B10- immune system

Question 1

What is a pathogen?

Answer 1

A microorganism that causes disease.

Question 2

What is the microbiome?

Answer 2

The collection of microbes in and on the body, many of which are beneficial or harmless.

Question 3

Name the four main types of pathogens.

Answer 3

Bacteria, viruses, fungi

Question 4

What is a virus?

Answer 4

A non-living infectious particle that invades cells to reproduce.

Question 5

How do viruses cause illness?

Answer 5

They reproduce inside cells, destroying them in the process.

Question 6

Give an example of a disease caused by a virus.

Answer 6

Measles.

Question 7

What are some features of viruses?

Answer 7

Protein coat, genetic material (DNA or RNA), no cellular structure, needs a host.

Question 8

What is the immune system?

Answer 8

The body’s defense system against infection and disease.

Question 9

What are the two main lines of defense?

Answer 9

Non-specific defenses and specific immune response.

Question 10

Name three non-specific physical barriers.

Answer 10

Skin, mucus, tears.

Question 11

What do white blood cells do?

Answer 11

Ingest pathogens, produce antibodies and antitoxins.

Question 12

What is phagocytosis?

Answer 12

The process where a white blood cell engulfs and digests a pathogen.

Question 13

What are antibodies?

Answer 13

Proteins made by lymphocytes that bind to specific antigens on pathogens.

Question 14

What are antigens?

Answer 14

Unique molecules on the surface of pathogens that trigger an immune response.

Question 15

What is immunity?

Answer 15

Protection from disease after the immune system has responded to a pathogen.

Question 16

What is a primary immune response?

Answer 16

The first time the immune system encounters a pathogen.

Question 17

Why is the secondary immune response quicker?

Answer 17

Memory cells recognize the pathogen and respond rapidly.

Question 18

What is a vaccine?

Answer 18

A substance containing weakened or dead pathogens that stimulates immunity.

Question 19

How does a vaccine work?

Answer 19

It causes the immune system to produce memory cells without causing disease.

Question 20

What are memory cells?

Answer 20

Long-lasting white blood cells that remember a specific pathogen.

Question 21

Why is there no vaccine for HIV?

Answer 21

HIV mutates rapidly and attacks the immune system directly.

Question 22

How does the measles virus infect a person?

Answer 22

Enters through the respiratory tract, spreads through the bloodstream, and replicates in tissues.

Question 23

How does the immune system fight the measles virus?

Answer 23

Phagocytes attack first, followed by lymphocytes producing antibodies specific to the measles antigens.

Question 24

How does the measles virus exit the body?

Answer 24

It spreads via coughing, sneezing, and body fluids after infecting tissues.

Question 25

What are the symptoms of measles?

Answer 25

Fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a characteristic red rash.

Question 26

What does a vaccine contain?

Answer 26

Weakened or inactivated forms of a pathogen or its antigens.

Question 27

What is the role of phagocytes?

Answer 27

To engulf and digest invading microorganisms.

Question 28

What is the role of lymphocytes?

Answer 28

To produce antibodies that are specific to particular pathogens.

Question 29

Why don't you get ill after a second infection?

Answer 29

Memory cells recognize the pathogen and respond rapidly.

Question 30

What are the stages of the immune response?

Answer 30

Detection, phagocytosis, antigen presentation, antibody production, memory cell formation.

Question 31

Why might someone still get ill after vaccination?

Answer 31

It takes time for the immune system to build a full response.

Question 32

What are common vaccine technologies today?

Answer 32

Live attenuated, inactivated, subunit, mRNA vaccines.

Question 33

What are side effects of vaccines?

Answer 33

Mild fever, swelling, soreness—usually temporary and less severe than the disease.

Question 34

What happens in a secondary immune response?

Answer 34

Faster, stronger response due to memory cells.

Question 35

How are vaccines administered?

Answer 35

Usually via injection, but some are oral or nasal.

Question 36

What are examples of non-specific chemical defenses?

Answer 36

Stomach acid, enzymes in tears and saliva.

Question 37

Why does skin help protect against infection?

Answer 37

It acts as a physical barrier to pathogens.

Question 38

What is inflammation?

Answer 38

A response to infection that increases blood flow and brings immune cells to the area.

Question 39

What causes a fever?

Answer 39

Chemicals released by immune cells raise the body’s temperature to inhibit pathogens.

Question 40

What is the role of mucus in defense?

Answer 40

Traps pathogens in the respiratory tract.

Question 41

What does cilia do in the respiratory system?

Answer 41

Moves mucus (and trapped pathogens) away from the lungs.