Immunology

Question 1

What is Immunology?

Answer 1

The study of the body’s immune system.

Question 2

Where are the major components of the immune system located?

Answer 2

In primary lymphoid (Bone Marrow and Thymus) and secondary lymphoid tissue (Peyer’s patches, lymph nodes, spleen, etc.).

Question 3

What is the role of the immune system?

Answer 3

Defends the body against foreign substances.

Question 4

What is natural immunity?

Answer 4

• Non specific immune response
• Inborn ∴ 1st response to foreign substances
• No immunological memory
• Mechanisms: Physical/Chemical barriers and Cells

Question 5

What is acquired immunity?

Answer 5

• Specific immune response
• 2nd or subsequent exposure to the same foreign substances
• Immunological memory
• Mechanisms: Humoral and Cell Medicated Immunity

Question 6

What are antigens?

Answer 6

Antigens are foreign substances that are capable of binding to antibodies to form an Ag-Ab complex, but does not initiate an immune response.

Question 7

What are immunogens?

Answer 7

Immunogens are foreign substances that are capable of binding to antibodies to form an Ag-Ab complex, and initiate an immune response.

Question 8

What are adjuvants?

Answer 8

Adjuvants are substances injected with vaccines to enhance their immunogenicity.

Question 9

What are haptens?

Answer 9

Foreign substances of low molecular weight that is not immunogenic, unless bound to a carrier protein molecule.

Question 10

What are the requirements for a substance to be immunogenic?

Answer 10

• Foreignness
• High Mr
• Chemically Complex
• Degradable
• Route of Administration
• Dosage
• Adjuvantation
• Species

Question 11

What are the factors that influence the immune response?

Answer 11

• Age and physiological state of the individual
• Route of Administration
• Presence or absence of adjuvants
• Capacity of the individual’s immune response
• Amount and frequency of each inoculum
• Chemical nature and size of the immunogen

Question 12

What is the primary immune response?

Answer 12

• 1st response to antigen
• Long phase of Ab production
• Small quantities of IgM

Question 13

What is the secondary immune response?

Answer 13

• 2nd response to antigen
• Short phase of Ab production
• High quantities of IgG

Question 14

What is active immunity?

Answer 14

Immunization by administration of an antigen so that the individual can produce his/her own antibodies against it.
Natural: Infection with measles or mumps
Artificial: Hepatitis B vaccination

Question 15

What is passive immunity?

Answer 15

Immunization by transferring antibodies from an immunized individual to a non-immunized individual.
Natural: Placental transfer of maternal antibodies to fetus
Artificial: anti-Rabies

Question 16

What are the different immunoglobulins?

Answer 16

-IgM, A, G, E, D

Question 17

What is immune paralysis?

Answer 17

A state whereby the immune system becomes overwhelmed by various antigens present and become confused and fail to function or produce antibodies.

Question 18

What is immune tolerance?

Answer 18

A state of unresponsiveness of the immune system to substances or tissue that have the capacity to elicit an immune response in a given organism.

Question 19

What is autoimmunity?

Answer 19

A condition whereby the body fails to recognize “self” and destroy healthy cells and tissues.

Question 20

What is immunodeficiency?

Answer 20

A condition whereby the body’s immune system fails to function correct or properly.