Not Abi related Terms

Question 1

Active immunity

Answer 1

the immunity which results from the production of antibodies by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen. Active immunity is defined as immunity to a pathogen that occurs following exposure to said pathogen. When the body is exposed to a novel disease agent, B cells, a type of white blood cell, create antibodies that assist in destroying or neutralizing the disease agent.

Question 2

AIDS

Answer 2

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic, potentially life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body’s ability to fight infection and disease.

Question 3

Allergies

Answer 3

An allergy is a chronic condition involving an abnormal reaction to an ordinarily harmless substance called an allergen. Allergens can include aeroallergens such as dust mite, mold, and tree weed and grass pollen, as well as food allergens such as milk, egg, soy, wheat, nut or fish proteins.

Question 4

Antibody

= immunoglobulin

Answer 4

Antibody, also called immunoglobulin, is a protective protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of a foreign substance, called an antigen. Antibodies recognize and latch onto antigens in order to remove them from the body. A wide range of substances are regarded by the body as antigens, including disease-causing organisms and toxic materials such as insect venom.

Question 5

Antigen

Answer 5

Substance that is capable of stimulating an immune response, specifically activating lymphocytes, which are the body’s infection-fighting white blood cells.
In general, two main divisions of antigens are recognized: foreign antigens (or heteroantigens) and autoantigens (or self-antigens).
Foreign antigens originate from outside the body. Examples include parts of or substances produced by viruses or microorganisms (such as bacteria and protozoa), as well as substances in snake venom, certain proteins in foods, and components of serum and red blood cells from other individuals.
Autoantigens, on the other hand, originate within the body.
Normally, the body is able to distinguish self from nonself, but in persons with autoimmune disorders, normal bodily substances provoke an immune response, leading to the generation of autoantibodies. An antigen that induces an immune response—i.e., stimulates the lymphocytes to produce antibody or to attack the antigen directly—is called an immunogen.

Question 6

Antiserum

Answer 6

a blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens, injected to treat or protect against specific diseases.

Question 7

Autoimmune disease

Answer 7

an autoimmune disease is an illness that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack normal body tissues. Autoimmune is when your body attacks itself. It sees a part of your body or a process as a disease and tries to combat it

Question 8

B cell

= B lymphocyte

Answer 8

A type of white blood cell that makes antibodies. B lymphocytes are part of the immune system and develop from stem cells in the bone marrow

Question 9

Bone marrow

Answer 9

the soft, sponge-like tissue in the center of most bones, e.g. hip and thigh bones. It contains stem cells. The stem cells can develop into the red blood cells that carry oxygen through your body, the white blood cells that fight infections, and the platelets that help with blood clotting.

Question 10

CD4/CD8 co-receptor

Answer 10

CD4 is a co-receptor of the T cell receptor (TCR) and assists the latter in communicating with antigen-presenting cells.

Question 11

Cell-mediated

immunity

Answer 11

Cell-mediated immunity is an immune response that does not involve antibodies. Rather, cell-mediated immunity is the activation of phagocytes, antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes, and the release of various cytokines in response to an antigen.

Question 12

Clonal selection

Answer 12

Clonal selection is a process proposed to explain how a single B or T cell that recognizes an antigen that enters the body is selected from the pre-existing cell pool of differing antigen specificities and then reproduced to generate a clonal cell population that eliminates the antigen.

Question 13

Cytokine (interleukin)

Answer 13

The term “cytokine” is derived from a combination of two Greek words -“cyto” meaning cell and “kinos” meaning movement. Cytokines are cell signalling molecules that aid cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma. Examples of cytokines include the agents interleukin and the interferon which are involved in regulating the immune system’s response to inflammation and infection.

Question 14

Disease

Answer 14

a disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

Question 15

ELISA test

Answer 15

an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, also called ELISA or EIA, is a test that detects and measures antibodies in your blood. This test can be used to determine if you have antibodies related to certain infectious conditions. ELISA is often used as a screening tool before more in-depth tests are ordered.

Question 16

Epitope

Answer 16

An epitope is the part of an antigen that is recognized by the immune system, specifically by antibodies, B cells, or T cells. For example, the epitope is the specific part of the antigen molecule to which an antibody binds.

Question 17

Fever

Answer 17

Fever, also referred to as pyrexia, is defined as having a temperature above the normal range due to an increase in the body’s temperature set point.

Question 18

HIV

Answer 18

(human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex or through sharing injection drug equipment.
If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS

Question 19

Humoral immunity

Answer 19

Humoral immunity is the aspect of immunity that is mediated by macromolecules found in extracellular fluids such as secreted antibodies, complement proteins, and certain antimicrobial peptides. Humoral immunity is so named because it involves substances found in the humors, or body fluids.

Question 20

Immune response

Answer 20

an immune response is a reaction which occurs within an organism for the purpose of defending against foreign invaders.

Question 21

Immunity

Answer 21

Immunity refers to the body’s ability to prevent the invasion of pathogens.
Innate immunity. We are all born with some level of immunity to invaders.
Adaptive (acquired) immunity. This protect from pathogens develops as we go through life. …
Passive immunity. This type of immunity is “borrowed” from another source, but it does not last indefinitely. …
Immunizations.

Question 22

Immunological

Memory

Answer 22

Immunological memory is the ability of the immune system to quickly and specifically recognize an antigen that the body has previously encountered and initiate a corresponding immune response.

Question 23

Infection

Answer 23

the invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body. An infection may cause no symptoms and be subclinical, or it may cause symptoms and be clinically apparent. An infection may remain localized, or it may spread through the blood or lymphatic vessels to become systemic (bodywide). Microorganisms that live naturally in the body are not considered infections. For example, bacteria that normally live within the mouth and intestine are not infections.

Question 24

Inflammation

Answer 24

is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molecular mediators. The function of inflammation is to eliminate the initial cause of cell injury, clear out necrotic cells and tissues damaged from the original insult and the inflammatory process, and initiate tissue repair

Question 25

Leukocyte

Answer 25

A type of blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph tissue. Leukocytes are part of the body’s immune system. Types of leukocytes are granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells).

Question 26

Lymphatic system

Answer 26

the tissues and organs that produce, store, and carry white blood cells that fight infections and other diseases. This system includes the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels (a network of thin tubes that carry lymph and white blood cells).
The lymphatic system has three main functions:
It maintains the balance of fluid between the blood and tissues, known as fluid homeostasis.
It forms part of the body’s immune system and helps defend against bacteria and other intruders.
It facilitates absorption of fats and fat-soluble nutrients in the digestive system.

Question 27

Lymphocyte

Answer 27

A type of immune cell that is made in the bone marrow and is found in the blood and in lymph tissue. The two main types of lymphocytes are B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes make antibodies, and T lymphocytes help kill tumor cells and help control immune responses.

Question 28

Macrophage

Answer 28

A type of white blood cell that ingests foreign material. Macrophages are key players in the immune response to foreign invaders of the body, such as infectious microorganisms. They are normally found in the liver, spleen, and connective tissues of the body.

Question 29

MHC proteins

Answer 29

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC), group of genes that code for proteins found on the surfaces of cells that help the immune system recognize foreign substances. MHC proteins are found in all higher vertebrates. In human beings the complex is also called the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system.

Question 30

Monoclonal antibody

Answer 30

A type of protein made in the laboratory that can bind to substances in the body, including cancer cells. There are many kinds of monoclonal antibodies. A monoclonal antibody is made so that it binds to only one substance. Monoclonal antibodies are being used to treat some types of cancer.

Question 31

Non-specific defense

Answer 31

Non-specific defenses are the body’s first line of defense against diseases. They are not directed against a particular pathogen. Non-specific defenses guard against all infections, regardless of their cause. It is also called as innate immunity. Examples of nonspecific defenses include physical barriers, protein defenses, cellular defenses, inflammation, and fever.

Question 32

Passive immunity

Answer 32

Immunity produced by the transfer to one person of antibodies that were produced by another person. Protection from passive immunity diminishes in a relatively short time, usually a few weeks or months. For example, antibodies passed from the mother to the baby before birth confer passive immunity to the baby for the first 4-6 months of life

Question 33

Pathogen

Answer 33

any disease-producing agent, especially a virus, bacterium, or other microorganism

Question 34

Phagocyte

Answer 34

a type of cell within the body capable of engulfing and absorbing bacteria and other small cells and particles. Phagocytes are cells that protect the body by ingesting harmful foreign particles, bacteria, and dead or dying cells. The professional phagocytes include many types of white blood cells (such as neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, mast cells, and dendritic cells).

Question 35

Phagocytosis

Answer 35

process by which certain living cells called phagocytes ingest or engulf other cells or particles.

Question 36

Primary response

Answer 36

the response that the immune system displays when first exposed to an antigen.

Question 37

Retrovirus

Answer 37

A retrovirus is a type of virus that inserts a copy of its RNA genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell.

Question 38

Secondary response

Answer 38

the immune response to a previously encountered antigen.

Question 39

Specific defense

Answer 39

Specific defense mechanism is the ability of the body to develop immunity against specific pathogens, toxins or foreign things. This is possible by a special immune system that produces antibodies and/or activated lymphocytes that attack and destroy specific invading organisms or toxins

Question 40

T cell
(= T lymphocyte:
killer T cell
T helper cell

Answer 40

A T cell is a type of lymphocyte, which develops in the thymus gland (hence the name) They recognise foreign particles (antigen) by a surface expressed, highly variable, T cell receptor (TCR). There are two major types of T cells: the helper T cell and the cytotoxic T cell. As the names suggest helper T cells ‘help’ other cells of the immune system, whilst cytotoxic T cells kill virally infected cells and tumours.

Question 41

Thymus

Answer 41

part of the lymphatic system, the thymus is a ductless, butterfly-shaped gland lying at the base of the neck, formed mostly of lymphatic tissue and aiding in the production of T cells of the immune system: after puberty, the lymphatic tissue gradually degenerates.

Question 42

Transplantation

Answer 42

Transplantation is the transfer (engraftment) of human cells, tissues or organs from a donor to a recipient with the aim of restoring function(s) in the body. When transplantation is performed between different species, e.g. animal to human, it is named xenotransplantation.

Question 43

Vaccination

= immunization

Answer 43

Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from a disease.