Pathogens Flashcards
Is the INNATE fast or slow?
Fast.
Does the INNATE have diversity?
No, it has no diversity or specificity.
Is the INNATE specialized?
No, the INNATE is general and not specialized nor specific.
Does the INNATE contain memory?
No, the INNATE has no memory,
Is the ADAPTIVE fast or slow?
Slow.
Is the ADAPTIVE diverse?
Yes, the ADAPTIVE is diverse.
Is the ADAPTIVE specialized?
Yes, the ADAPTIVE is specialized and specific.
Does the ADAPTIVE contain memory?
Yes, the ADAPTIVE contains memory.
What role does the INNATE take?
It is the first line of defense.
What role does the ADAPTIVE take?
It offers selective and precise protection.
Antigen definition…
Protein or carbohydrate that engages the immune system and initiates an immune response.
Protein facts
Majority of antigens, may be pure proteins, glycoproteins or lipoproteins.
Polysaccharides facts
Pure polysaccharides or lipopolysaccharides.
Lipids facts
Non-immunogenic in general, but may assist in antigen-mediated immune activation. (NK, NKT cells)
Nucleic Acids facts
Usually poorly immunogenic, most effective when single-stranded or complexed with proteins.
Antigens recognized by specific antibody proteins or T-cell receptors are targets to which immune response?
These antigens serve as targets of the adaptive immune response.
Epitope
Antigenic determinant and actual molecular structure that interacts with a single antibody or T-cell receptor.
Types of Epitopes
Linear epitope: formed by a specific sequence and Conformational epitope: formed by a 3-D structure.
B-cell Epitopes
Region of antigen recognized by immunoglobulins/antibodies.
3-20 a.a. or sugar residues.
Limited to portions of the antigen that are accessible to the antibody.
T-Cell Epitopes
Region of antigen recognized by T-cell receptor
8-15 a.a. long
Recognized by T-cell receptor only after being processed and presented in association with an MHC protein. Limited to portions of the antigen that can bind to MHC proteins.
Important to remember that…
ONE ANTIGEN CAN HAVE MANY DIFFERENT EPITOPES.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Principles
Control immune response to all protein antigens/ graft rejection.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Principles
Polygenic: several different MHC I and II alleles, therefore every individual has a set of MHC molecules with different ranges of peptide binding specificities.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Principles
Most polymorphic genes in the genome.
Potentially 8-9 million HLA I alleles: (40 000 + identified)
(2000+ HLA-A, 2000+ HLA-B, 1000+ HLA-DR variants).
Genetics
aka “human leukocyte antigens” (HLA).
Genetics
CD8+ T-cells recognize MHC I
HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C
Genetics
CD4+ T-cells recognize MHC II
HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, HLA-DP
Genetics
MHC genes are co-dominantly expressed
Genetics
MHC haplotype: set of maternally- and paternally-derived MHC genes on each chromosome (3 MHCI, 3 MHCII from each parent – total of 12 make up your HLA “fingerprint”.
T-cell receptor responsibilities
Recognize foreign antigens presented by MHC proteins on the surface of host cells.
T-cell receptor responsibilities
The TcR repertoire (genetic diversity) of α/β T-cells allows for tremendous ability to recognize different antigens.
T-cell receptor responsibilities
TcRs have only 1 antigen binding site (BcR has 2).