Jitt # 9 Quiz

Question 1

Which cytokine produced early in the response favors the development of a T helper effector cell poised to combat intracellular bacterial infections?

Answer 1

IL-12 also IFNg

Question 2

Which cytokine might be beneficial to a patient with lepromatous leprosy?

Answer 2

IFN-gamma

Question 3

Why would patients with lepromatous leprosy such as Ursula be prone to asthma?

Answer 3

Correct

Because in cases of lepromatous leprosy there is defective Th1 cell responses but on the other hand Th2 responses predominates and this lead to vigorous but ineffective antibody response against M. leprae. The Th2 response activates IgE and eosinophils which make a patient more prone to ashtma. IgE activates mast cells and eosinophils through binding of IgE receptors and induce inflammatory mediators such as histamine and cytokines.

Question 4

You suspect a patient has infectious mononucleosis in the acute phase. Which type of antibody would you test for in the serum of the patient?

Answer 4

IgM and IgG antibodies to viral capsid antigen

Question 5

Would you predict that these antibodies would be protective? In other words, do antibodies to any of the viral antigens help clear the virus?

Answer 5

No

Question 6

Patients with a humoral immunodeficiency (impaired antibody response) are susceptible to infection with viruses such as poliomyelitis, but have no problems with infections such as EBV. Why?

Answer 6

Correct

The main method of controlling EBV replication is the activity of cell-mediated, cytotoxic T cells against EBV-infected cells. Although antibodies against EBV are produced in a normal infected host, these antibodies do not play a major role in eradicating the virus. Patients who have an impaired antibody response but can produce intact T-cell cytotoxic reponses have the ability to fight the infection effectively and thus have no problems with EBV infection.