Introduction to Immunity Flashcards
What makes up the immune system?
- Organs
- Tissues
- Cells
- Molecules
What is an antigen?
Is a substance that is recognised as non-self or foreign by the immune system
What are the three general steps in the immune response?
- Recognition of antigen
- Containment
- Memory for faster response
What are the two branches of immunity?
- Innate non specific immunity
- Adaptive specific/acquired immunity
What are pattern recognition receptors PRRs?
Are germline encoded receptors on innate immune cells that detect PAMPS and DAMPS
What are PAMPs?
Pathogen associated molecular patters are structurally conserved molecules from microbes such as flagellin and viral RNA
What are DAMPs?
Damage associated molecular patterns are endogenous molecules released by damaged cells
What are four TLRs and their ligands?
- TLR2 - bacterial components
- TLR3 - viral dsRNA
- TLR4 - LPS on gram negative bacteria
- TLR5 - bacterial flagellin
Where do T lymphocytes mature?
Thymus
Where do B cells mature?
Bone marrow
What is the role of primary lymphoid organs?
Where lymphocytes develop and mature
What are two examples of primary lymphoid organs?
- Bone marrow
- Thymus
What are secondary lymphoid organs?
Sites where mature lymphocytes encounter antigens
What is the function of the lymphatic system in immunity?
Drains lymph and immune cells to lymph nodes where antigens are filtered and presented to immune cells
What are soluble mediators of immunity?
Molecules released into the bloodstream or tissue fluid that play a crucial role in regulating and coordinating immune responses
What are four examples of soluble mediators of immunity?
- Complement proteins
- Antibodies
- Histamine
- Cytokines
What is the difference between cytokine and chemokines?
Cytokines regulate immune responses broadly while chemokines guide cell movement to infection or inflammation sites
What is the key feature of adaptive immunity?
It is antigen specific and has memory involving B and T cells
What happens during lymphocyte maturation?
They acquire antigen specific receptors and undergo apoptosis if self reactive
