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Y10 Biology 2025 > Immunology > Flashcards

Immunology Flashcards

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1
Q

Define a pathogen

A

Disease causing agent

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2
Q

What makes a pathogen cellular?

A

Able to reproduce independently
Able to undertake independent metabolic processes
Made of cells

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3
Q

List the three types of cellular pathogens

A

Bacteria, fungi, parasites

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4
Q

How do bacteria reproduce?

A

Binary fission

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5
Q

How do bacteria cause disease?

A

Release toxins and reproduce rapidly by binary fission, increasing toxin concentration rapidly

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6
Q

How do fungi cause disease?

A

Release enzymes which break down proteins

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7
Q

What is an antigen?

A

An antigen is a unique molecule or part of a molecule that can initiate an immune response

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8
Q

Antigens that belong in the body are called…

A

Self-antigens

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9
Q

Antigens that initiate an immune response are called..

A

Non-self antigens

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10
Q

What is aseptic technique?

A

Using practices and procedures to prevent contamination from pathogens

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11
Q

Give examples of aseptic technique

A

Disinfectant of desk with ethanol
Minimal exposure to air (taping lid shut)
Partially opening lid
Seal petri dish
Safe disposal of used equipment in sterile packaging

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12
Q

Why does the lag phase on a bacterial growth curve occur?

A

Slow increase in number of bacteria due to low initial numbers of bacteria

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13
Q

Why does the exponential phase on a bacterial growth curve occur?

A

Rapid growth/doubling of population
Resources (eg space and nutrients) are NOT a limiting factor

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14
Q

Why does the plateau phase on a bacterial growth curve occur?

A

Limited resources (ie space and nutrients)
Death rates = birth rates

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15
Q

Why does the death phase on a bacterial growth curve occur?

A

↓ population numbers
Death rates > birth rates
Lack of resources eg food
Build up of toxins

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16
Q

Draw and label a bacterial growth curve

A
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17
Q

What makes a pathogen non-cellular?

A

Not made of cells
They require a host cell to reproduce
Unable to reproduce outside a cell
Unable to undertake independent metabolic processes

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18
Q

How do viruses cause disease?

A

Viruses cause disease by damaging or destroying host cells

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19
Q

Give two examples of a non-cellular pathogen

A

Virus and prions

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20
Q

Draw a virus

A
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21
Q

Outline the steps involved in viral replication

A
  1. Virus invades a host cell
  2. The host cell replicates viral genetic material in the nucleus
  3. New protein coats are made at the host cell ribosomes.
  4. New viral particles are assembled and burst out of the host cell
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22
Q

What is a prion?

A

Abnormal infectious protein

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23
Q

What is the first line of defence against pathogens?

A

Barriers

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24
Q

Is the first line of defence specific or non-specific?

A

Non-specific (it acts in the same way against all pathogens)

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25
Q

List the two types of physical barriers

A

Intact skin, hair

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26
Q

How does intact skin prevent infection by pathogens?

A

Prevents pathogens from entering the body

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27
Q

How does hair in your nostrils/ears prevent infection by pathogens?

A

Traps pathogens, preventing them from entering the body

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28
Q

What is a physical barrier?

A

Physical structures that prevent the pathogen from entering the body

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29
Q

What is a chemical barrier?

A

Some type of secreted chemical that helps prevent the entry of a pathogen

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30
Q

How does sweat prevent infection by pathogens?

A

Sweat contains fatty acids and salt which kill or stop the growth of bacteria

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31
Q

How do tears and saliva prevent infection by pathogens?

A

They secrete lysozymes which break bacterial cell walls, destroying them

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32
Q

How does the stomach prevent infection by pathogens?

A

It contains stomach acid (strong hydrochloric acid) which has a low pH, killing most pathogens

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33
Q

List the four types of chemical barriers

A

Sweat, saliva, tears, stomach acid

34
Q

What is a microbiota barrier?

A

The symbiotic microbiota outcompete the pathogenic bacteria preventing the pathogens establishing colonies and causing disease

35
Q

List the three types of physical barriers in plants

A

Intact bark, thick waxy cuticle, hairs

36
Q

What type of chemical barriers do plants have?

A

The secretion of chemicals like toxins, odour chemicals or oils

37
Q

What is the function of the circulatory system in the immune response?

A

Transports white blood cells around the body

38
Q

What is the function of the lymphatic system in the immune response?

A

Transport tissue fluid back to the cardiovascular system
Samples fluid for detection of pathogens

39
Q

What is the function of a lymph node?

A

Sample the lymph fluid for pathogens

40
Q

What is the function of valves in the lymphatic system?

A

Keeps lymph moving in one direction

41
Q

What is the relationship between plasma, tissue fluid and lymph?

A
42
Q

What are the four signs and symptoms of inflammation?

A

Redness, heat, pain and swelling

43
Q

Why is redness experienced during inflammation?

A

Vasodilation (the blood vessels widen)

44
Q

Why is pain experienced during inflammation?

A

Increased permeability. The increased swelling puts pressure on the nerves

45
Q

Why is heat experienced during inflammation?

A

Vasodilation (the blood vessels widen)

46
Q

Why is swelling experienced during inflammation?

A

Increased permeability. The plasma leaks out of the capillaries forming excess tissue fluid

47
Q

Why does increasing vasodilation and permeability help fight infections against pathogens during inflammation?

A

More white blood cells go to the site of infection. (vasodilation)
The white bloods cells can enter the tissue fluid to destroy the pathogens (increased permeability)

48
Q

Is the second line of defence specific or non-specific?

A

Non-specific

49
Q

What is the innate immune response?

A

Non-specific immune response. Includes inflammation and the use of phagocytes and natural killer cells

50
Q

What is the role of a phagocyte?

A

Recognise, engulf and digest foreign material, such as pathogens, through phagocytosis

51
Q

List the three types of phagocytes

A

Macrophage, dendritic cell, neutrophil

52
Q

What is phagocytosis?

A

Process by which a phagocyte recognises, engulfs and destroys unwanted foreign material

53
Q

Outline the steps involved in phagocytosis

A

Phagocyte engulfs pathogen forming a phagosome
Phagosome fuses with lysosome forming phagolysosome
Pathogen destroyed by digestive enzymes in lysosome
Destroyed pathogen removed from cell by exocytosis

54
Q

What is the function of a natural killer cell?

A

Detect cancerous/tumour cells and virally infected cells by recognising the non-self antigen displayed on their surface and release chemicals which destroy the defective cell

55
Q

What white blood cells are involved in the innate immune response?

A

Phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils) and natural killer cells

56
Q

What is meant by specific?

A

Reacts DIFFERENTLY for each pathogen, has a memory, slower acting

57
Q

What white blood cells are involved in the adaptive immune response?

A

B cells (lymphocytes)
Plasma cells
Memory B cells
T helper cells (lymphocytes)

58
Q

Draw and label an antibody

A
59
Q

How do antibodies help the immune response?

A

Immobilise pathogens: Stop viruses from invading new cells
Agglutination of pathogens: Clumping together so that pathogens can be easily phagocytosed
Flag pathogens for phagocytosis

60
Q

What is the function of a T helper cell?

A

Activate B cells by releasing chemicals

61
Q

Outline the steps involved in the adaptive immune response

A

T helper cells recognise non-self antigen on the pathogen, they release chemicals to activate the B cells
B cells also recognise non-self antigen of pathogen
B cells divide by mitosis into B memory cells and plasma cells
The plasma cells secrete specific and complimentary, free-floating antibodies
The B memory cells remain in circulation in case of a secondary infection

62
Q

Draw a diagram showing the adaptive immune response

A
63
Q

What is the function of a B cell?

A

Divide by mitosis to produce plasma cells and B memory cells

64
Q

What is the function of a plasma cell?

A

Produce specific and complimentary, free-floating antibodies

65
Q

What is the function of a B memory cell?

A

Remains in circulation in case of a secondary infection, where they will produce a more rapid response with a higher concentration of antibodies

66
Q

Draw a graph to compare the antibody production in the primary immune response vs. the secondary immune response

A
67
Q

Why is the secondary immune response quicker?

A

T helper cells dont need to activate B memory cells

68
Q

What is a passive immunity?

A

a person receives antibodies from another source.

69
Q

Compare passive and active immunity

A

Passive immunity has no production of antibodies by the individual, no immunological memory and is immediate in effect whereas active immunity means the individual makes antibodies, forms immunological memory and takes time to respond

70
Q

What is active immunity?

A

when an individual responds to antigen and makes their own antibodies

71
Q

What is natural immunity?

A

No medical intervention, occurs naturally

72
Q

What is artificial immunity?

A

Medial intervention

73
Q

How does a vaccine work?

A

T helper cells recognise non-self antigen on the injected vaccine pathogen/antigen, they release chemicals to activate the B cells
B cells also recognise non-self antigen of the injected vaccine pathogen/antigen
B cells divide by mitosis into B memory cells and plasma cells
The plasma cells secrete specific and complimentary, free-floating antibodies
B memory cells lead to a more rapid production and higher concentration of antibodies if infection reoccurs at a later date as they persist in circulation and provide long term immunity.

74
Q

What is a disinfectant?

A

A non-specific chemical agent that destroys pathogens on surfaces

75
Q

What is an antiseptic?

A

A non-specific chemical agent that destroys pathogens on the body

76
Q

What are antibiotics?

A

A specific chemical agent that kill or slow down the growth of bacteria

77
Q

Compare the two types of antibiotics

A

Bacteriostatic antibiotics slow down bacterial growth whereas bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria.

78
Q

What is a clearance zone

A

The area of bacteria that have been unable to grow or killed by the antibiotic.

79
Q

What is an antiviral?

A

A specific chemical agent that destroys viruses

80
Q

What can antiviral drugs target?

A

Prevent viruses binding to receptors that allow them to enter cells.
Inhibit viral enzymes involved in viral replication
Block transcription and translation of viral proteins.
Prevent viruses from leaving host cells.

81
Q

What is a vaccine?

A

A vaccine is a solution containing a dead, weakened or attenuated form of the pathogen or antigen.

82
Q

Describe the microbiota barrier found in plants.

A

Rhizosphere this means that the symbiotic microbiota in the soil around the root of the plant outcompete pathogenic micro-organisms

Y10 Biology 2025 (5 decks)

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