Immunology Definitions Flashcards
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Define
Virulence
The abliilty of a pathogen to cause harm
Pathogen
are disease causing agents.
What are Antigens? What are the two types?
A substance in the body which can trigger and immune response from our bodies, can be attached to pathogens or free floating.
Two types: Self and non-self
What defines a self-antigen? What are the two markers?
A self antigen will have a self marker (MHC) which label the cell attached as a friendly.
Two markers:
1. MHCI1- on all nucleated cells and identify it as a self cell.
2. MHCII - present on some immune cells to do antigen presentation.
What is the inate Immune Response? (specific)
What cells does it involve.
It’s a immune response that creates immunological memory, thus immunity to pathogens.
Cells involved are T-cells and B-cells.
What is the Innate Immune Response?
(non specific)
what is involved?
Its an immune response that doesn’t have immunological memmory, so no immunity to pathogen.
It involves inflammation, barriers, Non-cellular components and cellular.
What is the “First Line of Defence,” give some examples.
First line of defence is what first is done to destroy the pathogens.
examples:
1. Physical: Skin, nose hairs, ,mucos.
2. Chemical: pH in stomach, digestive enzymes,
What are Leukocytes? What are some examples?
They are the cells of the inate immune system. (non-specific)
E.g. Phagocytes, Macrophages, Neutrophil, mast cells, dendritic Cells, Complement protiens.
What are the roles these phagocyte: Macrophages, Neutrophils, Dentritic Cells?
- Macrophage: Involved in Phagocytosis & antigen presentation. Release cytokines to attract more defenses.
- Neutrophills: Most common Phagocyte, releases cytokines to attract other immune cells and promotes inflammation.
- Dentritic Cells: In phagocytosis and Antigen presentation. Large SA:V– deep groves.
What is Phagocytosis?
The process of engulfing foriegn objects (pathogens) to destroy them using enzymes.
What is Antigen Presentation?
When specific self cells of the inate immune system have MHCII markers on them, they can present foreign antigens to the cells of the adaptive immune system to create immunity.
What do Natural Killer Cells do and Eosinophills? How do NKC differentiate self and non-self cells.
They can destroy virally infected cells via releaseing cytotoxins casuing cells to lyse.
They have two receptors:
1. Killer inhibitory receptors (look for MHCI)
2. Killer activation receptors - Kills those whitout sufficient MHCI marker ammount.
Eosinophills dela with pathogens or infected cells that are too big to be engulfed through phagocytosis or marked. They release molecules through “degranulation’ of the toxic chemicals in cells which kill cells.
What are compliment protiens?
proteins which work in conjuction with immune cells and on theri own to destroy invading pathogens.
What are interferons?
Cells infected by virus relase a cytokine called interferon. When surrounding cell reveive this chemical signal, they undergo changes which make them less likely for themselves to become infected by the virus.
What is Zoonotic
a pathogen that is transmitted from animals to humans
