine against the pathogen.
Passive Immunity
When you are given antibodies made by a different organism
- Passive Natural: When a baby is given antibodies through milk or placenta
- Passive Artificial: Injected with other organisms antibodies
Vaccines
These contain antigens that stimulate a primary response. They contain a weak or inactive pathogen so no disease is caused