Microbiology Final Flashcards
(110 cards)
What is an antigen?
Stimulates an immune response: A substance the body recognizes as forign
Non-self
immunogenic - stimulates an immune response (immunogen)
large, complex molecules
Composed of antigenic determinants - the part of the antigen that actually stimulates and reacts with the immune response
What parts of the bacteria have antigenic determinants?
Proteins, lipids, mucleic acids, CHO
Flagellum
Pilli
**Proteins make the best antigenic determinant
What is a hapten?
molecule that, by itself, is too small to be immunogenic
**When attached to a larger molecule like a protein then it can be imunogenic
Properties of immune responses
Recognition - of self vs. non-self
- self = host tissue
- Non-self = forign substances
Specificity - each immune response is directed toward a specific ag but the response to one ag doesn’t affect the response to another. Cross Rx occurs if two ag’s are similar
Diversity - The immune system can respond to many different Ag’s (>1 billion)
Memory - The immune system can recognize ag’s it has previously encountered. It responds quicker the second/subsequent time it encounters that ag
Define tolerance
the host doesn’t mount an immune response to self ag’s under normal circumstances
B lymphocytes (B cells)
Arise in bone marrow; primarily involved in antibody mediated immunity
Reside in the lympohid organs and in the bloodstream
Receptor: an Ab molecule that recognizes and binds a specific Ag
T lymphocytes (T cells)
Arise in thymus gland; Primarily involved in cell-mediated immunity
Reside in lymphoid organs and in the bloodstream
Receptor: T-cell receptor, receptor that recognizes and binds a specific Ag.
Cell-mediated Immune Response
- Ag is recognized and phagocytosed by macrophages- Ag presenting cells
- Macrophages fins corresponding helper T cell; presents Ag (binds)
- Helper T cells sound the alarm (CD-4+) - interleukin-1 stimulate T-cells to mature; interleukin-2 stimulates T-cells to rapidly divide
- The alarm encourages the production and rapid division of cytotoxic T-cells
- Cytotoxic T-cells find and infect cells that present Ag and lyse them
What are cytokines?
Cell communication molecules; released by one cell to signal or stimulate another cell.
Released by helper T cells
What are perforins?
Released from cytotoxic T cells; forms pores in target cell membrane
What are Antibodies?
Proteins that circulate in the bloodstream
sythesize and secreted by plasma cells
Each Ab is specific for 1 particular antigenic determinant
React with Ag that is outside host cell like toxins, bacterial surfaces, viruses
Plasma cells
B lymphocytes that circulate in the bloodstream and synthesize & secrete Ab
Antibody mediated (humoral) immune response
- Macrophages comes across an antigenic determinant
- Macrophage must find appropriate B cell with matching surface proteins to the antigenic determinant
- Helper T cells help activate and encourage reproduction of B cells by means of cytokines which give rise to plasma cells
- Ab find and antigen and mark for destruction
- Marked antigens are then easier to phagocytize
- Memory B cells created to anticipate the reappearance of certain Ag
IgM Ab
Pentamer
First to appear esp. in primary Ab response
In bloodstream on surface of B cells
IgG
Monomer
Major circulating Ab
Appears later than IgM esp. in secondary Ab response
Crosses placenta
IgA
Monomer/dimer
occurs in serum and in secretions
Secreted into mucosal surfaces, in tears, saliva, colostrum
IgE
Monomer
On surface of mast cells and plays a role in allergenic reactions
IgD
Monomer
Surface receptor on B lymphocytes
Primary Ab response
- Occurs first time Ag is encountered
- Ab begins to appear in 5 days
- First Ab is IgM then wanes
- Next Ab is IgG appears in greater amount
Secondary Ab response
- Occurs at second/subsequent Ag exposure
- Results from B memory cells
- Occurs more quickly than primary response
- Produces more Ab than primary response
- Lasts longer than primary response
Neutralizing antibodies
Viruses clump them together so they cannot enter cell
Antitoxins - alters the active sites and masks their toxicity, ^ toxins size making it easier to phagocytize
Block adhesions-binds adhesins, prevent from attaching and colonizing host
Opsonize - enhance phagosytosis; handle
Agglutinate - clump insoluble particles together making them easier to phagocytize
Precipitate - Clump soluble molecules together, making them easier to phagocytize
Activate complement - forms MAC, resulting in lysis & killing of pathogen
Natural active immunity
- Define
- Whats given to host
- Immune response
- Immune response develops naturally within a host
- Example: Getting the chicken pox
- What’s given to host: You get the virus
- Immune response is fast; after initial exposure
- Immune response is either short or long lived
Natural passive immunity
- Define
- What’s given to host?
- Immune response
- Immune response develops naturally and is provided to the host
- Example: breast milk
- What’s gien to host: Maternal Ab provided to newborn
- Immune response is fast
- Immune response lasts for 3-6 months
Artificial active immunity
- Define
- Example
- Immune response
- Immune response develops after an intentional or purposful action within the host
- Example: vaccine
- What’s actually given to host: piece of a bacterium or cead virus
- Immune response is fast
- Immune response lasts long