Module 1 Flashcards
Immunology
Definition
The study of the immune system
Immune system
must recognize your body as “self” and the invader as foreign
Many systems work together to protect the body
Good response vs bad response
How we can manipulate or help the body (vaccines)
First line of defense in the immune system
unbroken skin and mucosal membrane secretions
Ways to classify immunity
natural vs acquired
humoral vs cellular
passive vs active
Natural immunity
Your inborn resistance (phagocytes, complement, an acute inflammatory response)
Complement
inert substance in the blood capable of binding certain antibodies helping to destroy the foreign substance through lysis
When does CRP elevate
before disease. good warning sign!
Acquired or Adaptive Immunity
Allows the body to recognize, remember and respond to a stimulus (antigen)
Whenever T-cell and B-cells are activated, some become memory cels
Humoral Immunity
Acquired if the antibodies are formed by the host or received from another source
Mode of action is antibodies in the serum
Cells: B-lymphs
Mechanism: antibody-mediated
Purpose: primary defense against bacterial infection
Cellular Immunity
Delayed hypersensitivity
Moderated by the link between T-lymphs and phagocytes: T-cells recognize when an antigen is present on a phagocyte
Mode of action: cell-to-cell contact or soluble products secreted by cells
Cell type: T-lymphs
Mechanism: cell-mediated
Purpose: Defense against viral and fungal infections, tumor antigens and graft rejections
Passive Immunity
May be naturally occurring or acquired artificially
Natural: passes across the placenta during pregnancy but decreases after birth
Artificial: when antibody-containing serum is administered- Rhogam or hepatitis immune globulin
Not permanent - titers drop over time
Active immunity
Immune response that is triggered by infection (natural active immunity). Stronger than artificial immunity
Immune response that is triggered by vaccination (artificial active immunity). Intended to be permanent or may require a booster
Vaccines
Suspensions of antigenic material of animal or plant origin
Should stimulate antibody production without clinical symptoms of disease in a health (immunocompetent) person
Should cause permanent memory
May be composed of living suspensions of weak or attenuated cells or viruses
May contain only a portion of the infectious agent
Hypersensitivity Reactions
Bad condition of the body tissues caused by antigenic stimulation
Two classifications: delayed hypersensitivity reaction or immediate hypersensitivity reaction
Delayed Hypersensitivity Reaction
Often used synonymously with cell-mediated immunity
Refers to the slow appearance of a secondary response in the skin
Immediate Hypersensitivity
Mediated by IgE immunoglobulins due to allergens
Self-tolerance
Exists when the immune cells and other body cells exist peacefully together
What government agency is primarily responsible for safeguards and regulations to ensure a safe and healthful workplace through the United States
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA)
Standard Precautions
Treating all specimens as if they are infectious
Assuming that every direct contact with a body fluid in infectious
The CDC’s Bloodborne Pathogen Requirement mandates
Education and training of all healthcare workers in Standard Precautions
The single most common source of human immunodeficiency virus in the occupational setting is
Blood