Immunology Flashcards
1
Q
What the Immune System Protects Against?
A
- Bacteria/Parasites
- Tumour Cells
- Toxins
- Virus’
- Fungi
- Foreign Cells/Particulates
2
Q
Characteristics of the Immune System
A
- Highly specific
- Widespread
- Memory
- Pathogen species and strains
- It moves
- Extremely fluid, constantly changing
- Determines non self
- Every organ and system
3
Q
Blood Composition
A
- 55% plasma - complements/coagulation proteins
- 0.1% buffy coat - white blood cells, platelets
- 45% red blood cells
4
Q
Examples of Non-Specific Immunity
A
- Physical barrier
- Secretion eg tears, saliva
- Cellular eg phagocyte
5
Q
Non-Specific Response
A
- No memory
- Non-specific
- 1st line of defence
6
Q
3 Responses of Non-Specific Immunity
A
- Inflammation
- Phagocytosis - find non self and digest them
- Natural Killer Cells - Not B or T cells. Kill cancer, virus, bacteria, infected cells
7
Q
The Purpose of Inflammation
A
Increase temperate for optimum activity. Increase dilation causing vessels to be leaky. Increases permeability for large white blood cells.
8
Q
Stages of Inflammation
A
- Bacteria enters through barrier
- Platelets stop blood flow forming a clot
- Most cells secrete factors that cause vasodilation/vascular constriction. Delivering blood, plasma and white blood cells to area
- Neutrophils secrete factors that kill pathogens
- Macrophages remove pathogens
- They also secrete cytokines hormones, that trigger more immune response and repair process of mitosis
- Inflammatory response continues until materials gone and wound repaired
9
Q
What is Chronic Inflammation?
A
Macrophage in injured tissue release toxins that injure/dmg tissue eg reactive oxygen species
10
Q
Stages of Phagocytosis
A
- They’re attracted to chemical trails of pathogens
- The phagocyte has receptors at its surface that attach to the pathogen’s antigens
- Phagocytes engulfs pathogen turning it into a phagosome
- Lysosomes fuse with phagosome (vesicle)
- Lysosomes release lysozyme enzymes that hydrolyse and break down phagosome. Smaller soluble material absorbed into the cytoplasm of the phagocyte
11
Q
Natural Killer Cells
A
- Identify “non-self” in the form of infected/corrupted cells
- Secrete enzymes such as proteases to destroy “non-self”
- Destroy both cell and the infection within
- Can also destroy cancerous cells
12
Q
Cell-Mediated Response
A
- Phagocyte engulfs pathogen
- Phagocyte presents pathogens antigens on its surface membrane
- Receptors in helper T Cells fit to pathogens antigens
- T Cells rapidly divide into cytotoxic T Cells and;
- Either develop into memory cells or stimulate B Cells to divide and excrete their antibodies
13
Q
Humoral/B Ceel Response
A
- Pathogens antigens taken into B Cell by endocytosis
- B-Cell processes and presents antigens
- Helper T Cells attach antigen to B Cell, activating it
- B Cell divides by mitosis into plasma and memory cells
14
Q
Immunoglobins and What they are For
A
- IgG - direct neutralisation
- IgM - activates complement proteins
- IgP - unsure
- IgE - Anaphylaxis and parasites
15
Q
What is Microbiology?
A
The study of organisms that cannot be seen by the naked eye
