Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Medicine Phase 2a > Immunology (Peer-Teaching) > Flashcards

Immunology (Peer-Teaching) Flashcards

1
Q

Give 4 examples of lymphoid organs

A

Lymph nodes
Spleen
Thymus
Diffuse lymphoid tissue (e.g. mucosa associated lymphoid tissue - MALTS)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Give 2 examples of MALTs

A

Tonsils
Peyers Patches
(Mucosa Associated Lymphoid Tissue)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where are lymph nodes abundant

A

Neck
Armpit
Groin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What cells can be found in the lymph nodes

A

Macrophages (that phagocytose foreign substances)
T cells (that directly attack pathogens)
Circulating cells
Dendritic cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Define dendritic cell

A

A special type of cell that is a key regulator of the immune system, acting as a professional antigen-presenting cell (APC) capable of activating naive T cells and stimulating the growth and differentiation of B cells..

Found in lymph nodes and spleen.

Dendritic means ‘tree-like branching’

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

In spleen, what happens in the white pulp?

A
  • Filtering out antibody-coated bacteria
  • Antibodies are made by B cells
  • Filters blood
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

In spleen, what happens in the red pulp?

A

Old blood cells are destroyed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

In which periods of time is thymus most active

A

Neonatal and Pre-adolescent periods

Atrophies after puberty

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is thymus involved in?

A

Development of T cells

also Destroys T cells that react to self-antigens

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe features of Innate Immunity

A 
Present at birth
Non-specific
No memory
Barriers (e.g.skin)
Limited number of receptors e.g. TLR, NLR
Involves:
Phagocytes (neutrophils, macrophages and dendritic cells)
NK cells
Basophils
Eosinophils
Complement proteins
PAMPs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe features of adaptive immunity

A

Built up over time
Specific
Memory (to previous disease/vaccinations)
Lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen, thymus)
Lymphocytes (T and B cells)
Antibodies
Epitopes
Receptor diversity requires somatic mutation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Describe the first line of defence of innate immunity

A

Intact skin
Mucous membranes and their secretions
Normal microbiota

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Describe the second line of defence of innate immunity

A
  • Phagocytes such as neutrophils, eosinophils, dendritic cells and macrophages
  • Inflammation
  • Fever
  • Antimicrobial substances
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are 2 different types of PRRs?

Give 2 examples for each

A
  • Secreting and circulating e.g. lectins (mannose binding lectin) and collectins
  • Cell associated e.g. toll-like receptors, nod-like receptors
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What do PRRs (pattern recognition receptors) recognise?

A

PAMPs (pathogen associated molecular patterns)

DAMPs (damage associated..)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Give example of PAMP

A

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) such as endotoxins on gram negative bacteria

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the purpose of PRRs?

A

Trigger the innate immune response and inflammatory response.

Function to opsonise the pathogen
Activate complement e.g. mannose binding lectin
Activate inflammatory mediators
Secrete interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines
Induce apoptosis of infected cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are 3 different methods of complement activation

A

Classical pathway - antigen-antibody immune complexes

Alternative pathway - foreign surfaces - antigens

Lectin pathway - mannose-binding lectin - mannose residues on pathogen surface

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are mechanisms of action of the complement system?

A

C3b is deposite on microbe then:

Lyse microbes directly (MAC-membrane attack complex formed)

Increase chemotaxis (C3a and C5a) and inflammatory response
--recruitment and activation of leukocytes

Opsonisation - increasing phagocytosis (C3b)
–recognise bound C3b by phagocyte C3b receptor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe process of phagocytosis

A
  • Chemotaxis and adherence of microbe to phagocyte
  • Ingestion of microbe by phagocyte
  • Formation of a phagosome
  • Fusion of the phagosome with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome
  • Digestion of ingested microbe by enzymes
  • Formation of residual body containing indigestible material
  • Discharge of waste materials
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is role of natural killer cells

A

Kill your own cells (through apoptosis) if infected with viruses or have become cancerous

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is released by mast cells once activated?

A

Histamine and Heparin

also chemokines and cytokines

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How does histamine cause the characteristic signs of inflammation

A

Dilates blood vessels

Also recruits neutrophils and macrophages

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are basophils typically associated with

A

Hypersensitivity reactions and Parasitic infections

Also releases histamine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
When is the concentration of eosinophils raised?
Allergy or Parasitic infections
26
What is the difference between Humoral and cell-mediated immunity
Humoral is antibody mediated and involves extarcellular antigens Cell Mediated involves intracellular antigens
27
Describe process of Humoral Immune system
(Antibody -Mediated) - B cells binds to extracellular antigen for which it is specific. Usually requires cooperation from T helper cell - B cell oftern with stimulation from a T ehlper cell, differentiates into a plasma cell - Plasma cells proliferate and produce antibodies against the antigen. (Alternatively the B cell can differentiate into a memory cell)
28
Describe Cell-mediated immune system
Intracellular antigens expressed on the surface of a cell infected by a virus, bacterium or parasite. (Also may be expressed on surface of an APC) - T cell binds to MHC-antigen complexes on the surface of the infected cell, activating the t cell (with its cytokine receptors). - A T-helper cell produces cytokines that cause the activated T cell to differentiate into a cytotoxic T cell. These cytokines also influence the formation of plasma cells and activated macrophages. - Infected target cell is lysed by the cytotoxic T cell.
29
Define foreign antigen
Large signalling molecules not normally found in the body that act as flags to adaptive immune system. E.g. bacterium, virus, fungus, toxin or diseased cell within body.
30
What is purpose of Antigen presenting cell
Present antigens to T cells
31
Give 3 examples of antigen presenting cells
Macrophages Dendritic cells B cells
32
What are MHCs (major histocompatibilty complexes)?
Proteins that mark a cell as self Class 1 - all cells Class 2 -APCs
33
Describe briefly function of MHC
Antigen associates with MHC molecule and they are presented on cell surface T cell recognises combination and antigen.
34
Which class of MHC and which T cell is associated with APCs
Class II MHC | Helper T cell
35
Which T cell is associated with an infected cell presenting Class I MHC molecule?
Cytotoxic T cell
36
What is role of T helper cells
Stimulate proliferation of other T cells | Stimulate B cells to produce antibodies
37
What T cells bind to antigens presented on Class II MHC | What type of antigens are these
CD4 T helper | Extrinsic/extracellular (phagocytosis)
38
What T cells bind to antigens presented on Class I MHC | What type of antigens are these
CD8 T cytotoxic | Intrinsic/intracellular (e.g. virus)
39
What is purpose of cytotoxic T cells
Destroy infected body cells (apoptosis)
40
What is function of B cells
Recognise SOLUBLE antigens in blood | produce antibodies
41
Describe B lymphocyte activation
- B lymphocytes travel to lymph nodes - They proliferate via clonal expansion - Differentiate into: - Plasma cells which produce antibodies - Memory B cells to ward off future infection
42
On antibody which part is Fc region and what does it bind to?
(Imagine Y shape) Vertical downward part that is only part of heavy chain is Fc region. Binds to Fc receptor on phagocyte
43
Give examples of dendritic cells specialised to an organ
Kupffer cells - liver | Langerhans cells - skin
44
What is the Fab fragment
Region on antibody that binds to antigens
45
What is epitope
Part of the antigen that binds to the Fab fragment
46
Which immunoglobulins can NOT cross the placenta?
IgM and IgD
47
Which immunoglobulin can cross the placenta?
IgG (passive immunity to fetus)
48
Which immunoglobulin is 1st response to antigen?
IgM
49
Which Ig is most common
IgG
50
Which Ig is involved in Histamine reactions and allergies (mast cells, basophils)
IgE
51
Which Ig is involved in B cell activation
IgD
52
Which Ig is secreted from mucous membranes?
IgA | also in colostrum
53
Which Ig is most common in early stages/primary response of fighting non-self antigen
IgM
54
Which Ig is most common in late stages/secondary response of fighting non-self antigen
IgG
55
How do antibodies protect against infection?
Specific binding -> NEUTRALISATION of toxins, immobilise microbes, form complexes Enhance innate mechanisms -> activate complement, bind Fc receptors - OPSONISATION (enhancing Phagocytosis), release of inflammatory mediators by mast cells
56
What are mechanisms of Humoral Immunity?
Neutralisation Lysis (complement) Phagocytosis (PMN, macrophage)
57
Define allergy
Abnormal Response to Harmless Foreign Material (Immunological)
58
Define atopy
tendency to develop allergies
59
Define Anaphylaxis
An acute allergic reaction to an antigen to which the body has become hypersensitive
60
Define Autoimmunity
A disease in which the body produces antibodies that attack its own tissues, leading to a pathological process.

Medicine Phase 2a (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions