Immunology related stuff Flashcards
Roles of blood
Transports/distributes stuff
Regulates pH, pressure, osmolaty, temp, electrolytes/ions.
Communicates e.g. via hormones
Defence e.g. via plasma cells, neutrophils, etc.
What does the blood carry/its components
55% plasma - sugars, hormones, water, ions, urea, cholesterol, proteins.
45% WBC, RBC, platelets.
What can be determined from a blood sample/how
Centrifuge to separate plasma from cells. Add EDTA, citrates, etc. - calculate PVC and blood cell count.
Centrifuge again to give haematocrit - RBC: total blood volume, should be 40-50%.
Allow blood to clot and measure clotting time. Centrifuge again to separate clotting factors from serum.
What blood products can be obtained from a blood sample
Blood plasma
Complete blood
Platelet rich plasma
Packed RBC
What can a blood sample tell you about the patient
Kidney function - ions, urea
Respiratory function - O2/CO2
Endocrines - hormones
Pathology - WBCs
Cholesterol
HDL is GOOD
LDL is BAD
Total cholesterol/HDL = risk of heart disease.
Features of inflammation
Red Hot Swelling Pain Loss of function
Acute inflammation vc chronic
Acute = fast, involves neutrophils, prominent and local signs, mild tissue damage.
Chronic = slow, involves plasma cells lymphocytes and phagocytes, few signs but severe and progressive tissue damage. Cycles of repair and destruction.
Acute inflammation - vascular events
Vasoconstriction - to reduce blood loss
Vasodilation - site goes red and warm
Vascular permeability - swelling due to oedema
Vascular stasis - loss of fluid so viscous and slow blood flow.
Acute inflammation - cellular response
Slow blood flow due to vascular events so immune cells move to walls of the vessel.
Cells adhere to epithelial cells (pavementation) and emigrate between them into the tissue.
Cells aggregate around the site of inflammation and carry out their role e.g. phagocytosis.
Outcomes of inflammation
Complete resolution - tissue returns back to normal and doesn’t lose any function.
Healing by fibrosis - Fibroblasts and epithelial cells mature and move to the site of inflammation and produce collagen. Loss of function e.g. muscle can’t contract bc of the non-elastic fibrous tissue.
Chronic inflammation - cycles of healing then destruction e.g. causes of inflammation not resolved.
Causes of chronic inflammation
Continuous low-grade stimuli
Autoimmune problem e.g. body attacks self
Prolonged exposure to toxins
Features of chronic inflammation
Diff cells - plasma cells, lymphocytes, phagocytes
Minimal vascular changes
Scar tissue due to granulation cells in vessels (fibroblasts etc)
Routes of transmission of infection
Horizontal = via the air, water, etc to a large group Verticle = via contact, sperm, genes, etc. to an individual.
Requirements of infection
Reach/enter host
Adhere and colonise
Evade host defences
How can a pathogen adhere to its host
Pili w/ adhesion molecule on the tip can attach to host surface.
Polysaccarides bind to artificial surfaces - important in biofilm production.
Surface proteins on pathogen bind to host’s proteins/glycoproteins.
Colonization of pathogens
Motility is important bc allows pathogen o move through biofilm etc.
Pili can be used for sex.
Biofilms increase resistance to antibiotics and immune cells.
How can a pathogen evade the host’s defenses
Stopping phagocytosis
- Escape from phagosome into the cytoplasm
- Capsule stops phagocyte engulfing it
- Stops lysosomes fusing with the phagosome
- Resists action of lytic enzymes
- Kills phagocyte using toxins
Releases enzymes that breakdown antibodies and other immune cells/proteins.
Release factors that block the complementary site on the antibody, etc.
Mask surface antigens e.g. using a capsule.
Hides in sites that immune cells don’t reach well.
Changes its antigens or covers itself w the body’s antigens.
Methods of sterilisation
Heat
- dry/hot air oven = 160 degrees, 60 mins
- wet/autoclave = 121, 15mins, 15 or 134, 30mins, 3.
Radiation
Chemicals e.g. formaldehyde.
Methods of disinfection
Need to clean first so that chemicals/agent etc can reach everywhere.
Heat - boil for 15 mins
Chemicals
Innate immunity
Non-specific Present from birth/instinct Doesn't rely on immune recognition Not long-lasting 1st line of defense Includes barriers, serum proteins and phagocytic cell
Active immunity
Specific Quicker response Longer lasting Response and memory rely on antigen recognition Needs immune cells e.g. lymphocytes etc.
What is an Ab (immune)
Antibody = specific/ binds to the epitope of an Ag (foreign protein that ilicists an immune response)
Humoral
Cell and soluble proteins
Where do immune cells develop from
Pluripotent stem cells differentiate into mulitipotent cells and then into unipotent stem cells in the bone marrow.
These differentaite into blood cells and some end up in tissues.
Immune system cells size
10-14 µm, apart from monocytes (14-24 µm)