Immunology Flashcards

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1
Q

definition of antigen

A

a protein, polysaccharide or glycoprotein that is part of the cell surface membrane or cell membrane of invading cells

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2
Q

a self antigen…

A

does not stimulate an immune response

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3
Q

definition of a foreign antigen

A

stimulates an immune response as the tertiary structure of the antigen is different to that of the bodies self antigens

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4
Q

foreign antigens help the body to recognise…(5)

A
  • foreign cells
  • abnormal body cells
  • toxins
  • pathogens
  • cells from other organisms of the same species
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5
Q

what is the innate immune response and what do they include? (give 2 examples)

A

they are non-specific mechanisms

  • physical barrier i.e. skin
  • phagocytosis
  • tears (contain lysozymes which break down wall of bac.)
  • goblet and cilia cells in the trachea
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6
Q

what does antigen variability mean?

A
  • primary structure of the antigen changes causing the tertiary structure to change also
  • specific cell receptors no longer complimentary to specific antigen.
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7
Q

phagocytes are a type of …..

A

leukocyte (white blood cells)

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8
Q

phagocytes arrive at site via _________ so can migrate to _______. Damaged _______ produces chemicals which make _____ vessels ______. This speeds up the arrival of __________.

A
  1. bloodstream
  2. tissues
  3. tissues
  4. blood
  5. widen
  6. leukocytes
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9
Q

how is a pathogen destroyed in phagocytosis?

A

engulfed and is hydrolysed by lysozymes from lysosomes (products absorbed)

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10
Q

when the pathogen is engulfed by the phagocyte what is the vesicle called?

A

a phagosome

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11
Q

where do T-Cells mature?

A

in the thymus gland

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12
Q

what type of response are T-Cells in?

A

cell mediated response

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13
Q

T cells secrete antibodies T or F

A

False THEY DO NOT

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14
Q

T cells will only respond to antigens on …….

A

antigen presenting cells

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15
Q

name the 4 types of T cells

A
  • helper
  • cytotoxic
  • memory
  • suppressor
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16
Q

what response is B Cells?

A

humoral

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17
Q

what is the definition of monoclonal antibody?

A

antibody produced from a single clone of B cells/plasma cells

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18
Q

T or F: plasma cells stimulate the production of B cells which produce antibodies

A

False: B cells stimulate the plasma cells to produce antibodies

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19
Q

In the humoral response, are there memory cells?

A

yes, memory B cells circulate the blood + hold the genetic code for a secondary response of the same antigen

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20
Q

what are antibodies?

A

proteins synthesised by plasma B Cells + have a specific tertiary structure complementary to 1 specific antigen (forms antibody antigen complexes)

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21
Q

how many polypeptide chains are in an antibody?

A

4

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22
Q

how many heavy (big chains) are in an antibody?

A

2

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23
Q

how many light (small chains) are in an antibody?

A

2

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24
Q

what is the variable region on an antibody?

A
  • holds 2 antigen binding sites

- the shape is complementary to the specific antigen

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25
Q

which part of the antibody is different on every antibody and which part is the same on every one?

A
different = variable region 
same = constant region
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26
Q

what bonds hold the polypeptides together?

A

disulphide bridges

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27
Q

what does agglutination mean? and why important?

A
  • the clumping of antigen-antibody complexes

- easier for c T cells/phagocytes to find

28
Q

true or false: antibodies kill pathogens

A

false, cytotoxic t cells do

29
Q

what does the ELISA test for?

A

uses monoclonal antibodies to detect specific protein/antigen in blood (shows if have been infected/are infected)

30
Q

name the 6 steps to the ELISA test (use mumps virus as an example)

A
  1. mumps antigen attached to the disk
  2. sample of blood plasma added (if mumps antibody present, they will bind to antigen)
  3. well is washed
    4,. second antibody with an enzyme attached is added which specifically binds to the mumps antibody
  4. well washed again
  5. solution changes colour if it binds to the antibody.
31
Q

In the ELISA test why does the well need to be washed?

A

because, it removes unbound 2nd antibody which could give a false positive

32
Q

Why is ELISA test used in medical diagnosis?

A
  • rapid result

- can obtain info on concentration of specific antibody in blood

33
Q

definition of a vaccine?

A

injection of attenuated antigens from a pathogen, is harmless

34
Q

name the 3 ways vaccines to not cause disease

A
  • boiled antigen
  • removed toxins
  • make sure they can’t reproduce
35
Q

how do vaccines stimulate the production of memory cells?

A
  1. antigens taken up by B cell
  2. B cell becomes antigen presenting cells
  3. B cells clone by mitosis and produce plasma + memory cells
36
Q

what does antigen presenting cell mean?

A

when a phagocyte, macrophage or b cell engulf the pathogen and present the pathogens antigens on its cell surface membrane

37
Q

why are some vaccines given multiple doses over several months? (2 reasons)

A
  • more exposure to antibodies (antigens produced quicker)

- memory cells (secondary response)

38
Q

what is the definition of herd immunity?

A

when sufficiently large parts of the pop. have been vaccinated, makes it difficult for pathogen to spread throughout it

39
Q

name the 5 factors that determine the success of a vaccine programme

A
  • few side effects
  • vaccine must be economically available in sufficient quantities
  • means of storing/transporting/ producing it
  • means to administration i.e. trained staff/centres
  • possible to vaccinate majority of pop. (herd immunity)
40
Q

why do vaccines rarely eliminate disease? ( 4 reasons)

A
  • mutates too quickly
  • could fail to induce immunity in some ppl
  • some ppl won’t have vaccine due to ethical/health/religious reasons
  • ppl may develop disease and harbour it
41
Q

name 5 ethical issues of vaccination

A
  • use animals to test on
  • vaccines could cause long term side effects
  • on whom should they be tested on?
  • is it right for vaccines to be compulsory
  • should expensive vaccinations continue if disease already eradicated?
42
Q

what is passive immunity

A

introduction of antibodies from an outside source (no direct contact with antigens), antibodies not replaced, short lived

43
Q

what is active immunity?

A

antibodies produced by own immune system (direct contact with antigens), antibodies replaced, long lasting

44
Q

what are the 2 types of active immunity?

A

artificial (immunisation) and natural

45
Q

name the 6 components of the HIV virus

A
  • RNA
  • attachment proteins
  • caspid
  • matrix
  • lipid envelope
  • reverse transcriptase
46
Q

name the 8 stages of virus replication (HIV)

A
  1. virus binds to t cell
  2. caspid fuses with membrane = RNA + reverse transcriptase injected
  3. RNA synthesised by reverse transcriptase
  4. Viral DNA inserted in T cell DNA (is inactive)
  5. when active: mRNA used to make viral DNA
  6. mRNA diffuse out of nucleus
  7. manufactures HIV
  8. New viral cell breaks away from t cell. Has got the t cells antigens on its surface membrane
47
Q

why does HIV cause symptoms of AIDS?

A
  1. extremely low T cell count
  2. so cannot produce cytokines (so can’t stimulate cytotoxic t cells/plasma cells)
  3. unable to produce immune response
  4. so can easily get infected with AIDS and other stuff
48
Q

name the 3 reasons why antibiotics do not work on viruses

A
  • viruses replicate inside cells (antibiotics can’t enter as could damage cell)
  • viruses surrounded by protein coat
  • no metabolic mechanisms or cell structures to disrupt
49
Q

name the 2 specific immune responses

A

cell mediated T lymphocytes, humoral B lymphocytes

50
Q

how come there are no lymphocytes which attack self cells?

A

those cells undergo apoptosis (cell death)

51
Q

name the 2 non specific immune responses

A

physical barrier (innate response), phagocytosis

52
Q

Types of phagocytes:

macrophages are _________. Neutrophils in the _____

A

localised, blood

53
Q

where do B cells mature?

A

bone marrow

54
Q

receptors on T cells are _______ to the antigens being _________.

A

complimentary, presented

55
Q

what is clonal selection?

A

when the B cell becomes antigen presenting + T helper cells stimulate the B cell to divide via mitosis = plasma cells

56
Q

are plasma cells part of the primary or secondary response?

A

primary

57
Q

describe indirect monoclonal antibody therapy

A

attaching radioactive/cytotoxic drug to monoclonal antibody and kill cancer cells

58
Q

describe direct monoclonal antibody therapy

A

monoclonal antibody specific to cancer cells attach + block signals that stimulate uncontrolled growth

59
Q

what is the role of reverse transcriptase?

A

catalyses the production of DNA from RNA

60
Q

HIV is a retrovirus. What does that mean?

A
  1. has RNA as genetic material
  2. when it infects the cell it makes a DNA copy of its genome
  3. This DNA copy inserted into T cell
61
Q

HIV replicates inside…

A

T cells!

62
Q

what does ELISA stand for?

A

enzyme linked immunosorbent assay

63
Q

ethical issues surrounding monoclonal antibody uses?

A
  • production deliberately inducing cancer in mice for antibodies
  • patients must have informed consent (deaths associated with treatment of MS)
  • testing for safety of drugs
64
Q

What is the role of cytotoxic t cells?

A

kills by secreting toxins (perforin or enzymes)

65
Q

Role of the memory t cell?

A

retain genetic code for secondary response of the same antigen

66
Q

Role of the suppressor t cell?

A

close down immune response

67
Q

What do helper T cells do?

A

secrete cytokines stimulates cytotoxic t cells + B cells to stimulate plasma cells and phagocytes = more phagocytosis