Specific/Adaptive Immune System - Definitions

Question 1

Specific/adaptive immunity

Answer 1

Responses of the Immune system that are targeted to particular pathogens.

Question 2

Antigen

Answer 2

Any molecule that stimulates a response from the immune system. They tend to be sugars or combo molecules or protein-based.

Question 3

T cells

Answer 3

Lymphocytes are responsible for cell mediated immunity and for the coordination and regulation of the immune response. Mostly develop in the thymus.

Question 4

B cells

Answer 4

Lymphocytes capable of differentiating into plasma cells. Formed and mature in the bone marrow.

Question 5

Red bone marrow

Answer 5

In flat bones and ends of long bones, vertebrae, shoulder blades, skull.

Question 6

Active immunity

Answer 6

Generated by direct exposure to anti-bodies

Question 7

Antibody

Answer 7

A globular proteins produced by plasma cells that will bind to specific antigens and promote their destruction or removal from the body.

Question 8

Naturally acquired active immunity

Answer 8

Develops after exposure to antigens in environment

Question 9

Artificially induced active immunity

Answer 9

Deliberate controlled exposure to antigens. Vaccines.

Question 10

Vaccine

Answer 10

A preparation that is used to induce artificially induced active immunity

Question 11

Passive adaptive immunity

Answer 11

Produced by transfer of antibodies from another source. Acquired. Non-permanent. Example is breast-feeding.

Question 12

Naturally acquired passive adaptive immunity

Answer 12

Conferred by transfer of maternal antibodies across placenta or in breastmilk

Question 13

Artificially induced adaptive passive immunity

Answer 13

Conferred by administration of antibodies to combat action. Used to treat hep, rabies, measles, and HIV.

Question 14

Specificity

Answer 14

Results from the activation of appropriate lymphocytes in the production of antibodies with the targeted effects. Targeted at a particular pathogen and stimulated by a specific pathogen.

Question 15

Versatility

Answer 15

Results from the large diversity of lymphocytes present in the body. There are millions of different lymphocyte populations, each sensitive to a different antigen.

Question 16

Memory

Answer 16

Memory cells enable your immune system to remember antigens but it has previously encountered, enabling it to launch a faster, stronger, and longer lasting counterattack if such an antigen reappears.

Question 17

Tolerance

Answer 17

The immune system ignores normal tissues but targets abnormal and foreign cells. The ability to distinguish between self and nonself.

Question 18

Major histocompatibility complexes (MHC)

Answer 18

Special glycoproteins in the membrane of regular cells or phagocytic cells of the innate immune system.

Question 19

Class 1 MHC proteins

Answer 19

Found on all nucleated cells.

Question 20

Class II MHC proteins

Answer 20

Found in phagocytes of the innate immune system as well as a variety of specialized immune system cells.

Question 21

Antigen presenting cells (APC)

Answer 21

Any cell that’s presenting a foreign antigen. Usually activates T cells.

Question 22

Antigen recognition

Answer 22

Binding of a B cell or T cell receptor to an antigen

Question 23

Costimulation

Answer 23

Required for activation. The secondary binding.

Question 24

Cytotoxic T cells

Answer 24

Produced quickly and in large numbers. Extremely mobile. They seek out abnormal an infected cells and destroy them by osmotic disruption, poison, or by triggering apoptosis in the targeted cell.

Question 25

Memory T cells

Answer 25

Produced by the same cell division that produces cytotoxic T cells. Do not develop further and less antigen is reencountered. Upon re-exposure to the antigen, they immediately differentiate into cytotoxic T cells.

Question 26

Suppressor T cells

Answer 26

Produced much more slowly and act after the initial immune response. Their main function is to limit the reaction to a single stimulus.

Question 27

Sensitization

Answer 27

When a B cell encounters its specific antigen, it prepares to undergo activation.

Question 28

Plasma cells

Answer 28

Under stimulation by cytokines, clones of active B cells differentiate into plasma cells. These cells secrete antibodies.

Question 29

Anti-bodies

Answer 29

Consists of two pairs of polypeptide chains, one heavy and one light. Each contains both constant and variable segments.

Question 30

Neutralization

Answer 30

Binding of the anti-body to the attachment region of the pathogen. This makes the pathogen incapable of attaching itself to a cell.

Question 31

Precipitation and Agglutination

Answer 31

Makes antigens clump together, preventing them from dissolving.

Question 32

Activation of the complement system

Answer 32

Upon binding to an antigen, portions of the antibody molecule change shape, exposing areas that bind complement proteins. Found complement molecules then activate the complement system, which destroys the antigen.

Question 33

Opsonization

Answer 33

Makes it easier for the phagocyte to engulf pathogens, by creating a coating of anti-bodies, making it easier for the phagocyte to hold onto its prey.

Question 34

Primary response

Answer 34

First response to a pathogen. Slow.

Question 35

Secondary response

Answer 35

Second response to a pathogen. Faster.