Immunology lecture 3_Antigens and receptors

Question 1

What is an antigen

Answer 1

any molecule that can bind an antibody or to an antigen receptor on cells of the immune system.

Question 2

Define epitope

Answer 2

The smallest unit of an antigen that can be recognized by antibodies and antigen receptors. The exist in both multivalent (repeats of the same epitope) and polyvalent (many unique epitope) configurations.

Question 3

Define conformational epitope and identify what can bind them

Answer 3

A conformational epitope is an epitope that consistes of the 3D structure of a protein. It can be recognized by antibodies, B cells, and innate receptors.

Question 4

Define linear epitope and identify what can bind them

Answer 4

A linear epitope is an epitope that consists of the primary structure of a short denatured peptide. They are the only epitope that T cells can recognize. they can also be recognized by the structures that recognize confomational epitopes

Question 5

Define immunogen

Answer 5

molecules that can generate an immune response that become the target of the immune system.

Question 6

What is more immunogenic: lipids, carbohydrates, NA, or proteins? Why?

Answer 6

Proteins. This is because they tend to be more specific to unique cells than the other macro molecules.

Question 7

Define hapten

Answer 7

Small molecules that can bind to antibodies and receptors but that can’t induce an immune response on their own (ie small virisus). They can be made more immunogenic when linked to a larger carrier molecule

Question 8

Define tolerogens

Answer 8

Molecules that can induce an immune response but that have decreased response with additional exposure (ie peanut allergy treatment)

Question 9

Define Mitogens

Answer 9

A molecule that induces nonspecific division and differentiation. Often superantigens that can produce a cytokine storm

Question 10

Define Adjuvants

Answer 10

additives to vaccines that boost the immune response

Question 11

How does size of a protein effect immune response?

Answer 11

Larger molecules have more epitopes resulting in larger immune response

Question 12

How does route of exposure (ie skin vs GI) effect immune response

Answer 12

Skin is the first line of defense and results in large and immedate immune response. GI immune response is more limited. This is to protect gut biome

Question 13

How is antigent recocnition different between innate nad adaptive immune cells.

Answer 13

Innate cells use “patten recognition receptor” (PRR) which identify common features of many antigens. Addaptive cells use antigen specific receptors that only recognize a particular antigen

Question 14

Define PAMPs

Answer 14

Pathogen associated recognition patterns are what inate antigens bind to.

Question 15

Name the most common PRR

Answer 15

Toll like receptors (TLRs)