Immunology Flashcards

1
Q

What is the role of the immune system

A

Body’s ability to resist or eliminate pathogens

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2
Q

What is a pathogen

A

Any microorrganism that causes harm

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3
Q

What are the layers to the immune system

A
  1. External barriers
  2. Innate Immunity
  3. Aquired (adaptive) Immunity
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4
Q

Describe external barriers

A

Layers of Epithelial tissue
Skin
Mucus - Mucosal epithelial cells coat cell surfaces
Flushing actions - saliva, tears, urine, sweat, stomach

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5
Q

What is innate immunity

A

Always present
Non-specific to different types of pathogens
Fast and immediate
No memory, will produce same response again

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6
Q

What is aquired (adaptive) immunity

A

Highly specific
Distinguishes between different pathogens based on surface antigens
Slower acting
Immunological memory, cells remember for futrue

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7
Q

What are Phagocytes

A

Immune system cells that trackdown, engulf and destroy bacteria, pathogens, own damaged or dead cells

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8
Q

What types of phagocytes are there

A

Neutrophils

Most abundant WBC
Has granules filled with destructive enzymes (peroxides, alkaline and acidic phosphates) that destroy bacteria

Monocytes(macrophages)

Engulf much more
Process specific Components of pathogen antigens, present processed antigens to adaptive immune cells
Antigen Presenting Cells (APC)

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9
Q

What are the stages of phagocytosis

A
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10
Q

Describe Eosinophils

A

Help against parasitic infection
Involved in allergy and asthma
Granules contain many enzymes

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11
Q

Describe mast cells

A

Has immediate and delayed repsones
Process:

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12
Q

Describe Basophils

A

Least common WBC
Large cytoplasmic graules with inflammatory mediators
No proven function, found in parasitic infection

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13
Q

Describe Cytokines

A

Small proteins released by immune/non immune cells from simulus
Communicate with other cells
Bind to specific receptors, produce internal signal
Involved in innate and acquired immune response - Differentiation, activation, chemotaxis, enhancing cytotoxicity

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14
Q

Explain the cooperation within the immune system

A
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15
Q

What are the different types of acquired (adaptive) immunity

A

Cellular - involves phagocytes, cytotoxic T cells, cytokines, chemokines
Humoral - anti-body mediated, helper T cells and B cells

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16
Q

What are the different Lymphatic organs

A

Primary - Bone amrrow, Thymus gland
Secondary - Lymph nodes, spleen, tonsil

17
Q

Explain primary Lymphoid organs

A

where blood cells are produced
Acquire ability to interact with antigens

18
Q

What is the role of bone marrow as a lymphoid organ

A

Formation of blood cells
Production of T cells and B cells
Maturation of B cells

19
Q

What is the role of the thymus gland as a lymphoid organ

A

Maturation of T cells
Medulla - immature T lymphocytes and marcrophages
Cortex - mature T lymphocytes

20
Q

Explain secondary lymphoid organs

A

Sites where antigens activate lymphatics
Development of adaptive immune response to antigens delivered by T and B cells

21
Q

What is the role of the Lymph nodes

A

Have access to antigens encountered in most tissue
Induce adaptive immune response to antigens carried by lymphocytes from tissues

22
Q

What is the role of the spleen in immune respones

A

Red pulp - blood filter, removes ageing/ damaged blood cells and particles (microorganisms, opsonized microbes)

White pulp - contains lymphocytes that initiate immune response to blood-bourne antigens

23
Q

Describe the development of Lymphocytes

A
24
Q

Describe the development and activation of T & B Cells

A

Naive T&B cells go to lymph node at same time as microbial antigens in Dendritic cells
Microbe antigens taken to spleen by blood
Antigens activate lymphocytes
Effector T cells and antibodies activated and delivered by blood

25
Q

What are the different types of T lymphocytes

A

(CD8+) Cytotoxic T cells:
CD8+ receptors
TCR only recognises antigens when bound to MHC I Killing

(CD4+) Helper T cells:
CD4+ receptors
TCR only recognises antigens when bound to MHC II
Stimulate B Cells to produce antibody

26
Q

What is the role of Cytotoxic T cells

A
  1. Bind to infected cell
  2. Perforin makes holes in infected cell membrane
  3. Enzymes (granzymes) that promote apoptosis enter cell
  4. Infected cell is destroyed
27
Q

What is the role of Helper T cells

A

Activate/direct other immune cells

28
Q

What is the purpose of MHC Class l

A

Found on virtually all nucleated cells
Presents ‘virally induced’ peptides to CD8+ T cells and trigger cytotoxic response

29
Q

What is the purpose of MHC Class ll

A

Found only on (APCs) (i.e. macrophages)
Presents exogenously produced Ag to CD4+ T cells

30
Q

Describe B cells

A

Produce Abs
Produced and mature in bone marrow
Express B Cell Receptor (BCR)
On activation, differentiated into Plasma cells (responsible for Abs production), with help of T helper cells

31
Q

Describe Antibodies

A

Proteins produced as immune response against antigens
Different antigens induce production of different antibodies
Antibodies can be divided into two regions

32
Q

Describe the different regions of antibodies

A

Upper region - antigen binding region, specific part of the antibody that recognises and interacts with antigen.

Lower region - Fc region, stability

32
Q

What are the different classes of antibodies

A

IgM - first class to be produced
IgA - protects mucosal surfaces, resistant to stomach acid
IgE - defends against parasites, causes allergies
IgD - unknown, in B cells it signal for cell to be activated
IgG - main type of antibody binding to pathogens Protects body from infection.

33
Q

What are the functions of antibodies

A

Neutralization:
Prevention of attachment and entry
Mostly IgA - Gastrointestinal tract, Respiratory tract

Opsonization:
Macrophages, enchances engulfing of pathogens

Complement activation
Classical pathway

34
Q

Describe the activation of the complement system

A

Proteins found in the plasma, in inactive form
Activated in cascade–like format
Activation on surface of target cells
Three pathways: alternative, classical, lectin
Results in holes in infected cell membrane (MAC)

35
Q

What is the function of the complement system

A

Direct lysis of target cells.
Can increase blood flow
chemo-attractants, recruit other immune cells to enhance immune response
Other products facilitate and enhance phagocytosis (opsonization)

36
Q

What is active immunity

A
  1. Produced by host immune system
  2. Weeks to develop
  3. Memory cells produced
  4. Protection is permanent
37
Q

What is passive immunity

A
  1. Transfer of Abs/cells from other individual
  2. Immediate effect
  3. No memory cells
  4. Protection is temporary