Immunology Flashcards
What is the oral microbiome?
Refers to microorganisms found in the human oral cavity, commensal populations don’t cause harm but can become pathogens
In health the oral microbes are mainly gram-positive and aerobic
What is immunology?
The study of all aspects of the immune system
What are external barrier again infections?
- Skin
- Mucus production as a lubricant and protective layer
What are the different immune responses?
- Innate - detect foreign bodies based on proteins sequences
- Adaptive - use for specific against invading pathogens
- this also contains the memory component of the immune response
What is Haematopoietic differentiation?
When Haematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow differentiate into myeloid or lymphoid cells (2 groups of white blood cells)
What is a progenitor cell?
Cells that originate from stem cell differentiation
What do Lymphoid progenitor cells make?
T and B lymphocytes which are responsible for the antibody cellular mediated response
- make plasma cells
What do Myeloid progenitor cell make?
Varies myeloid cell linages e.g. erythrocytes, neutrophils…
What is the hormonal component of the immune system?
- Immunoglobulins - produced by plasma cells in thr adaptive immune system, aid in pathogenic destruction
- Complement - hormonal mediator
- Cytokines - hormonal mediator
What is immunoglobulin A?
- IgA
This is a mucosa specific antibody and uniquely adapted to bind to pathogens
Present in tears, saliva and mucus
How is the gingival sulcus protected by neutrophils.
- Neutrophils rolls long the surface, and in this process form bond with the epithelial surface and is slowed down due to these adhesions
- Neutrophil slows down and adheres to the surface due to selectin and integrins interactions
- Gets through endothelial layer due to adhesion molecules which pull them through (PECAM-1)
- Gets through basement membrane by breaking it via secreting collagenase
- Neutrophil travels to area of inflammation
What is Diapedesis?
The mechanism in which neutrophils pass through blood vessels
What is inflammation?
A localised physiological condition where part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot and painful due to injury or infection
What are the different types of inflammation?
- Localised inflammation
- Chronic inflammation- occurs when injury is not resolved
What is phagocytosis?
Phagocyte engulfs a microorganisms and uses lysosomes to digest the microb
Where are macrophages found?
Found in areas with high infection rates e.g. lungs, lymph nodes
What are cytokines?
Proteins secreted by cells and used for cell signalling
- when monocytes secrete them it’s called monokines
- when lymphocytes secrete them it’s called lymphokines
What are inflammatory mediators?
A molecule that acts as a messenger and acts on the blood vessels or other inflammatory cells to regulate the inflammatory response
What are some examples of inflammatory mediators?
- Histamine - causes vasodilatation, increasing vascular permeability
- Chemokines - activate leukocytes and chemotaxis
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