Immunology Flashcards
What is innate immunity?
Non specific first line defence system- physiological barriers, inflammatory defence, phagocytosis
What are the two subtypes of myeloid cells?
Granulocytic- neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils
Monocytic- macrophages, langerhans, kupffer, dendritic
What are the two types of lymphoid cells?
T cells
B cells
What are monocytes?
Type of white blood cell, larger than lymphocytes.
What are the characteristic components of monocytes?
Horse shoe shaped nucleus
Faint azurophilic granules
What are macrophages?
Antigen presenting cells that increase levels of phagocytosis when stimulated.
What are neutrophils?
Largest and most abundant white blood cells, important in bacterial destruction.
What are basophils?
Deep violet granules release histamine and bind complements C3a, C3b and C5a. Small numbers in circulation
What are eosinophils?
Gather at site of parasitic/allergic reaction and release toxins.
What are NK cells?
Bind to infected cells/macrophages and kill them along with the phagocytosed microbes.
What are mast cells?
Release factors that increase blood flow and vascular permeability to bring immunity components to site of infection.
What is adaptive immunity?
Slow activation but specific memory. Vary response depending on microorganism.
What is the main role of CD4+ T helper cells?
Recognise antigens presented on class II major histocompatibility complexes.
What do category I T helper cells do?
Stimulate cell mediated immunity
What do category II T helper cells do?
Stimulate plasma cell growth, antibody production and humoral immunity.
What is the main role of CD8+ T cells?
Recognise antigens on class I major histocompatibility complexes triggering cell mediated immunity in response to viral infection.
What is the role of the N terminals on an assembled immunoglobulin?
Recognition of the antigen
What is the role of the C terminal on an assembled immunoglobulin?
Directs antigen to specific receptors to generate response.
What does B lymphocyte antibody release depend on?
Cytokine release.
Describe the functions of antibodies.
Opsonisation- antigen recognisable to immune cells
Neutralisation- antibodies bind to bacterial toxin
Complement activation- 32 proteins in the blood
Antibody dependent cytotoxicity
What are dendritic cells?
First responders to periphery infections, responsible for the uptake of microorganisms for antigen presentation.
What is humoral immunity?
Extracellular microbes are eliminated by B cells, secretion of antibodies.
What is cell-mediated immunity?
Macrophages activated by T helper cells
T cytotoxic cells mediate the killing of cells and elimination of infection reservoirs.
What is the whooping cough vaccine made from?
Killed virulent organisms
What is the rubella vaccine made from?
Live non-virulent strains
What is the diphtheria vaccine made from?
Chemical/heat treated toxins