Immunology reminder Flashcards
fill in the blanks
What processes are macrophages involved in?
Tissue repair
Immune recruitment
Cytokine production
What processes are mast cells involved in?
Increase:
- vessel permeability
- inflammation
- histamines
What processes are neutrophils involved in?
Phagocytosis
What is the complement system?
Part of immune system that enhances antibodies & phagocytic cells to clear microbes, promote inflammation & attack pathogen membranes
Is the complement system part of innate or adaptive immunity?
Innate immune system
Can be recruited by antibodies from adaptive immune system
Where are complement proteins synthesised?
In the liver, circulating in the blood as inactive precursors
What triggers activation of the complement system?
Antigen-antibody complexes
Cytokines
Pathogen recognition
What are the three pathways that activate the complement system?
Classical Pathway – via antigen-antibody complexes
Lectin Pathway – via mannose-binding lectin
Alternative Pathway – via direct pathogen detection
What happens when C3 is activated?
C3a – Recruits neutrophils & monocytes (inflammation)
C3b – Opsonisation (marks pathogens for phagocytosis), amplifies cascade & activates C5
What is the function of C5 activation?
C5a – Potent inflammatory signal, attracts immune cells.
C5b – Initiates Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)
What is the Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)?
Protein structure that punches holes in pathogen cell membranes, leading to cell lysis and death
Name the lymph nodes
complete the sentence
add the name/function of these WBCs
Humoral adaptive immunity is antibody-mediated immune response
- APCs present antigens on MHC class II molecules.
- Th2 cells bind the complex and release cytokines.
- Cytokines activate B cells, triggering class switching and receptor expression.
- B cells become plasma cells that produce antibodies or memory cells for future responses
Cell-mediated immunity targets infected or abnormal cells using CD8+ T cells and cytokines, not antibodies.
- CD8+ T cells recognize antigens on MHC I of infected cells via their TCR.
- Once activated, they release cytokines and cytotoxic granules to induce apoptosis.
- Th1 cells support the response by activating CD8+ T cells through interaction with dendritic cells.
How do antibodies recognise and bind to an antigen?
Antibodies recognise specific epitopes on antigen using their variable regions
Epitope is precise part of antigen that fits into binding site of antibody.
If antigen doesn’t have correct epitope, antibody will not bind
This specificity is crucial for immune system targeting & neutralisation of pathogens
What are the different roles of antibodies in the immune response?
Neutralisation – Block pathogens & toxins from binding to cells.
Opsonisation – Coat microbes to enhance phagocytosis by immune cells.
Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity (ADCC) – Mark infected cells for destruction by Natural Killer (NK) cells
Lysis of Microbes – Trigger complement activation to break down pathogens
Complement Activation – Leads to phagocytosis, microbe lysis & inflammation
Inflammation – Recruits immune cells like neutrophils to site of infection
How does immunological memory enhance the immune response upon reinfection?
First Infection → Triggers primary immune response, leading to formation of B memory cells
Inapparent Reinfection → Memory B cells respond quickly, producing faster & stronger antibody response
Long-Term Immunity → Years later, mild or inapparent reinfection results in enhanced immune response, preventing severe disease
What is each antibody involved in & what is their location?
What is an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) and what is it used for?
Common immunoassay used to detect & measure specific analytes (e.g. antibodies) in sample
Frequently used in diagnostics to determine whether antibodies have been produced in response to pathogen exposure or vaccination
How does an ELISA test function?
- Antigen immobilisation – Antigen is attached to a microplate.
- Antibody binding – Detection antibody binds to the antigen.
- Detection – Antibody is enzyme-linked or detected via a labeled secondary antibody.
- Colour change – Enzyme catalyses a reaction causing a measurable colour change.
