Lecture 2.6 Intro to the Immune System

Question 1

What are the features of SCID?

Answer 1

Severe compromised immunodeficiency - defect in common gamma chain, cannot respond to cytokines, problems with lymphocytes, lacking cellular immune system

Question 2

What is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome?

Answer 2

From HIV/AIDS - affected by pathogens that a healthy person wouldn’t respond to

Question 3

What transplant doesn’t require immunosuppressants?

Answer 3

Corneal - no blood supply - no immune system attack

Question 4

What is the difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

Answer 4

Innate immunity is first line of defence and responds within minutes, adaptive uses t and b cells to mount an attack and this takes several days - adaptive immunity is slow and highly specific and forms immunological memory

Question 5

How do dendritic cells work in the immune system?

Answer 5

Kill pathogen, but keep antigen and take it to T cells so they can mount an attack against that type of bacteria

Question 6

What happens to most of the T and B cells?

Answer 6

97% killed after action - apoptosis or inhibitors (IL-10, TGF-B)

Question 7

Why do we need immunological memory?

Answer 7

Increase frequency of T cell clones - easier to find - quicker immune system response