Immunology Flashcards
Define innate defence mechanisms
+ Primary line of defence
+ Not improved by further exposure
+ Immediate responder
Define adaptive defence mechanisms
+ Secondary line of defence
+ Improved by further exposure
+ involves antibody responses and
cell mutating responses
+ Specificity and
+ Memory cells
+ Takes time to respond (days-weeks)
Name physical defence mechanisms
+ Skin, epithelia (barriers)
+ Cilia (movement)
+ Mucus (trapping)
Name biochemical defence mechanisms
+ Low pH
+ Sweat
+ Vaginal secretions
+ Stomach secretions
+ Lysozyme secretions
Name types of chemical blood bourne agents released by immune system
+ Acute phase proteins
+ Complement proteins
+ Interferons
+ Cytokines
What are complement proteins?
They are a cascade of blood proteins which are involved in a defence mechanism. Starts from C1 to C9
What are cytokines?
They are small proteins that communicate between cells in the immune system
What is CRP?
+ C-reactive protein
+ Sign of ongoing Inflammation
+ Indicator that can change extremely rapidly within a couple hours of inflammatory response occurring
+ Normal levels ~5mg/L
What is chemotaxis?
The movement of anorganism in respinse to a chemical signal - used to attract phagocytes to site of infection
What is an opsonin?
A substance that coats the cell/bacteria and enhances the ability of phagocytes to phagocytose the particle.
What is opsonisation?
The process of coating cell/bacteria with an opsonin.
What is an interferon?
A protein released by cells usually in response to the entry of a virus, which has the property of inhibiting virus replication.
What do IFNα, IFNβ and IFNγ do?
IFNα and IFNβ
+ Make surrounding cells more resistant
+ can be used by all different types of cells, especially leucocytes and fibroblasts
IFNγ
+ Make surrounding cells more resistant
+ is used in immune cells mostly
What is a T-cell?
T-lymphocyte: a lymphocyte of a type produced or processed by the thymus gland and actively participating in the immune response.
What are NK cells?
Natural killer cells/K cells:
A type of lymphocyte and a component of innate immune system. NK cells play a major role in the host-rejection of both tumours and virally infected cells.
