The Specific Immune Response

Question 1

What is the function of the specific immune response?

Answer 1

It produces responses aimed at specific pathogens

Question 2

Where are T cells produced and matured?

Answer 2

1. Produced in the bone marrow

2. Matured in the thymus

Question 3

Where are T cells found?

Answer 3

Lymph nodes and spleen

Question 4

What do T helper cells do?

Answer 4

Stimulate B cells to divide and become cells capable of producing antibodies

Question 5

What do T killer cells do?

Answer 5

Destroy any cells with antigens on their surface membrane that are recognised as foreign/’non-self’

Question 6

Where are B cells produced and matured?

Answer 6

Bone marrow

Question 7

What do B effector cells do?

Answer 7

Differentiate to produce plasma cells, which release antibodies into blood and lymph. The cells are relatively short-lived

Question 8

What do B memory cells do?

Answer 8

Like T memory cells, they are long lived cells that remain in the body for months/years. They enable the individual’s immune system to respond quickly to the same antigen in the future

Question 9

How are T helper cells activated?

Answer 9

1. Bacterium with antigens on surface enter the body
2. Bacterium engulfs by macrophage
3. Macrophage presents antigen on surface and becomes an APC
4. APC binds to T helper cell with complementary CD4 receptors
5. T helper cell is activated and divides
6. Produces clone of activated of active T helper cells or T memory cells

Question 10

Describe the steps involved in clonal selection

Answer 10

1. Bacterium with antigens on surface enter body
2. Antigen binds to complementary receptor on B cell
3. B cell becomes an APC
4. Activated T helper cell with complementary receptor binds to APC and produces cytokines
5. Cytokines stimulated
6. B cell divides into B memory cells and B effector cells

Question 11

What is clonal selection?

Answer 11

The process by which a B cell divides

Question 12

What happens next to B effector cells?

Answer 12

1. B effector cells differentiate into plasma cells
2. Plasma cells secrete antibodies
3. Antibodies bind to antigens, identifying them and therefore making it easier to destroy them

Question 13

How does a T killer cell work?

Answer 13

1. Bacterium infects cell of host
2. Cell presents antigens on surface, becoming an APC
3. T killer cell with complementary receptor binds to APC
4. T killer cell divides to produce clone of active T killer cells and memory T killer cells.

Question 14

What do active T killer cells then do?

Answer 14

1. Active T killer cells bind to infected APCs
2. T killer cell releases chemicals that cause the cell to lyse due to pores forming in the infected cell
3. Infected cell dies