Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Biology > Immunology > Flashcards

Immunology Flashcards

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

a self antigen…

A

does not stimulate an immune response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

phagocytes are a type of …..

A

leukocyte (white blood cells)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how is a pathogen destroyed in phagocytosis?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

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

A

a phagosome

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

where do T-Cells mature?

A

in the thymus gland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what type of response are T-Cells in?

A

cell mediated response

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

T cells secrete antibodies T or F

A

False THEY DO NOT

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

T cells will only respond to antigens on …….

A

antigen presenting cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

name the 4 types of T cells

A
  • helper
  • cytotoxic
  • memory
  • suppressor
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what response is B Cells?

A

humoral

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is the definition of monoclonal antibody?

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
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)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

how many polypeptide chains are in an antibody?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

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

A

2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

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

A

2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what is the variable region on an antibody?

A
  • holds 2 antigen binding sites

- the shape is complementary to the specific antigen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
which part of the antibody is different on every antibody and which part is the same on every one?
``` different = variable region same = constant region ```
26
what bonds hold the polypeptides together?
disulphide bridges
27
what does agglutination mean? and why important?
- the clumping of antigen-antibody complexes | - easier for c T cells/phagocytes to find
28
true or false: antibodies kill pathogens
false, cytotoxic t cells do
29
what does the ELISA test for?
uses monoclonal antibodies to detect specific protein/antigen in blood (shows if have been infected/are infected)
30
name the 6 steps to the ELISA test (use mumps virus as an example)
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 5. well washed again 6. solution changes colour if it binds to the antibody.
31
In the ELISA test why does the well need to be washed?
because, it removes unbound 2nd antibody which could give a false positive
32
Why is ELISA test used in medical diagnosis?
- rapid result | - can obtain info on concentration of specific antibody in blood
33
definition of a vaccine?
injection of attenuated antigens from a pathogen, is harmless
34
name the 3 ways vaccines to not cause disease
- boiled antigen - removed toxins - make sure they can't reproduce
35
how do vaccines stimulate the production of memory cells?
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
what does antigen presenting cell mean?
when a phagocyte, macrophage or b cell engulf the pathogen and present the pathogens antigens on its cell surface membrane
37
why are some vaccines given multiple doses over several months? (2 reasons)
- more exposure to antibodies (antigens produced quicker) | - memory cells (secondary response)
38
what is the definition of herd immunity?
when sufficiently large parts of the pop. have been vaccinated, makes it difficult for pathogen to spread throughout it
39
name the 5 factors that determine the success of a vaccine programme
- 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
why do vaccines rarely eliminate disease? ( 4 reasons)
- 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
name 5 ethical issues of vaccination
- 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
what is passive immunity
introduction of antibodies from an outside source (no direct contact with antigens), antibodies not replaced, short lived
43
what is active immunity?
antibodies produced by own immune system (direct contact with antigens), antibodies replaced, long lasting
44
what are the 2 types of active immunity?
artificial (immunisation) and natural
45
name the 6 components of the HIV virus
- RNA - attachment proteins - caspid - matrix - lipid envelope - reverse transcriptase
46
name the 8 stages of virus replication (HIV)
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
why does HIV cause symptoms of AIDS?
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
name the 3 reasons why antibiotics do not work on viruses
- 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
name the 2 specific immune responses
cell mediated T lymphocytes, humoral B lymphocytes
50
how come there are no lymphocytes which attack self cells?
those cells undergo apoptosis (cell death)
51
name the 2 non specific immune responses
physical barrier (innate response), phagocytosis
52
Types of phagocytes: | macrophages are _________. Neutrophils in the _____
localised, blood
53
where do B cells mature?
bone marrow
54
receptors on T cells are _______ to the antigens being _________.
complimentary, presented
55
what is clonal selection?
when the B cell becomes antigen presenting + T helper cells stimulate the B cell to divide via mitosis = plasma cells
56
are plasma cells part of the primary or secondary response?
primary
57
describe indirect monoclonal antibody therapy
attaching radioactive/cytotoxic drug to monoclonal antibody and kill cancer cells
58
describe direct monoclonal antibody therapy
monoclonal antibody specific to cancer cells attach + block signals that stimulate uncontrolled growth
59
what is the role of reverse transcriptase?
catalyses the production of DNA from RNA
60
HIV is a retrovirus. What does that mean?
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
HIV replicates inside...
T cells!
62
what does ELISA stand for?
enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
63
ethical issues surrounding monoclonal antibody uses?
- 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
What is the role of cytotoxic t cells?
kills by secreting toxins (perforin or enzymes)
65
Role of the memory t cell?
retain genetic code for secondary response of the same antigen
66
Role of the suppressor t cell?
close down immune response
67
What do helper T cells do?
secrete cytokines stimulates cytotoxic t cells + B cells to stimulate plasma cells and phagocytes = more phagocytosis

Biology (25 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions