Innate vs Adaptive Immunity

Question 1

What are the steps/events of an immune response?

Answer 1

1. pathogen recognition
2. activation
3. response (effector function)
4. decline in immune response

Question 2

What are characteristics of the innate immune system?

Answer 2

1. rapid response
2. fixed number of receptors
3. limited specificities
4. constant activation during response (no improvement)
5. can be amplified by adaptive response

Question 3

What are characteristics of the adaptive/acquired immune response?

Answer 3

1. slow response
2. variable
3. many specificities
4. improves during response
5. co-dependent (requires innate for activation)
6. cooperative

Question 4

How does innate recognition occur?

Answer 4

1. PAMPs (pathogen associated molecular patterns)

2. PRRs (pathogen recognition receptors) - have a fixed number, they recognize the PAMPs

Question 5

How does adaptive recognition occur?

Answer 5

Via variable receptors and specificity. Antigens (Ags) are the targets of recognition. The receptors are either antibodies or T cell receptors

Question 6

What are the types of antigen-specific receptors?

Answer 6

1. antibodies

2. T cell receptors