Immunology Key Terms

Question 1

Pathogen

Answer 1

An organism that causes damage to its host e.g. bacteria, virus, fungus, prion and parasite.

Question 2

Antigen

Answer 2

Substances recognised as foreign by the immune system and stimulates an immune response.

Question 3

Antibody

Answer 3

Large protein molecules (produced by plasma B lymphocytes) that recognise and neutralise antigens.

Question 4

Humoral response

Answer 4

Defence against disease by antibodies (not directly by cells) produced and secreted by plasma B cells.

Question 5

Cell mediated response

Answer 5

Direct cell contact involving the destruction of pathogens and infected cells and cancer cells.

Question 6

Vaccine

Answer 6

Give week/dead pathogen is/antigens to stimulate and immune response; gives protection against subsequent infection.

Question 7

Vector

Answer 7

A living organism that transfers disease from one dividual to another e.g. mosquitoes and malaria

Question 8

Carrier

Answer 8

An individual who shows no symptoms were infected by disease or organism that can pass it onto another individual.

Question 9

Disease reservoir

Answer 9

Where are pathogen is normally found. This may be in humans or another animal and may be a source of infection e.g. influenza – pigs, birds. Ebola – bats.

Question 10

Endemic

Answer 10

A disease which is always present at low levels in an area e.g. malaria in parts of Africa

Question 11

Epidemic

Answer 11

Well there is a significant increase in the normal number of cases of a disease often associated with a rapid spread.

Question 12

Pandemic

Answer 12

A worldwide epidemic across international boundaries affecting a large number of people e.g. a new virus emerges and spreads across the whole world: HIV

Question 13

Antibiotics

Answer 13

Substances produced by microorganisms which affect the growth of another microorganism

Question 14

Antibiotic resistance

Answer 14

Where a microorganism which should be affected by an antibiotic is no longer susceptible to it.

Question 15

Toxin

Answer 15

A chemical produced by micro organism which causes damage to the host.

Question 16

Antigenic types

Answer 16

Organisms with the same or very similar antigens on the surface. Such types are sub groups or strains of a microbial species which may be used to trace infections. They’re usually identified by using antibodies from serum, the human body acting as a host to other living organisms e.g. influenza A: H1N1, H3N2, smallpox, cowpox.