Terms Flashcards
Ligand
A soluble molecule or a peptide, carbohydrate, or lipid presented on the cell surface.
Avidity
The combined strength of multiple interactions
Affinity
The strength of an interaction
Epitope
the binding site
Antigen
An organism, molecule, or part of a molecule that is recognized by the immune system
Immunogens
- Induce immune response & are targets of that response
- Not all antigens are immunogens
- Sometimes referred to as carrier
Hapten
- Small, nonimmunogenic, nonbiologic molecules
- Are complexed with carrier
Tolerogens
Induce adaptive immune unresponsiveness
Pattern Recognition Receptors
- PRRs
- Recognize broad structural motifs not generally present in host
- Recognize PAMPs
Toll-Like Recptors
- TLRs
- Type of PRR
- Mediate generation of defensive responses that include transriptional activation, synthesis, & secreation of cytokines
- Promote Inflammation & attracts Leukocytes
B-Cell Receptors
- Immunoglobulins
- Soluble, secreted forms are antibodies
- Expressed on the surface of B cells
- Bind pathogens
- Serve as B cell pathogen-recognition receptors
T-Cell Receptors
Only expressed as cell-surface recognition receptors, never as soluble proteins
Plasma Cells
Secrete IGs that have same epitope-binfing specificity as BCRS
Pleiotropy
One cytokine produces multiple effects
Redundancy
More than one cytokine induces the same effect
Synergy
Two or more cytokines work together to induce an effect
Anatagonism
One cytokine can inactivate the effect of another
Repertoire
The sum of all of the epitopes for which a given individual has generated immunologic receptors
Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns
- PAMPs
- Include combinations of sugars, some proteins, lipids, & nucleic acids broadly associated with microbes.
Cytokines
Immune chemicals secreted by immune cells
Killer Activation Receptors
Allow NK cells to recognize the presence of stress-related molecules
Complement System
A complex set of soluble molecules that generate various reactions that attract immune cells to the site of infection & lead to destruction of microbes.
Pluripotent Hematopoietic Stem Cells
The cell that all bloodborne cells ultimately derive from.
