Immunology/Microbiology Flashcards
Which immune cells are polymorphonucleocytes?
- Neutrophils 2. Eosinophils 3. Basophils (granulocytes)
How does the tetanus vaccination work?
Stimulates antitoxin production
Does not prevent the growth of C. tetani in wounds, but protects against the toxin produced by the organism
Which tetanus vaccination is given to children?
DTPa
(diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (acellular))
Which tetanus vaccination is given to adolescents and adults?
dTpa
Contain substantially less amounts of diphtheria toxoid and pertussis antigens than DTPa
When should adults receive a tetanus booster dose?
All adults aged 50 who have not had a tetanus booster in the previous 10 years
When is tetanus immunoglobulin (TIG) given?
If there is any doubt about the adequacy of previous tetanus immunisation in a person with a tetanus-prone wound
e.g. immunodeficiency, <3 tetanus doses or uncertain
Which organism causes tetanus?
Clostridium tetani
Which cells are phagocytes?
- Monocytes (macrophages, dendritic cells)
- Mast cells
- Neutrophils
What is the action of C5a?
Chemotaxis
What is the action of C3b?
Opsonisation (with the action of C5a)
+ helps create MAC
Which complement proteins are involved in the formation of the MAC?
C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9
Which complement pathway requires the adaptive response for activation?
Classical
Activated by antigen-antibody complexes
What are anaphylatoxins?
Bind to and stimulate mast cells and basophils to degranulate
Complement peptides C3a, C4a and C5a
Which T helper cells are involved in autoimmune reactions?
Th1 or Th17
Which T helper cells are involved in allergic reactions?
Th2
What are 3 organisms people with asplenism particularly susceptible to?
Streptococcus pneumonia
Neisseria meningitidis
Haemophilis influenzae
Klebsiella
Pseudomonas aureginosa
In which area of the spleen are APCs and specialised B cells found?
Marginal zone
Between the red and white pulp - area where APCs present blood-bourne antigens
In which area of the spleen are T cells found?
Periarterial lymphatic sheath of the white pulp
Which immunoglobulins are measured when investigating immunodeficiency?
IgA, IgG, IgM
What are 3 congenital B-cell immunodeficiencies?
Brunton agammaglobulinemia (X-lined agammaglobulinemia)
Selective IgA deficiency (SIgAD)
Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)
In which immunodeficiency are B cells phenotypically normal but unable to differentiate into Ig-producing cells
Common variable immunodeficiency
What is the most common congenital immunodeficiency?
Selective IgA deficiency
Which congenital B cell immunodeficiency typically has an onset at 20-35 years of age?
Common variable immunodeficiency
What type of infections are characteristic of complement deficiencies?
Infections from encapsulated organisms
What type of infections are characteristic of granulocyte deficiencies?
Skin and soft tissue infections
Catalase-positive organisms e.g. Staph aureus, Gram -ve bacilli
What type of infections are characteristic of T cell deficiencies?
“Benign” viruses (e.g. CMV, EBV), fungi, intracellular pathogens (e.g. mycobacteria)
What is the function of PRR and PAMPs?
Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) recognise pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and induce cytokine release
PAMPs = products found in pathogens and not in mammals e.g. flagellin
PRR e.g. toll-like receptors
What is the common end point of the three complement pathways?
Splitting of C3 into C3a and C3b
What is the function of C3a
Histamine degranulation → enhanced inflammation
What is a bacterial capsule?
Polysaccharide layer that lies outside the cell envelope
Prevents phagocytosis
A capsule-specific antibody is required
What is the structure of immunoglobulins?
Two heavy chains
Two light chains
The variable regions of the H and L chains are the antibody binding sites
Which immunoglobulin crosses the placenta and provides passive immunity to children?
IgG
Which immunoglobulin is least affected by loss of immunoglobulins in the renal or gastrointestinal tract?
IgM
Largest of the immunoglobulins
Which is the most potent cytokine?
IL-6
How do glucocorticoids suppress the immune system?
Decreased transcription of pro-inflammatory genes
→ Inhibits neutrophil binding to the vessel wall (less emigration to tissues)
→ Inhibits leukocyte activity
- Neutrophil infections - staph, strep, candida*
- Lymphocyte infections - herpes, mycobacteria, salmonella*
Delayed loss of the umbilical cord is associated with which immunodeficiency?
Leukocyte adhesion deficiency
Poor migration of immune cells from the vessel wall, particularly neutrophils
What is defective in chronic granulomatous disease?
Deficiency of superoxide production by polymorphoneutrophils and macrophages → ability to ingest but not kill microorganisms → granuloma formation
What is the mechanism of natalizumab?
Stops leukocytes from adhering to vessel walls
Cannot reach tissues to cause inflammation
What is the mechanism of fingolimod?
Blocks sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor
Lymphocytes accumulate in lymph nodes → not able to travel to tissues
When is infection a contraindication to vaccination?
Temperature > 38.5 degrees
Minor coughs and colds are ok
Which test is used to assess the complement system?
CH100/50
How do immunomodulators affect infection risk?
They do not increase the risk of infection as they are not immunosuppressive
What is the mechanism of azathioprine?
Purine antimetabolite
Impairs lymphocyte proliferation, cellular immunity and antibody responses
What feature is unique to splenic macrophages?
Can detect and capture encapsulated bacteria
Normal macrophages detect proteins, but the polysaccharide wall is a sugar
What is a unique feature of B cells in the splenic marginal zone?
Can initiate T cell-independent immune reactions
What occurs in the cortex of lymph nodes?
B cell proliferation occurs in germinal centres
What lies in the paracortex of lymph nodes?
T cells
What is the role of dendritic cells in lymph nodes?
Dendritic cells are activated → enter lymph node → present antigen to T cells → T cells activate B cells → antibody production
Why are patients with diabetes immunocompromised?
Neutrophil dysfunction → bacterial and fungal infections
Poor peripheral circulation → ulceration + poor delivery of neutrophils
Which immunoglobulin(s) are affected by asplenism?
IgM
Which immunoglobulin is involved in type III hypersensitivity reactions?
IgG
Why do type I hypersensitivity reactions occur so rapidly?
IgE coats mast cells and basophils with initial contact with the antigen
Antigen readily binds to IgE with subsequent exposure and causes degranulation
Which immunoglobulin(s) are involved in type II hypersensitivity reactions?
IgM and IgG
Bind to antigens → complement activation → cellular lysis and phagocytosis
What is tryptase?
Specific marker of mast cell activation
If elevated → increased risk of anaphylaxis
What is the mechanism of montelukast?
Leukotriene receptor antagonist
May be used for long-term asthma control
What is the mechanism of complement-dependent type II hypersensitivity reactions?
- IgG and IgM bind to antigens
- Complement activation (classical)
- Cellular lysis or phagocytosis
* E.g. autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, pemphigus vulgaris, drug reactions*
What is the mechanism of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxic type II hypersensitivity reactions?
Ab + Ag → activation of NK cells → cell lysis without phagocytosis
Destruction of targets too large to be phagocytosed e.g. parasites, tumour cells, graft rejection
What is the mechanism of antibody-mediated cellular dysfunction type II hypersensitivity reactions?
Antibodies directed against cell surface receptors → impaired or dysregulated cell dysfunction
E.g. MG, Goodpasture’s, pernicious anaemia, acute rheumatic fever
What type of hypersensitivity is myasthenia gravis?
Type II (antibody-mediated cellular dysfunction)
Antibodies bind to post-synaptic ACh receptors, competing with ACh
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Type II (antibody-mediated cellular dysfunction)
Antibodies against type IV collagen (in basement membrane of glomerulus → glomerulonephritis + acute renal failure)
Can also affect alveoli
What type of hypersensitivity reaction is pernicious anaemia?
Type II (antibody-mediated cellular dysfunction)
Antibodies against intrinsic factor and/or parietal cells