Unit 3-Specific Cellular Defences Against Pathogens Flashcards
What is the specific immune response brought about by?
White blood cells called lymphocytes.
Where are lymphocytes produced?
From stem cells in the bone marrow.
What are the two types of lymphocytes?
B and T lymphocytes
What are T lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes that pass into the thymus where they develop into T lymphocytes.
What are B lymphocytes?
Lymphocytes that remain in the bone marrow an become B lymphocytes.
What do lymphocytes respond to?
Specific antigens on invading pathogens.
What is an antigen?
A molecule (often a protein) found on the surface of cells.
What are the 2 types of antigen?
Self antigens (belong to the body’s own cells) and foreign antigens (do not belong to the body’s own cells).
What do foreign antigens do?
Trigger a specific immune response.
What do lymphocytes have in terms of antigens?
Lymphocytes have a single type of antigen receptor which is specific for one antigen.
After foreign antigen binding what does the lymphocyte do?
The lymphocyte divides repeatedly, resulting in the formation of a clonal population of identical lymphocytes.
What do B lymphocytes do?
Produce antibodies against antigens and this leads to destruction of a pathogen.
What are antibodies?
Y-shaped protein with receptor binding sites that are specific to a particular antigen on a pathogen.
What do antibodies do?
Antibodies bind to their specific antigens which are on the surface/membrane of the pathogen. The resulting antigen-antibody complex can then be destroyed by a phagocyte.
What does an allergic reaction happen?
When B lymphocytes respond to antigens on substances that are harmless to the body, e.g. pollen. This hypersensitive response is called an allergic reaction.