Introduction to Immunology - Before class Flashcards
What are two advantages of microbes?
They reproduce and evolve very quickly
Describe the chain of infection.
Infectious agent –> Reservoir –> Portal of Exit –> Mode of Transmission –> Portal of Entry –> Susceptible host
Name off some ways to eliminate reservoirs of pathogenic microbes.
Control vector/animal reservoirs
Disinfectants
Antibiotics
Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for waterbourne diseases.
Water treatment/purification
Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for enteric pathogens.
Sewage disposal
Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for foodbourne pathogens.
Proper cooking/storage, preservatives, pasteurization
Refers to the expected (baseline) level of an infectious disease that is continuously present in a population within a geographical area.
Endemic
Refers to an increase, often sudden, in the number of new cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in that geographic area
Epidemic
Refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents
Pandemic
What are the two main immune components?
Cells and Proteins
In terms of immunity, cells consist of what?
Some tissue cells
WBCs - leukocytes
What are the main leukocytes?
Phagocytes and lymphocytes
What are the main proteins of immunity?
What are they secreted by?
Cytokines and antibodies
Secreted by cells
Where are blood cells derived from?
Derived from hematopeitic stem cells, located in the bone marrow (red bone marrow)
Hematopeitic stem cells can become what cell types?
RBCs, platelets, WBCs
What are the two developmental pathways for WBCs?
A hematopoeitic stem cell may divide into either a:
- myeloid progenitor cell - which develops into a phagocyte; or a,
- lymphoid progenitor cell - which develops into a lymphocyte
When fractionating blood, what different fractions do we receive?
Plasma (55%), and blood cells (RBCs, WBCs and platelets - 45%)
What are the different branches of the immune system?
Innate and Adaptive immunity
Adaptive consists of B-cell immunity (humoral) and T cell immunity (cellular)
Vaccines stimulate what part of the immune system?
Humoral and cellular immunity
Immunity acquired from another individual via the transfer of antibodies is termed what?
Passive immunity
What are the two ways in which one can receive passive immunity?
Natural - maternal antibodies
Artificial - antibodies from other sources
Passive immunity provides ______, ____-term immunity on the scale of ______ (duration).
immediate
short
months
Describe the immunity of a newborn.
Passive immunity - maternal Abs are transferred via the placenta to fetus in utero, and through breast milk
Innate immunity
Adaptive immunity is not fully developed
Passive immunity acquired in utero wanes after how long?
Placental derived passive immunity wanes after approximately 10 months