Immunology Flashcards
What is SCID
Severe combined immunodeficiency
Describe pathogen vs host
Bacteria and viruses replicate very quickly so they evolve
Exertion of selection pressure resistant bacteria
Individuals who are resistant to bacteria will survive and reproduce
Polymorphic genes control immunoresponse
Describe recognition strategy 1
Recognising molecular patterns
Hundreds of receptors
Germ-line encoded
Uses PRRs
What are PRRS
Pattern recognition receptors Includes PAMP (Pathogen associated molecular patterns) and DAMP (Damage associated molecular patterns)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of recognition strategy 1
Many cells express the same receptor so it’s rapid and effective
Limited diversity and some pathogens will not be recognised
Describe recognition strategy 2
Recognising precise structures
Millions of receptors
Generated by random recombination of gene segments (must be activated first)
Give the advantages and disadvantages of recognition strategy 2
Massive diversity so all structures potentially recognised
Fewer cells have this so it takes a long time
Random nature can lead to autoimmunity
What is the epitome
The site on the antigen where antibodies bind to
Compare innate immunity to adaptive immunity
Independent of previous exposure vs adaptation to previous exposure
Depends on pre-formed and rapidly synthesised components vs depends on clonal selection
Fast vs slow
Limited specificity vs very specific
Give some features of innate immunity
Destroys nucleic acids in the cytoplasm
Activates inflammatory pathways
Type 1 interferon
Give some features of adaptive immunity
Memory cell formation
Priming required
Cellular or humoral (lymphocytes)
How does innate immunity relate to adaptive immunity
Buys time for adaptive immunity and promotes and directs the correct reponse
What percentage of WBCs do lymphocytes make up in blood and lymph
20-60%
99%
Which cells and substances are involved with innate response
Neutrophils Macrophages Eosinophils Complement Acute phase - P
Which cells and substances are involved with adaptive immunity
T cells
B cells
Antibodies
Which cells and substances are involved with adaptive AND innate immunity
Basophils
Dendritic
Natural Killer
Cytokines
Describe clonal selection
Polyclonal naive lymphocyte, activation, proliferation, effector lymphocyte
Genetic recombination generates diversity of immunoglobulin and TCR
What are primary lymphoid organs and give examples
Organs where lymphocytes are produced (lymphopoiesis) e.g. bone marrow and thymus
What are secondary lymphoid organs and give examples
Organs where lymphocytes interact with antigens and other lymphocytes e.g. spleen, lymph nodes, mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue
Describe/ draw the structure of the thymus
Between the right and left lung in front of the heart. Thyroid lies above the C cartilage. Bi-lobed
Give some features of the thymus
Bi-lobed
Proliferating lymphocytes
Cortex and medulla
How does the thymus change during infection
No obvious change
Where are Hassal’s corpuscle and what do they do
Fibroblast cells for T-reg development in the thymus
How does age effect the thymus
As one ages, there is a decreased output of NEW T cells
Give some features of bone marrow
B cell and RBC production
Foetus = lots of marrow
Adult = lot so fat with large and flat bones
How does the bone marrow change during infection
Increased WBC production
Describe the lymphatic system
Drainage system that collects antigens and filters them through nodes. Antigens are likely to enter the lymph.
What structures can be found in the lymph nodes
High endothelial venues (HEV) = cells move from the blood to the lymph node
Germinal centres = where B cells proliferate
How does the lymph node change during infection
Lymph nodes enlargen
Where are B and T cells found in the lymph nodes
B cells = outside
T cells = inside
Due to chemokines
What does the spleen do
Filters for antigens in the blood
What is red and white pulp and where is it found
Found in the spleen
red= RBCs
White = WBCs
How does the spleen change during infection
larger follicles
Give 2 features of the spleen
Not many HEV
Contains germinal centres
How does epithelium act as a defence
physical barrier with a very large SA
Mucosae-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
Villi have lymph drains
What are Peyer’s patches and where are they found
Found in the gut with large aggregates of B cells and germinal centres
What are microfold cells and where are they found
M cells that sample antigens in the gut in the peyer’s patches
How does the cutaneous tissue contribute to immune response
Epidermal langerhans cells captures pathogens from the skin. Also intraepidermal lymphocytes, T cells, dermal dendritic cells and macrophages
What is the purpose of recirculation
Ensures that the antigen meets the lymphocyte with the specific receptor
Where does recirculation occur
Between the blood and peripheral lymphoid tissue
What does extravasation mean
Movement from blood to lymph node
Describe the process of extravasation
Naive T cell rolls along the epithelium
proteins and carbs bound to epithelium
Receptors on the lymphocyte bind to chemokine on the epithelium
Lymphocytes signals the T cells
Change in structure of integrin
Integrin becomes high affinity binding and stops movement
Transport of the T cell through the epithelium
What are CD markers
CD = cluster differentiation
Systemic nomenclature for cell surface membranes
What CD markers to all T cells show
CD3
How to T cells differ from B cells in recognising antigens
T cells recognise PROCESSED antigens using the TCR while B cells can recognised unprocessed antigens
Which CD markers do B cells show
CD19 and CD20
Which MHC class do B cells show
MHC II
Describe APCs
Antigen presenting cells that present processed antigen to T cells in adaptive response. Includes dendritic cells, macrophages and B lymphocytes
How does skin act as a barrier
Acidic environment
Give physiological features on innate immunity
body temperature
Acidic pH
Chemical mediators e.g. complement, lysozyme, interferons
Give features of neutrophils
phagocytose
40-75% of lymphocytes
Short lived
First cells recruited
How do neutrophils move into the lymph
rolling Infection releases chemokine Signal from endothelium Forms a high affinity neutrophil Diapedesis through
Define opsonisation
Micro-organism is coated with proteins for phagocytsosis
What are NETs
Neutrophil extracellular traps where granules and chromatin are released to form extracellular fibres