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Y10 Biology 2025 > Immunology > Flashcards

Immunology Flashcards

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
List the two types of physical barriers
Intact skin, hair
26
How does intact skin prevent infection by pathogens?
Prevents pathogens from entering the body
27
How does hair in your nostrils/ears prevent infection by pathogens?
Traps pathogens, preventing them from entering the body
28
What is a physical barrier?
Physical structures that prevent the pathogen from entering the body
29
What is a chemical barrier?
Some type of secreted chemical that helps prevent the entry of a pathogen
30
How does sweat prevent infection by pathogens?
Sweat contains fatty acids and salt which kill or stop the growth of bacteria
31
How do tears and saliva prevent infection by pathogens?
They secrete lysozymes which break bacterial cell walls, destroying them
32
How does the stomach prevent infection by pathogens?
It contains stomach acid (strong hydrochloric acid) which has a low pH, killing most pathogens
33
List the four types of chemical barriers
Sweat, saliva, tears, stomach acid
34
What is a microbiota barrier?
The symbiotic microbiota outcompete the pathogenic bacteria preventing the pathogens establishing colonies and causing disease
35
List the three types of physical barriers in plants
Intact bark, thick waxy cuticle, hairs
36
What type of chemical barriers do plants have?
The secretion of chemicals like toxins, odour chemicals or oils
37
What is the function of the circulatory system in the immune response?
Transports white blood cells around the body
38
What is the function of the lymphatic system in the immune response?
Transport tissue fluid back to the cardiovascular system Samples fluid for detection of pathogens
39
What is the function of a lymph node?
Sample the lymph fluid for pathogens
40
What is the function of valves in the lymphatic system?
Keeps lymph moving in one direction
41
What is the relationship between plasma, tissue fluid and lymph?
42
What are the four signs and symptoms of inflammation?
Redness, heat, pain and swelling
43
Why is redness experienced during inflammation?
Vasodilation (the blood vessels widen)
44
Why is pain experienced during inflammation?
Increased permeability. The increased swelling puts pressure on the nerves
45
Why is heat experienced during inflammation?
Vasodilation (the blood vessels widen)
46
Why is swelling experienced during inflammation?
Increased permeability. The plasma leaks out of the capillaries forming excess tissue fluid
47
Why does increasing vasodilation and permeability help fight infections against pathogens during inflammation?
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
Is the second line of defence specific or non-specific?
Non-specific
49
What is the innate immune response?
Non-specific immune response. Includes inflammation and the use of phagocytes and natural killer cells
50
What is the role of a phagocyte?
Recognise, engulf and digest foreign material, such as pathogens, through phagocytosis
51
List the three types of phagocytes
Macrophage, dendritic cell, neutrophil
52
What is phagocytosis?
Process by which a phagocyte recognises, engulfs and destroys unwanted foreign material
53
Outline the steps involved in phagocytosis
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
What is the function of a natural killer cell?
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
What white blood cells are involved in the innate immune response?
Phagocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils) and natural killer cells
56
What is meant by specific?
Reacts DIFFERENTLY for each pathogen, has a memory, slower acting
57
What white blood cells are involved in the adaptive immune response?
B cells (lymphocytes) Plasma cells Memory B cells T helper cells (lymphocytes)
58
Draw and label an antibody
59
How do antibodies help the immune response?
Neutralise pathogens: Stop viruses from invading new cells Agglutination of pathogens: Clumping together so that pathogens can be easily phagocytosed Flag pathogens for phagocytosis
60
What is the function of a T helper cell?
Activate B cells by releasing chemicals
61
Outline the steps involved in the adaptive immune response
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
Draw a diagram showing the adaptive immune response
63
What is the function of a B cell?
Divide by mitosis to produce plasma cells and B memory cells
64
What is the function of a plasma cell?
Produce specific and complimentary, free-floating antibodies
65
What is the function of a B memory cell?
Remains in circulation in case of a secondary infection, where they will produce a more rapid response with a higher concentration of antibodies
66
Draw a graph to compare the antibody production in the primary immune response vs. the secondary immune response
67
Why is the secondary immune response quicker?
T helper cells dont need to activate B memory cells
68
What is a passive immunity?
a person receives antibodies from another source.
69
Compare passive and active immunity
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
What is active immunity?
when an individual responds to antigen and makes their own antibodies
71
What is natural immunity?
No medical intervention, occurs naturally
72
What is artificial immunity?
Medial intervention
73
How does a vaccine work?
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
What is a disinfectant?
A non-specific chemical agent that destroys pathogens on surfaces
75
What is an antiseptic?
A non-specific chemical agent that destroys pathogens on the body
76
What are antibiotics?
A specific chemical agent that kill or slow down the growth of bacteria
77
Compare the two types of antibiotics
Bacteriostatic antibiotics slow down bacterial growth whereas bactericidal antibiotics kill bacteria.
78
What is a clearance zone
The area of bacteria that have been unable to grow or killed by the antibiotic.
79
What is an antiviral?
A specific chemical agent that destroys viruses
80
What can antiviral drugs target?
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
What is a vaccine?
A vaccine is a solution containing a dead, weakened or attenuated form of the pathogen or antigen.
82
Describe the microbiota barrier found in plants.
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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