Immunology Flashcards
what is immunity?
protection against foreign pathogens or substances
who is the father of immunology?
Edward Jenner
what are commensal organisms?
organisms that cause no harm
explain what normal flora is?
when microorganisms function in a metabolic and immune balance called homeostasis
when are microbes considered pathogenic?
when they manage to penetrate the immune defense
what does dysbiosis lead too?
immune overstimulation leading to inflammation
how does our immune system distinguish between self and non-self?
when a pathogen invades as an intact organism, the cells of the immune system recognize its molecules, NOT the whole pathogen
what are the strategies of pathogens?
- inactivate immune proteins
- resist immunological weaponry
- deception
- hide
- intracellular parasitism
- distractionns/decoys
- mimicry
the adaptive immunity results from what?
the acquisition of recombination activating gene (RAG) Genes for somatic recombination of gene segments to code for B/T cell receptors
what are the characteristics of adaptive (aquired) immunity?
- protection develops after infection
- learned through experience of lymphocytes
- antigen specific
- memory
what is humoral immunity?
combating pathogens via antibodies
what are antibodies also called?
gamma globulins or immunoglobulins
what is passive immunity?
antibodies being transferred between individuals
what is active immunity?
natural infection or vaccination engage the immune defense of a person to make its own antibodies
which type of immunity is long lived because the immune system develops memories?
active
what is cell-mediated immunity?
the work of pathogen-specific T cells, which can act directly to eradicate the infectious agent as well as aid other cells in their work
how is the immune defense system populated aka hematopoiesis?
hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate into many different blood cells through two major types of progenitor cells
where does hematopoiesis occur?
bone marrow
what are the two progenitor cells that the hematopoietic stem cells differentiate into?
common myeloid and common lymphoid
what are the four main types of cells derived from the common myeloid progenitors?
- red blood cells
- megakaryocytes
- monocytes/macrophages/dendritic cells
- granulocytes
what cells can differentiate into dendritic cells?
monocytes/macrophages
what are the functions of monocytes/macrophages?
- repair/remodel by producing anti-inflammatory signals and signalling tissue healing
- engulf pathogens
- present antigens to T lymphocytes
- release vessel dilating substances
- produce antimicrobials, digestive enzymes and free radicals
- contain Fc receptors
what is the main function of dendritic cells?
- capture microbial and other antigens and display them to naive T lymphocytes that causes the proliferation and differentiation of the lymphocytes (initial activation)
what are the 4 granulocytes?
- neutrophil
- eosinophil
- basophil
- mast cell