Intro to immuno Flashcards
What is the role of the immune system?
Detect and respond to threat, minimising damage.
W/ memory incase of future infection
What 3 things does the IS combat?
Microorganisms
Substances
Tissue damage
What is essential for normal function of the immune system?
The ability to distinguish self from non-self to prevent autoimmune activity
As well as self and non-self, what else must the IS recognise?
Abnormal-self (cancer)
What is the reason the immune system must be so quick and adaptable?
Generation times; bacterial gen time is much shorter than our own, so they can replicate and adapt faster.
What does the host exert on a pathogen, resulting in pressure on the host?
Selection pressure
What are the 2 ways danger can be recognised by the IS?
Germ-line encoded: genes code for hundred of specific molecular pattern receptors present on many cells.
Random recombination: millions of receptors created by recombination of gene segments
What are the benefits of each danger recognition receptor type?
Germ Line: Many cells have them so very quick
Random Recombination: Very diverse, so recognise many different structures
What are the disadvantages of each danger recognition receptor?
Germ-line: Limited diversity, so some pathogens not recognised
Random Recombination: Expressed by few cells, so must replicate; takes time
May accidentally cause autoimmunity
What 2 types of molecular pattern may a Pattern Recognition Receptor recognise?
PAMPs (Pathogen associated Molecular patterns)
DAMPs (Damage Associated Molecular patterns)
Give a few examples of DAMPs
DNA, ATP, Collagens etc…
Gave a few examples of PAMPs
Bacteria: Flagellin, Peptidoglycans
Virus: dsRNA, Envelope glycoprotein
Fungus: Beta-glycans, mannoproteins
What are Antigen-specific receptors? Name the types.
Recombinant gene segmants in lymphocyte leads to creation of unique specific receptor formation.
B-Cells, T-Cells
What is the difference between B-cells and T-cells?
B-cells bind to intact antigens with cell-surface receptors
T-cells bind to presented antigen fragments (epitopes)
What is innate immunity?
Used pattern recognition receptors, so independent of antigen exposure. Present from both, buys time for adaptive immunity
What is adaptive immunity?
Adaptation to exposure depending on clonal selection, so is slower, but has a higher specificity
What type of immunity do these cells provide?
Neutrophils
Macrophages
Eosinophils
Innate
Pattern specific
What time of immunity do these cells provide?
T-lymphocytes
B-lymphocytes
Adaptive
Antigen specific
What type of immunity do these cells provide?
Basophils/Mast cells
Dendritic cells
Natural Killer cells
Both adaptive and innate
What is the difference in effects of the innate/adaptive immune response?
Innate: Controls infection
Adaptive: Clears infection
