Immunology Lec 1 Flashcards
Lecture 1:
Who is considered the pioneer of vaccination, and what disease did he target?
Edward Jenner is considered the pioneer of vaccination; he targeted smallpox using cowpox pus.
What major concept in immunology did Elie Metchnikoff describe and name?
Elie Metchnikoff described and named phagocytosis, the elimination of foreign matter by white blood cells.
What are the two primary arms of adaptive immunity?
Humoral immunity (antibody production by B cells) and cell-mediated immunity (T cells killing infected cells and aiding other immune cells).
What are the main cells involved in natural immunity?
Granulocytes (Neutrophils, Eosinophils, Basophils), Monocytes, and Natural Killer (NK) cells.
Define ‘antigen’ and list its key characteristics.
An antigen is a substance recognized as foreign by the immune system, provoking a response. Key characteristics include immunogenicity (ability to provoke an immune response) and reactivity (ability to react with antibodies or T cells).
What is the primary function of the complement system in immunity?
The complement system aids in pathogen elimination and links innate and adaptive immunity through a cascade of protein reactions.
What are the four properties of specific immunity, often referred to as the 4 Rs?
Recognition (identifying foreign antigens), Response (eliminating the antigen), Remember (memory of the antigen for quicker future response), and Regulate (reducing the immune response once the threat is diminished).
What are the phases of immune response to infection, and their time frames?
Innate Immunity: Immediate response (0-4 hours)
Early Induced Response: Activation of innate effectors (4-96 hours)
Adaptive Response: Activation of T and B cells, pathogen removal, and memory formation (>96 hours)
What is the significance of immunological memory in vaccination?
Immunological memory allows for long-term protection against diseases by leveraging the memory response developed after vaccination.
Describe Paul Ehrlich’s Side Chain Theory.
Paul Ehrlich’s Side Chain Theory, blood cells- bind and inactivate pathogens= antibody production.
Name the primary and secondary organs involved in the immune system.
Primary Organs: Bone marrow and thymus (formation and maturation of immune cells).
Secondary Organs: Lymphatic system and spleen (immune cells’ activity).
Differentiate between active and passive immunity.
Active immunity develops after exposure to a disease or vaccine, while passive immunity is transferred from another individual, such as from mother to fetus.
What were some of the major infectious diseases and their mortality rates? (Name at least 1)
AIDS: 2.6 million deaths per year
Infantile respiratory infections: 3.5 million
Infantile diarrhea: 2.2 million
Tuberculosis: 1.5 million
Malaria: 1.1 million
