PARASITIC IMMUNOLOGY Flashcards
What are the two main categories of parasites?
Protozoans (unicellular eukaryotes) and helminths (multicellular organisms).
How do helminths differ from protozoans in terms of immunity?
Helminths are extracellular and do not multiply within the host, leading to weaker immune responses compared to protozoans.
What are the three phases of the immune response to parasites?
Recognition phase, activation phase, and effector phase.
What are pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) involved in parasite detection?
Toll-like receptors (TLRs), NOD-like receptors (NLRs), and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs).
What cytokines are crucial for Th1
Th2
What is antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)?
A process where immune cells kill antibody-coated parasites using Fc receptors.
What is the role of eosinophils in helminth infections?
Eosinophils release toxic granules (e.g., basic protein) that kill helminths.
What immune evasion strategy do schistosome worms use?
They cover themselves with host antigens, masking their presence.
What is the most virulent species of Plasmodium causing malaria?
Plasmodium falciparum.
Why is the immune response to Plasmodium infections poor in endemic regions?
Due to antigenic variation, intracellular life stages, and short circulation time of sporozoites.
What are the key symptoms of malaria?
Recurrent chills, fever, sweating, anemia, and complications like cerebral malaria.
What immune cells are involved in protozoan infection defense?
CD8+ T cells (cytotoxicity), CD4+ T cells (cytokine release), and macrophages (phagocytosis).
What are the regulatory mechanisms that prevent excessive inflammation in parasitic infections?
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) and cytokines like IL-10 and TGF-β.
What is the significance of circumsporozoite (CS) antigens in malaria?
Plasmodium sloughs off CS antigens to evade antibody responses.
What challenges complicate malaria treatment?
Development of drug resistance in Plasmodium and pesticide resistance in Anopheles mosquitoes.
