Module 1: Intro to Immunology

Question 1

immunology

Answer 1

the study of how the body responds to protect itself form foreign agents

Question 2

immunity

Answer 2

the ability to respond to foreign antigens

Question 3

2 types

Answer 3

innate and adaptive

Question 4

innate immunity

Answer 4

natural; describes all defence mechanisms that are present from birth and protect an individual from injury by foreign or abnormal agents

Question 5

defence mechanisms of innate immunity

Answer 5

mechanical (skin, mucous membrane)
chemicals and antimicrobials (body fluids)
Phagocytes and Natural killer (NK) cells(provide cellular responses)
Inflammation (vasc dilation, increased vasc permeability, accumulation of leukocytes, fever)
Complement (proteins tag microbes for destruction)
Acute phase proteins (plasma proteins produced by liver)

Question 6

acute phase proteins

Answer 6

produced by liver in increased amounts as part pf the innate immune response to infection
hepatocytes respond to chemical signals (cytokines)

Question 7

Acute phase protein: CRP

Answer 7

CRP bines to phosphorylcholine of bacterial or fungal cell walls, activating complement and enhancing opsonization and clearance of the antigen by macrophages

Increase seen in plasma levels: 100-1000x (6hrs post injury)

Question 8

Acute phase protein: Haptoglobin

Answer 8

Binds free hgb, sequesters the iron thereby inhbiting uptake of iron by microbes

Increase seen in plasma levels: 2-4x

Question 9

Acute phase protein: fibrinogen

Answer 9

coagulation factor. Fibrinogen is the precursor to a fibrin clot and is increased during inflammation and tissue damage to help wall off damage

Increase seen in plasma levels: 2-4x (24-48hrs post injury)

Question 10

Acute phase protein: Alpha 1 - Antitrypsin

Answer 10

leukocytes release proteases during the inflammatory process. Release of too much protease may lead to tissue damage. Alpha 1 antityrpsin combines with proteases to inhibit their activity (down regulates inflammation)
Increase seen in plasma levels: 2-4x

Question 11

Acute phase protein: Ceruloplasmin

Answer 11

the copper carried by ceruloplasmin is essential for wound healing

Increase seen in plasma levels:50%

Question 12

Acute phase protein: alpha 2 macroglobulin

Answer 12

inhibits coagulation by inhibiting thrombin and inhibits fibrinolysis by inhibiting plasmin

Increase seen in plasma levels: 50%

Question 13

Adaptive immunity

Answer 13

mediated by lymphocytes and is learned or acquired as we encounter the challenging agents

Question 14

key features of adaptive immunity

Answer 14

Self discrimination (wont make Ab to ourselves)
Specificity/Diversity (immune responses are tailors to that particular Ag)
Adaptiveness/specialization (response is optimal for defence against that Ag)
Memory (enhances responses to repeated exposure to the same Ag)
Deactivation mechanisms (suppressive mechanisms exist to ensure the immune response does not itself become destructive)

Question 15

2 branches of adaptive immunity

Answer 15

humoral and cellular

Question 16

Humoral immunity

Answer 16

production of plasma proteins/immunoglobulins (Ab)
Ab coat invading pathogen and target them for destruction by phagocytosis and complement activation

*Extracellular antigens

Question 17

Cellular immunity

Answer 17

involves T lymphs
T cell recognizes protein antigens only when displayed by Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs; process Ag and display peptide fragements)
T cell produces cytokines
Intracellular antigens

Question 18

how do innate and adaptive work together

Answer 18

innate is regulated by adaptive

innate can kick adaptive into high gear

Question 19

Active immunity

Answer 19

occurs due to exposure to foreign antigen

your immune system is activated to respond

Question 20

passive immunity

Answer 20

achieved by transfer of Ab or lymphocytes from another individual that has been exposed to the antigen