L27B - Introduction To Immunology

Question 1

What is the immune system?

Answer 1

• body’s tool for preveting/limiting infection
• complex network of cells, organs, proteins, and tissues that defend the body from pathogens

Question 2

What does the immune system recorgnise? (2)

Answer 2

• pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and fungi
• abnormal cells like cancer cells

Question 3

What are components of the immune system? (3)

Answer 3

• organs and cells
• lymph system
• circulatory system

Question 4

What are the subsets of the immune system?

Answer 4

• innate immunity (non-specific)
• acquired/adaptive immunity (specific)

Question 5

What is innate immunity? (4)

Answer 5

• natural immunity
• non specific defense
• initial response to eliminate microbes an prevent infection
• fast response

Question 6

What are components of innate immunity?

Answer 6

• physical/structural barriers (mucous lining)
• chemical barriers (stomach acid)
• protective cells (NK cells, WBCs)
  (Sneezing, coughing, vomiting)

Question 7

What are examples of physical and chemical barriers?

Answer 7

• skin, hair, cilia
• mucus membranes
• tears
• mucus and chemical secretions
• digestive enzymes in mouth
• stomach acid
• blood-brain barrier

Question 8

What are the cellular components of innate immunity? (3)

Answer 8

• macrophages, neutrophils, mast cells - remove pathogens
• NK cells - eliminate infected/abnormal host cells
• dendritic cells - direct microbicidal activity, secrete chemicals that can recruit and activate other immune cells

Question 9

What is inflammation?

Answer 9

A response triggered by innate immune system when physical barriers being breached, infection occurs

Question 10

What does inflammation do? (4)

Answer 10

• help eliminate pathogens, promote tissue repair
• release singalling molecules (cytokines, chemokines)
• recruits immune cells to the site of infection
• associated with heat, pain redness and swelling

Question 11

What is the complement system (3)? What is it activated by?

Answer 11

• 30 dif plasma proteins
• produced in the liver, circulate in the blood
• bridge between innate and adaptive immunity
• activated through different pathways

Question 12

What does the complement system do? (3)

Answer 12

• destroy pathogens
• immune cell activation
• clearance of immune complexes

Question 13

What is adaptive immunity? What is it initiated by?

Answer 13

• specific and targeted defense mech
• initiated when innate response fails to clear pathogen

Question 14

What does the adaptive immunity do? (4)

Answer 14

• detect antigens on pathogens
• adapts tp recognise and remember specific pathogens
• provides long lasting protection
• slow response

Question 15

What are the 2 branches in adaptive immunity? (2)

Answer 15

• cellular immunity
• humoral immunity

Question 16

What is cell mediated immunity? (5)

Answer 16

• Dendritic cells present antigens
• Tc cells attack and kill infected/abnormal cells
• Th cells assist B cells a/bod production
• Regulatory T cells maintain immune balance
• memory T cells remember pathogens = enable faster and more effective immune response upon re-exposure

Question 17

What is humoral immunity?

Answer 17

B cells produce a/bods in response to antigens

Question 18

What are antibodies? (3)

Answer 18

Proteins
- neutralise pathogens
- mark them for destruction by phagocytes
- trigger other immune responses

Question 19

What innate vs adaptive immunity like? (In that order) (7)

Answer 19

• non specific vs specific
• antigen independent vs dependent
• predominantly early stage vs middle and last stage
• max response in hours vs days
• limited specificity vs highly diverse
• response to repeat infection identical to primary vs rapid response
• no immunologic memory vs immunologiv memory develops

Question 20

What is immunisation? (2)

Answer 20

• immune system stimulated to mount immune response against specific pathogens
• occur through natural infection/administration of vaccines

Question 21

What are vaccincations? (4)

Answer 21

• contain weakened/killed/parts of pathogens, introduced antigens
• trigger immune response
• memory formation
• protection against disease

Question 22

What are types of vaccines? (4)

Answer 22

• live attenutated (MMR)
• inactivated/killed (hepatitis A)
• subunit, recombinant/conjugates (HPV)
• mRNA (C19)

Question 23

What is allergy?

Answer 23

Overreaction of immune system to a normally harmless substance

Question 24

What are examples of allergy? (7)

Answer 24

• pollen
• animal dander
• dust
• peanuts
• shellfish
• latex
• medicines

Question 25

What are facts about allergy? (3)

Answer 25

• encountered through inhalation, ingestion, contact with skin
• itching, sneezing, rash, etc.
• anaphylactic shock

Question 26

What is autoimmunity?

Answer 26

Immune system attacking own cells and tissues

Question 27

What are facts about autoimmunity? (2)

Answer 27

• genetic predisposition
• environmental factor may trigger autoimmune response

Question 28

What are egs of autoimmune diseases?

Answer 28

• rheumatoid arthritis
• ulcerative colitis
• psoriasis
• diabetes
• multiple sclerosis