Topic 7 Flashcards
antigens
compounds foreign to the body that trigger an immune response
- may be molecule or part of a molecule
- surface of pathogen may have several different antigens/epitopes
- if antigen gains entry into persons internal environment, immune system recognises them as foreign and immune response initiated.
distinguishing self from non-self
- cells and molecules are identified as self antigens by our immune system- therefore not destroyed by our immune cells-by protein markers on the cell
- these protein markers are expressed due to information contained in DNA-unique in everybody
- foreign antigens are recognized by specific receptors on our immune cells as non-self and bind to these receptors- triggers an immune response through cascade of events
- group of genes that determines these protein markers is called MHC (major histocompatibility complex)
MHC Class 1 marker
found on all cells (apart from red blood cell)
MHC Class 2 marker
found on antigen presenting cells
Antigen presenting cells
cells that process foreign antigens, placing them on their cell membrane to other immune cells- stimulates immune response
disease
any condition that impairs normal activity of an organism
what causes disease symptoms
physical or chemical damage to host
- inadequate supply of food and nutrients to a host
- symptoms don’t appear immediately- time between infection and symptom onset- incubation period
virulence`
the degree to which a pathogen can cause disease
entry points for a pathogen
nose and throat to lungs
mouth into digestive system
urethra or genital opening
cut, punctures, burns, insect bites that penetrate skin
types of non-cellular pathogens
- prions
- viruses
prions
- do not contain any genetic material
- consist of PrP protein, smaller than viruses
- two forms:
- PrPc- found naturally in nerve cells and plays role in memory, learning and transmission of signals between cells
- PrPsc- disease causing form, usually enters body through infected meat- causes nervous system degeneration
- very resistant to high temperatures, UV radiation and strong enzymes- difficult for immune system to combat
prion reproduction
- PrPc can be transformed to harmful PrPsc prion by contact with harmful prion
- contact causes PrPc to unfold and refold abnormally- secondary structure is converted to that of harmful PrPsc prion
- each transformed prion can then make contact with other normal prions, transforming them into abnormal prions- sets up chain reaction that rapidly multiplies numbers of harmful prions
- not true biological reproduction
Viruses
- non-cellular pathogens
- can only replicate inside living cell- obligate intra-cellular parasites
- usually host specific- will only cause disease in one kind or organism as they recognise specific surface molecules on cell membrane of specific host
- either contain DNA or RNA surrounded by protein coat (capsid)- naked viruses
- in some, the nucleocapsid is surrounded by an envelope- outer envelope may have glycoprotein spikes- act as recognition and attachment to specific host
structure of retrovirus
- composed of RNA
- contains reverse transcriptase enzyme- allows virus RNA to be transcribed into DNA after entering host cell.
- retroviral DNA can then integrate with host cell’s chromosomal DNA- then is expressed
reproduction of viruses
- host cells have specific receptor sites which allow only specific viruses to bind to them- virus can only replicate inside suitable host cell
- host cell infected with virus becomes factory- produces multiple copies of the virus
- mode of release of viral particles from infected cell- lysis or budding
- enveloped viruses- released from infected cell by budding- virions are released until infected cell dies
- naked viruses commonly released by lysis- infected host cell explodes and plasma membrane disintegrates
- viral particles released into extracellular fluid- allows them to infect other cells.