Immunology Flashcards
What is the difference between microbiota and microbiome?
Microbiome = genetic material of microbes
Microbiota = Ecological community of commensal, symbiotic & pathogenic microorganisms.
What is the immune system?
Immune system – is a series of cells tissues, proteins and other that act together to counter act foreign bodies.
Why is it important for dental professionals to understand immunity?
- Due to advancements in medicine, people can now survive once fatal diseases
- Many oral diseases have an immune component (e.g. periodontal disease)
- Current and future therapeutics may have an impact on the function of immune system thus on oral health
- Systemic and Oral diseases are interrelated and are both dependent on appropriate function of the immune system
What is a pathogen?
Pathogens – are agents that cause or generate disease. Such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, dust mites, pollen.
What is an antigen?
Antigen – a substance that has the ability to provoke an immune response. Could be pathogenic/ not pathogenic.
What is the mode of action of an ACP?
- The antigen is detected y a special receptor on the ACP
- The antigen is engulfed through phagocytosis of the ACP
- It is processed and then displayed on the surface of the cell’s membrane of the ACP through a special antigen presenting proteins
- The presented antigen could bind with the receptor on T lymphocytes to activate them
What is an antibody?
Antibody – a glycorptoein that is produced and secreted by plasma cells and B lymphocytes (restricted thod). Also serve as receptors on B lymphocytes.
What are the classes of antibodies?
MADGE – IgM, IgA, IgD, IgG, IgE
What is a structure of the immunoglobulin?
Y shape, have variable and constant domains
What is the function of each immunoglobulin?
IgA – Found in mucous, saliva, tears and breast milk. Protect those sites against pathogens
IgD – Part of the B cell receptor. Responsible for basophils and mast cells activation.
IgE – Protects against parasitic worms. Responsible for allergic reactions
IgG – Secreted by plasma cells in the blood. Able to cross the placenta into the fetus.
IgM – May be attached to the surface of a B cell or secreted into the blood. Responsible for early stages of immunity.
What are the three functions of the antibodies?
- Neutralization
- Tag
- Activating antigen killing proteins
Why is immune system important for dental health professionals?
- Due to advancements in medicine, people can now survive once fatal diseases
- Many oral diseases have an immune component (e.g. periodontal disease)
- Current and future therapeutics may have an impact on the function of immune system thus on oral health
- Systemic and Oral diseases are interrelated and are both dependent on appropriate function of the immune system
What is a pathogen?
Pathogen is an agent that is able to cause or generate dieseas?
What is an antigen?
An antigen is a substance that has the ability to provoke an immune response. This could be pathogenic/not pathogenic
What is an immunoglobulin?
An immunoglobulin is also know is an antibody. It is a glycoprotein that produced by pklasma cells and somewhat by B lymphocytes.
Antibodies also act as receptors on B lymphocytes.
What are the three functions of the antibody?
- Neutralisation - physical blockage of the antigen
- Tag - antibodies act as “tags”, that are able to signal phagocytic bacteria to perform phagocytosis of the molecule antibodies attach to.
- Activating antigen killing proeins - self-explanatory
What is an ACP?
ACP is an antigen presenting cell.
It is a cell that is able to process the antgien and present it to other cells.
It could also trigerr further immune reponse by releasing cytokines.
What are some of the common antigen presenting cells?
- Dendritic cells
- Macrophages
- Langerhans cells
- B lymphocytes
What is the mode of action of an ACP?
- Antigen is detected by a special receptor on the ACP
- The antigen engulfed through phagocytosis of the ACP
- It is processed and then displayed on the surface of the ACP cell membrane through special antigen presenting protein
- The presented antigen could bind with the receptor on T lymphocyts to activate them
What are cytokines?
Cytokines are the chemicals of immunity. They are rpoduced by activated cells and are able to change the behaviour of other cells.
What is a strucutre of immunoglobulins?
Y shape, have variable and constant domains
WHat is the function of IgA?
It is found in mucous, saliva and tear. Protect those sites from pathogens
What is the function of IgD?
It acts as a B cell receptor. Responsible for basophil and mast cells activation
What is the function of IgE?
Protection against paracitic worms. Important in allergic reactions.
What is the function of IgG?
Secreted by plasma cells in the blood. Able to cross the placenta into the fetus.
What is the function of IgM?
Responsible for early stages of immunity.
What are the two types of lymphatic organs?
- Primary - generator organs - red bone marrow and thymus
- Secondary - immune and other functions - lymphoid vessels, lymph nodes, spleen and follicles.
What are the lymphatic vessels?
They are thin walled ubes lined with endothelium and surorunded by thin layer of smooth muscles. Carry lymph. Terminate near the subclavian artery.
What is the spleen?
Spleen is the organ of the secondary lymphati system. it has 2 functions filtering blood form the ntigen and removal of old red blood cells
What is the thymus?
It is an organ of the primary lymphatic system that is used for development/maturation of T lymphocytes. It has a plae center with activated T lymphocytes.
What are lymph nodes?
They are organs of the secondary lymphatic system that are used for antigen presentation.
What are lymphoid follicles?
They are organs of the secondary lymphatic system that are situated under the epithelium for protection from ferieng invaders
What is the waldeyer’s tonsilar ring?
It is a series of tonsillar tissue that forms a ring around the oral cavity in addition to the lymphatic between each of the 3 major tonsils. Main function - to provide protection aginst harmuf substances and pathogens that may enter the body through the nose and mouth.
What are MALT?
MALT - mucosa associated lymphoid tissue.