Lecture 1 Flashcards
Extracellular Microbes
Survive in animals by growing extracellularly, being simply immersed in nutrients
Intracellular Microbes
Invade and live and replicate intracellularly within animal cells where they utilize host-cell energy sources
Immunity
Set of cooperative defense mechanisms which provide protection from various infectious diseases
Tissue Injury
Immunopathology; immune response against microbes that causes “injury”, “collateral damage”
Antigens
Noninfectious foreign substances that elicit an immune response; in some pathological conditions, self antigens (Ags) in the body can elicit an autoimmune response; include proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids
Antibody (Ab)
Protein produced by the immune system when it detects antigens
Epitope
Portion of an Ag molecule to which an antibody binds; also called an antigenic determinant; the smallest epitope which an antibody can be made is about 3-6 AA or about 5-6 sugar residues
T Cell Receptors
Recognize linear AA sequences
Immunogens
Ags which can stimulate an immune response; all immunogens are Ags, but not all Ags are immunogens
Haptens
Very small Ags that can bind to Abs but they CAN’T initiate an immune response
Innate Immunity
First line of defense against infection that works rapidly, gives rise to acute inflammation, some specificity for Ag, and has no memory; also called the “decision-making stage” of immune response
Adaptive Immunity
Takes longer to develop, highly specific, and shows memory (remembers Ag it has encountered previously)
Primary Fixed Elements of Immune System
Bone marrow, thymus
Secondary Fixed Elements of Immune System
Spleen/lymph nodes, mucosal immune tissues
Mobile Elements of Immune System
Immune cells, soluble (humoral) components (Abs, complements, acute phase proteins)
Antimicrobial Peptides
Small peptides which target pathogenic microorganisms ranging from viruses to parasites
Complement
System of plasma proteins that enhances (complements) the ability of Abs and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism
Acute Phase Proteins (APPs)
Large group of blood proteins whose plasma concentrations change in response to tissue injury, acute infections, burns, or inflammation
Cytokines
Cell signaling molecules that aid cell-to-cell communication in immune responses; large group of small secreted proteins with diverse structures and functions, which regulate and coordinate many activities of the cells of innate and adaptive immunity
Chemokines
Subfamily of cytokines secreted by immune cells to induce chemotaxis (movement) in nearby cells; large subset of structurally related cytokines that regulate cell migration and movement
Phagocytes
Immune cells that have the ability to ingest and digest microbes; include neutrophils and macrophages; secrete cytokines
Cellular and Chemical Barriers of Innate Immunity
Skin, mucosal epithelia, antimicrobial peptides
Blood Proteins of Innate Immunity
Complement, acute phase proteins, cytokines, chemokines, and others
Cells of Innate Immunity
Phagocytes (macrophages, neutrophils), dendritic cells, natural killer cells, innate lymphoid cells