Innate immunity

Question 1

What is the innate immune system?

Answer 1

The first line of defense in the immune system that responds rapidly and non-specifically to infections

Question 2

What are the key features of innate immunity?

Answer 2

It is rapid non-specific and does not have immunological memory

Question 3

What are the physical barriers in innate immunity?

Answer 3

The skin mucosal surfaces and epithelial cells

Question 4

What are the chemical barriers in innate immunity?

Answer 4

Lysozymes in tears and saliva and acidic gastric juices in the stomach

Question 5

What is the role of neutrophils in innate immunity?

Answer 5

They are the first responders to infections performing phagocytosis and releasing reactive oxygen species and cytokines

Question 6

What are Toll-Like Receptors TLRs?

Answer 6

Receptors on immune cells that recognize common pathogen-associated molecular patterns PAMPs

Question 7

What is phagocytosis?

Answer 7

The process by which immune cells engulf and destroy pathogens

Question 8

What are macrophages?

Answer 8

Immune cells that patrol tissues perform phagocytosis and signal other immune cells to respond to infections

Question 9

What is the complement system?

Answer 9

A group of proteins in the blood that enhances the ability of antibodies and immune cells to clear pathogens

Question 10

What are the three pathways of complement activation?

Answer 10

The classical pathway the alternative pathway and the lectin pathway

Question 11

What is the role of the classical complement pathway?

Answer 11

It is triggered by antigen-antibody complexes and leads to the lysis of pathogens

Question 12

What triggers the lectin complement pathway?

Answer 12

It is triggered by mannose-binding lectin binding to carbohydrates on pathogens

Question 13

What is the membrane attack complex MAC?

Answer 13

A structure formed by complement proteins that creates pores in pathogens leading to their lysis

Question 14

What are eosinophils?

Answer 14

Immune cells involved in defending against parasitic infections and contributing to allergic reactions

Question 15

What are basophils?

Answer 15

Immune cells that release histamine and play a role in allergic responses

Question 16

What is the role of mast cells?

Answer 16

They release histamine and other chemicals during allergic reactions and infections

Question 17

What is chemotaxis?

Answer 17

The movement of immune cells towards the site of infection in response to chemical signals

Question 18

What are natural killer NK cells?

Answer 18

Immune cells that can kill infected or cancerous cells without the need for prior activation

Question 19

What is acute inflammation?

Answer 19

A rapid immune response to infection involving the recruitment of immune cells pathogen destruction and tissue repair

Question 20

What is the role of cytokines in innate immunity?

Answer 20

They act as signaling molecules that regulate immune responses and recruit other immune cells to the site of infection

Question 21

What are pathogen-associated molecular patterns PAMPs?

Answer 21

Molecular structures that are commonly found on pathogens and recognized by innate immune receptors

Question 22

What are damage-associated molecular patterns DAMPs?

Answer 22

Molecules released by damaged or dying cells that trigger an immune response

Question 23

How does the innate immune system activate the adaptive immune system?

Answer 23

Through antigen presentation by dendritic cells to T cells