Immunology- basics

Question 1

What is the difference between innate immunity and adaptive immunity (3 examples)

Answer 1

Innate immunity is shared by all animals, adaptive is only vertebrates.
Innate is a rapid response, adaptive is slower.
Innate has some exterior defenses e.g. skin, adaptive is internal, such as a cell-mediated response.

Question 2

What is this diagram showing the process of?

Answer 2

This is phagocytosis (phagocytosis is like the “eating” process that certain cells in your body use to engulf and digest foreign particles, such as bacteria or dead cells. It’s a bit like a vacuum cleaner picking up dirt. The cells involved, called phagocytes, wrap around the particles and digest them to help keep the body free from harmful invaders).

Question 3

What does a neutrophil do?

Answer 3

It circulates in the blood but can come out if there is an infection.

Question 3

Can you name 2 cells of the innate immune system?

Answer 3

Here are some!

Question 4

What immune cells are mostly found in skin and mucous membranes?

Answer 4

Dendritic cells

Question 5

What are macrophages?

Answer 5

Macrophages are large, specialised cells in the immune system that recognise, engulf and destroy infected or damaged cells

Question 6

What are the challenges to an immune system? (2 answers)

Answer 6

Pathogens e.g. COVID and flu and altered/ damaged self cells.