Immunology - Exam 1 Flashcards
Antigen def. Give 4 examples. How many antigens are on a microbe?
ANY substance that induces a specific immune response (ex. proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, metals). Each microbe has a LOT of different antigens.
Pathogen: def and (5) types
pathogen = infectious organism. Includes:
1. virus, 2. bacteria, 3. fungi, 4. protozoa, 5. helminths (worms)
(2) categories of leukocytes and sub-categories of each
Lymphoids (3) and Myeloids (4).
LYMPHOIDS = T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and Natural Killer (NK) cells
MYELOIDS = Monocytes/Macrophages; Dendritic cells; Mast cells; and PMNs/Granulocytes (3)
-(3) PMNs = Neutrophils, Basophils, and Eosinophils
(5) differences in Innate v. Adaptive Immunity
- Innate is primitive host defense and adaptive is specific or acquired
- Innate is effective immediately and adaptive takes time to develop/the secondary defense
- Adaptive is antigen-specific, but innate is not
- Adaptive increases in magnitude and effectiveness after successive exposure to infectious agent, but innate does not
- Innate is mediated by NON-antigen specific immune cells, while adaptive IS mediated by antigen-specific lymphocytes and their products
What cells are the 2 mediators of the adaptive immune response? Which cells are part of the innate immune response?
- B and T lymphocytes are 2 mediators of Adaptive.
- ALL of the myeloids + Natural Killer cells = Innate. (So innate is phagocytes (macrophages, neutrophils) and NK cells)
(2) types of adaptive immunity and their functions. Which targets extracellular v. intracellular microbes?
- Humoral immunity = defense where our B lymphocytes make antibodies. These secreted antibodies block infections and aid in elimination (phagocytosis) of EXTRAcellular microbes.
- Cell-mediated Immunity = both helper T cells and cytotoxic T cells that, respectively, activate macrophages to kill phagocytosed microbes or directly kill infected cells. Protects again INTRAcellular microbes.
Antibodies: definition and function
- Made by B lymphocytes in the Humoral type of adaptive immunity. Antibodies are proteins in the blood and body fluids that bind to specific antigens (or other structures) on the surface of microbes.
- Antibodies can neutralize toxins or microbes OR aid in phagocytosis of microbes
(2) types of T lymphocytes
Helper T cells = CD4+ cells. Make cytokines that ACTIVATE macrophages that have phagocytosed, but have not yet killed microbes. Their cytokines also activate neutrophils to cause inflammation. Also help B cells make antibodies and T cells to proliferate (get it on)
-Cytotoxic T cells = CD8+ cells. Directly kill cells infected w/ virus or some other intracellular pathogen
3rd type of T cell and its function
Regulatory T cells: job is to regulate the overall immune response–both innate and adaptive–by suppressing other immune cells
Clonal expansion
After exposure to specific antigen, a crap ton of lymphocytes specific for that antigen are cloned in order to keep up with the proliferating microbes. Since microbes express many different antigens, an infection of one type of microbe can lead to several different clones with different antigen-specificities; yet they will all attack the same microbe.
(7) features of adaptive immunity
- Specificity = each lymphocyte responds to 1 specific antigen
- Diversity = a billion diff antigen specificities
- Memory = after initial antigen exposure, get bigger, more potent response to next exposure
- Clonal expansion = cloning antigen-specific lymphocytes to attack the microbe
- Specialization = antibodies target EXTRAcellular pathogens, while CD8+ target virally-infected/INTRAcellular pathogens
- Contraction and homeostasis
- Non-reactivity to self = prevents injury to the host during response to foreign antigens
(4) steps of clonal hypothesis
- Lymphocyte precursors turn into mature lymphocytes in lymphoid organs (Bone marrow = B and Thymus = T)
- Mature lymphocytes specific for diff antigens enter lymphoid tissues
- There, antigen-specific clones are activated by their antigens
- Travel to site of infection/injury for immune response
Immunological memory
the final phase of the adaptive immune response following the Contraction & Restoration of homeostasis phase. Most lymphocytes undergo regulated apoptosis or inactivation. But some lymphocytes stick around and become memory cells in order to provide a faster, more potent response to the next antigen exposure.
1st phase of the adaptive immune response
capture and display of microbial antigens. Done by antigen-presenting cells, e.g. Dendritic cells that present the antigen to NAIVE T-cells
Effector lymphocytes. Which phase of adaptive immunity?
functional lymphocytes. They differentiate (and clone) into this after exposure and recognition of their specific antigen. This occurs during the Lymphocyte Activation phase (3 of 6)
(3) actions included in the Antigen Elimination (Effector) phase of adaptive immunity
eliminate pathogens by 1. production of cytokines that activate cells of BOTH innate and adaptive immunity; 2. direct killing of infected cells (cell-mediated immun); and 3. production of antibodies (humoral immun)
(4) Myeloid cells
Myeloids are mostly phagocytes. Include:
- Monocytes/Macrophages (phag)
- PMN cells (phago) = neutrophils, basophils, and eosinophils
- Dendritic cells (phag)
- Mast cells
Lymphoid cells
Lymphoids = the (3) lymphocytes. T cells, B cell,s and NK cells
Monocytes/Macrophages. Look, location, and function
Mononuclear phagocytic cells in tissue
PMNs. Look and function. 3 subtypes.
PMNs = Polymorphonuclear cells. MULTI-lobed nuclei with cytoplasmic granules. Phagocytic cells, include:
- Neutrophils: phagocytosis and activation of bactericidal mechanisms
- Basophils: unknown, but appear similar to mast cells
- Eosinophils: kill antibody-coated parasites and involved in allergy