Immunity- part 1 ! Flashcards

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1
Q

2 categories of Disease

A

-> Non-infectious disease
-> Infectious disease

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2
Q

Characteristics of Non-infectious Disease

A

-> Non-communicable diseases
-> Not contagious
-> Caused by genetics, poor lifestyle choices

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3
Q

Characteristics of Infectious Disease

A

-> Communicable Diseases
-> Is contagious
-> Caused by pathogens

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4
Q

4 Modes of Transmission

A

-> Direct Contact
-> Indirect Contact
-> Medium
-> Vectors

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5
Q

Vectors:

A

-> Living organisms that carry and transmit a pathogen from one infected source to another living organism

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6
Q

Carriers:

A

-> An organism that is infected by the pathogen and is capable of transmitting the pathogen to others

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7
Q

Requirements of a pathogen to cause disease within a host

A
  1. Must enter the hosts interstitial space or cells AND replicate to sufficient numbers
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8
Q

Course Of Disease

A
  1. Infection
  2. Incubation
  3. Symptoms of Disease
  4. Recovery
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9
Q

Incubation period

A

-> The period between exposure to an infection and the appearance of the first symptoms
-> 1-3 days
–> Pathogens may take time to multiply to cause disease
–> Toxins released by pathogen may take time to accumulate before they cause disease

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10
Q

Symptoms of Disease

A

-> When the pathogen has reproduced in sufficient numbers to cause the disease
-> Symptoms result from the body’s immune system to try and eliminate the infection, or they are the effect that the pathogen has on the body of the host. Patients usually present with fever, headache, muscle ache, blocked or runny nose etc

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11
Q

Recovery

A

-> Usually the host’s immune system will fight off the pathogen, naturally or with assistance from medication
-> If the pathogen cannot be eliminated, then disability or death is likely

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12
Q

Innate vs Adaptive Response

A

Innate: Has no memory of pathogen, does not respond any faster on reinfection by the same pathogen. First line and second line of defence
Adaptive: Has the memory of the pathogen, and produces a larger and faster response on reinfection by the same pathogen. Third line of defence

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13
Q

Antigens

A

Molecules or parts of a molecule that stimulate an immune response in a person’s body through the adaptive immune response

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14
Q

Pathogens

A

A disease causing organism

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15
Q

What do antigens lead to?

A

Production of Antibodies ( immunoglobins) and inflammation and a cell-mediated immune response through cytotoxic T cells

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16
Q

How are antigens classed?

A

self-antigens which are recognised by self receptors

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17
Q

What are MHC markers?

A

Are proteins that label our own cells are ‘self’ to our immune system

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18
Q

What happens to self antigens that are not foreign

A

They are usually tolerated by the immune system where as Non-self antigens can be identified as invaders and attacked by the immune system

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19
Q

What does the plasma membrane of the immune cell carry?

A

> Self-antigens that identify this immune cell as self
Cell surface receptors for self-antigens so that this cell can identify and not attack other body cells
Cell surface receptors for foreign antigens; so immune cells can identify and signal other immune cells to eliminate it

20
Q

Antigen Recognition

A

> Is the detection of antigens by the receptors
The MHC is a group of receptor proteins that present on the surface of body cells
It helps the immune system distinguish the body’s own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders ( viruses/bacteria)

21
Q

How do autoimmune diseases result?

A

> When the immune system fails to recognise self-cells and the immune system targets its own body cells

22
Q

What are self-MHC 1 markers?

A

> Found on the surface of all nucleated cells (not red blood cells: they do not have a nucleus)

23
Q

What are self-MHC 2 markers?

A

> Only found on the surface of antigen-presenting cells ( APC) -> such as B cells, dendritic cells and macrophages

24
Q

What is self-tolerance?

A

Cell can identify and not attack other body cells

25
Q

What is an allergen?

A

> Is a molecule that provokes an over-reaction of the immune system and is usually a harmless substance to other individuals. The allergic response involves both the innate and adaptive ?

26
Q

1st Line of defence

A

> Physical, chemical and microbiota barriers that prevent the entry of the pathogen.

27
Q

2nd Line of Defence

A

> Involves non-specific (innate) responses to the entry of a pathogen into the body.

28
Q

3rd Line of Defence

A

> Involves a specific ( adaptive/ acquired) response for each type of pathogen and is also called active/ acquired immunity

29
Q

Innate (non-specific) Immunity

A

> Contains 1st and 2nd LOD
Does not target a specific non-self antigen.
Involves many barriers in all animals against infection
> Physical: Intact skin, mechanical mechanisms ( coughing, sneezing)
> Chemical: Lysozyme enzymes ( sweat, tears, saliva ), Fluid in lungs acts as a surfactant which coats pathogens
> Microbiota: harmless, non-pathogenic microbes symbiotically living in or on the body- skin, mouth, nose, throat.
Involves many barriers in all plants against infection
>Physical Barries: Thick cuticles, cellulose cell wall, thick bark of stems, spikes/thorns
>Chemical barriers: resins, Caffeine is toxic to insects and fungi. Defensin chemicals in many plant cell membranes interfere with fungal cell membranes

> It is not affected by prior contact with a particular micro-organisms
This defence system detects and responds to the pathogen regardless of its type
No memory, acts the same way for all pathogens, RAPID, FIXED RESPONSES

30
Q

Specific ( acquired/adaptive ) Immunity

A

> Contains 3rd LOD
Highly specific
Specific response targets pathogens once they have been detected and identified by particular components of the immune system
Any substance that triggers an immune response is called an antigen
Involves the production of specialised cells and chemical substances known as antibodies, which act against a particular infection
Has memory ( when another infection from the same organism occurs, an increased response is obtained )

31
Q

Two Broad Categories of Humoral Immunity

A

> Active: The person makes his own antibodies
—> long term immunity
Passive: The person doesn’t make their own antibodies ( person obtains ready to take antibodies —> short-term immunity, immediate

31
Q

What two categories does ACTIVE immunity include?

A

> NATURAL active: sneezing
ARTIFICIAL active: Antigens enter the body through a vaccine. A person’s body makes its own antigens
EG. gaining immunity after being vaccinated against a disease-causing pathogen/chicken pox vaccine

32
Q

What two categories does PASSIVE immunity include?

A

> NATURAL passive: A person gets ready-made antibodies produced by another person.
EG. gaining maternal antibodies through the placenta and breast-milk
ARTIFICIAL passive: Person gets performed antibodies produced by another person through a serum injection
EG. gaining an antibody serum injection for anti-venom to treat a snake bite

33
Q

What is NATURAL active Immunity

A

> Is the immunity that is developed after naturally being infected with disease-causing micro-organisms.
Antigens enter the body naturally. A person’s body makes its own antigens.
1st attack- no antibodies to fight -> after a few days plasma cells make antibodies to form -> person may show symptoms (slow)-> greater number of antibodies produced-> pathogen killed, person recovers
Long-lasting/lifetime immunity
EG. gaining immunity after getting naturally infected with a disease-causing pathogen/chicken pox virus

34
Q

What are subclinical infections?

A

> Some people can gain immunity through subclinical infections which these infections are nearly or completely asymptomatic ( no symptoms

35
Q

What is ARTIFICIAL Active Immunity

A

> Immunity obtained through Vaccines -> long-lasting immunity
Vaccines may contain attenuated micro-organisms or toxoids

36
Q

What may vaccines contain?

A

> Living attenuated pathogens - do not cause diseases but are still antigenic (increase antibody level produced)
Killed bacteria / inactivated viruses
One or more sub units of pathogens
Bacterial toxins that have been treated to form toxoids

37
Q

What are attenuated (weakened/processed/modified) micro-organisms

A

> Are treated microbes
Not killed (viable)
Low virulence ( no disease-causing ability)
No longer replicate in human cell ( no binary fission)
Still contain antigenic properties
when inserted into a body –> immune response -> antibodies

38
Q

What are toxoids?

A

Are chemically modified toxins from a pathogenic micro-organism that is no longer toxic to humans but is still antigenic

39
Q

How does a vaccine provide long-term immunity?

A

> Vaccine contains deactivated pathogens
When injected, B cells with receptors to the antigen of the pathogen are bound to them and activated
Activated B cells undergo Clonal Expansion and multiply into Plasma B cells and memory B cells.
B plasma cells produce their own antibodies. Long-lived memory cells remain in the blood or lymph.
These memory cells provide immunity to any subsequent exposures to the same pathogens.

40
Q

What are boosters for vaccines?

A

> Booster is a re-exposure to the immunizing antigen
It is intended to increase immunity against that antigen back to protective levels after memory against that antigen has declined over time
Maintains adequate antibody levels to counteract pathogens.

41
Q

Passive Immunity

A

> Passive immunity involves the transfer of antibodies in a person from an external source
An advantage of passive immunity is that it gives immediate protection to the person receiving the antibodies
However, introduced antibodies decline relatively quickly and do not provide long-lasting immunity to the receiver
Passive immunity can be acquired in two ways: naturally and artificially ( induced)

42
Q

Natural passive immunity

A

> Occurs when an individual receives antibodies from a natural source, such as through breastfeeding or via the placenta
A developing foetus receives maternal antibodies across the placenta from its mother

43
Q

Artificial Passive immunity?

A

> Immediate but short-term immunity provided by the injection of antibodies
Specific antibodies known as antivenoms and antitoxins may also be used for this short-term immunity
These antibodies come from an external source
Artificial passive immunity is important when treatments are time-dependent

44
Q

Herd Immunity

A

> Is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of the population has become immune to an infection, thereby providing a measure of protection for individuals who are not immune
Herd Immunity is important for people who cannot get vaccinated or who suppress the immune system ( newborns or elderly suffering from immune diseases, or people taking immunosuppressant drugs after tissue/organ transplants