Introduction to Immunology - Before class

Question 1

What are two advantages of microbes?

Answer 1

They reproduce and evolve very quickly

Question 2

Describe the chain of infection.

Answer 2

Infectious agent –> Reservoir –> Portal of Exit –> Mode of Transmission –> Portal of Entry –> Susceptible host

Question 3

Name off some ways to eliminate reservoirs of pathogenic microbes.

Answer 3

Control vector/animal reservoirs
Disinfectants
Antibiotics

Question 4

Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for waterbourne diseases.

Answer 4

Water treatment/purification

Question 5

Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for enteric pathogens.

Answer 5

Sewage disposal

Question 6

Describe the ways to control/eliminate the reservoir of pathogenic microbes for foodbourne pathogens.

Answer 6

Proper cooking/storage, preservatives, pasteurization

Question 7

Refers to the expected (baseline) level of an infectious disease that is continuously present in a population within a geographical area.

Answer 7

Endemic

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Epidemic

Question 9

Refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents

Answer 9

Pandemic

Question 10

What are the two main immune components?

Answer 10

Cells and Proteins

Question 11

In terms of immunity, cells consist of what?

Answer 11

Some tissue cells

WBCs - leukocytes

Question 12

What are the main leukocytes?

Answer 12

Phagocytes and lymphocytes

Question 13

What are the main proteins of immunity?

What are they secreted by?

Answer 13

Cytokines and antibodies

Secreted by cells

Question 14

Where are blood cells derived from?

Answer 14

Derived from hematopeitic stem cells, located in the bone marrow (red bone marrow)

Question 15

Hematopeitic stem cells can become what cell types?

Answer 15

RBCs, platelets, WBCs

Question 16

What are the two developmental pathways for WBCs?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

When fractionating blood, what different fractions do we receive?

Answer 17

Plasma (55%), and blood cells (RBCs, WBCs and platelets - 45%)

Question 18

What are the different branches of the immune system?

Answer 18

Innate and Adaptive immunity

Adaptive consists of B-cell immunity (humoral) and T cell immunity (cellular)

Question 19

Vaccines stimulate what part of the immune system?

Answer 19

Humoral and cellular immunity

Question 20

Immunity acquired from another individual via the transfer of antibodies is termed what?

Answer 20

Passive immunity

Question 21

What are the two ways in which one can receive passive immunity?

Answer 21

Natural - maternal antibodies

Artificial - antibodies from other sources

Question 22

Passive immunity provides ______, ____-term immunity on the scale of ______ (duration).

Answer 22

immediate
short
months

Question 23

Describe the immunity of a newborn.

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Passive immunity acquired in utero wanes after how long?

Answer 24

Placental derived passive immunity wanes after approximately 10 months

Question 25

What are two consequences of when the immune system malfuctions?

Answer 25

Allergies

Autoimmune disorders