Immunology Flashcards
What is vaccination?
Deliberate administration of antigens to produce immunological memory
When are long lived T and B cells generated?
Adaptive immune response
Where do long lived plasma cells reside?
Bone marrow
In immunological memory, how does IgG clear infection before symptoms occur?
Direct neutralisation of bacteria
Rapid mobilisation of phagocytes and complement
IgA blocks bacterial binding to mucous membranes
What are naïve B and T cells?
Mature but not yet activated (induce a strong response in 14-21 days)
What can naïve B and T cells become?
Effector or memory cells
What have memory B cells already undergone?
Ig class switching and hypermutation
What is immunisation?
The process through which an individual develops immunological memory to a disease
What is active immunisation?
Protection by the persons own immune system- usually permanent
What is passive immunisation?
Protection transferred by another person or animal- temporary
What are the two types of active vaccination?
Live attenuated vaccines or inactive vaccines e.g. killed, subunit or toxoid
What are some features of inactivated vaccines?
Do not multiply, not as effective, antibody based (not T cell), will diminish with time, multiple doses
What can under-inactivation cause?
Pathogens or toxins within the body
What can over-activation cause?
Ruins conformation of the antigen so there can be no antibody binding
What are some features of a live attenuated vaccine?
Similar to natural infection, organism must replicate, needs 1 dose
What is the advantage of inactivated vaccines over live attenuated ones?
Generally safer and easier to store
What is the most common example of natural passive immunisation?
Through transfer of maternal antibodies in placenta and maternal antibodies through breast milk
What antibody is transferred across the placenta?
IgG
What are examples of therapeutic passive immunisation?
Human immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies
What makes some organisms difficult to create vaccinations for?
Chronic/latent disease or rapidly evolving infections
What are some new approach vaccinations?
Mucosal vaccines, intranasal vaccine and preventative vaccines against cancer causing viruses
What is primary immunodeficiency?
Inherited abnormalities associated with a failure of development of components of the immune system
What are the hallmarks of immunodeficiency?
Serious, persistent, unusual, recurrent infections
What is classed as recurrent infection?
2 major or 1 major and recurrent minor infections in one year
What are typical features of immunodeficiency in general?
Weight loss, failure to thrive, severe skin rash, chronic diarrhoea, mouth ulcers, autoimmune disease, family history
What is more common, primary or secondary immunodeficiency?
Secondary
What are causes of secondary immunodeficiency?
Physiological, infections, treatment, malignancy, nutritional disorders
What do defects of phagocyte production usually cause?
Failure to produce neutrophils or a failure of their maturation
What is Kostmann Syndrome?
Rare autosomal recessive disorder of severe chronic neutropenia
What are signs of Kostmann Syndrome?
Infections after birth, fever, irritability, ulcers, failure to thrive
What is the supportive treatment for Kostmann Syndrome?
Prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals
What is the definitive treatment for Kostmann Syndrome?
Stem cell transplant, granulocyte colony stimulating factor
What is leukocyte adhesion deficiency?
Genetic defect in leukocyte integrins to cause a failure of neutrophil adhesion and migration
What does leukocyte adhesion deficiency show?
Leukocytosis (high WCC) and localised bacterial infections
What are opsonins?
Binding enhancers for phagocytosis
What do opsonin defects cause?
Defective phagocytosis but not significant disease
In general, how are phagocyte deficiencies treated?
Oral/IV antibiotics, surgical drainage of abscess, bone marrow transplant
What is chronic granulomatous disease?
Failure of oxidative killing mechanisms. It is x-linked deficiency of NADPH oxidase
What does CGD result in?
Excessive inflammation and granuloma formation, recurrent deep bacterial and fungal infections, failure to thrive, lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly
What is the prophylactic treatment for CGD?
Prophylactic antibiotics and antifungals
What is the definitive treatment for CGD?
Stem cell transplant, gene therapy
What are organisms which can hide from the immune system in cells?
Salmonella, chlamydia, rickettsia
Where is it common for organisms to hide in the body?
Macrophages
What is reticular dysgenesis?
Failure to produce neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, platelets
How is reticular dysgenesis treated?
Only by stem cell transplant
What is SCID?
Failure to produce lymphocytes in the thymus