L6&7 B Cells & Antibodies Flashcards
What are linear epitopes formed by?
Several linear/adjacent AA residues
Linear epitopes are only accessible when…
they are denatured
Conformational epitopes are formed by…
AAs that are spatially juxtaposed
What happens in antibody-class switching?
Switch from primary (IgM) to secondary (IgG, IgA or IgE)
What is the first antibody made to a particular infection?
IgM
What happens to the Fc region during antibody-class switching?
It is exchanged
Fab region stays the same
How does the secondary Ab response differ from the primary Ab response?
Secondary Ab response is faster and larger
Where are switch regions found?
Upstream of every H chain gene
What is switch recombination?
Rearranged VDJ combines with a downstream C gene, with removal (by deletion) of the intervening DNA
IL-4 promotes switch to…
IgG4 and IgE
IFNγ promotes switch to…
IgG2 (from Tfh lymphocytes)
How long does humoral (Ab) immunity to mumps last?
12 years
How long does humoral immunity to measles last?
65 years
How long does humoral immunity to polio last?
40 years
How long does humoral immunity to Hepatitis A last?
25 years
Is memory B cell response to Influenza virus short or long-lived?
Very long-lived
What are needed for sterilising immunity?
Neutralising antibodies
What is sterilising immunity?
Someone who’s vaccinated or naturally infected will neither catch the virus nor transmit it further
(Neutralising Abs block virus entry into cells & prevent replication)
What does the Ab structure relate to?
Ag binding
Where does Ag-independent differentiation take place?
Bone marrow
Where does Ag-dependent differentiation take place?
Peripheral lymphoid tissues
How does the immune system develop specificity?
From the clonal selection process
How is IgM held together?
J chains
What does IgM exist as?
A monomer on the surface of B cells
Which form of IgM is secreted?
Pentameric form
Where is IgM mainly found?
In the blood - does not penetrate tissues v well
Is IgM involved in opsonisation or ADCC?
No - there are few Fc receptors on leukocytes
What is IgM very efficient at?
Complement activation, and neutralisation of bacteria & viruses
What is the most abundant Ab in serum?
IgG
How many subtypes of IgG are there, and how do they differ?
4 subtypes, differ in size of Hinge region