immunology 1 - intro to the immune system Flashcards
what are the three main functions of the immune system?
- eliminate danger.
- without harming our own body in the process.
- remember the threat to respond more efficiently next time.
what is a pathogen?
a micro-organism which causes disease to its host.
what are commensals?
non-harmful bacteria that live in the bodies of humans & animals.
when eliminating threats, what is the infection usually caused by?
a pathogen.
what are the 4 main types of infectious micro-organisms?
bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.
what can commensals do?
they can produce molecules that benefit us and protect us from pathogens.
where can good bacteria (commensals) appear?
on mucosal surfaces, i.e., our gut & respiratory tract.
as well as infection, what else can immune cells defend against?
cancer cells.
what is a cancer cell?
a normal body cell which has accidentally acquired DNA mutations that make it go wrong.
(aka a self-cell that has gone bad)
what is immune recognition?
the ability of the immune system to distinguish self cells from non-self cells.
what causes autoimmune disease?
this happens when immune responses go wrong and attack the normal body cells.
what does immune effector function mean?
the ability to deal with infection and eliminate it without causing harm to the body in the process.
what happens the first time we get an infection?
we get symptoms of feeling ill, it will take time for the immune system to recognise, respond & fight off the pathogen.
what happens if the threat comes back again?
the immune system will respond faster, so it will kill the threat before we have any symptoms.
what is immune memory?
the ability for the immune system to remember antigens from pathogens & mount an immune response of greater magnitude.
also: with faster kinetics upon re-encounter of the same antigens.
