Block 4 Flashcards
(109 cards)
2 defense mechanisms of respiratory tract
Mucociliary blanket
Temperature Gradient
Temperature Gradient
There is a temperature gradient between the nasal passage (33 C) and the alveoli (37) that plays an important role in the localization of infection. Thus, rhinoviruses, which infect the nasopharynx and caue the common cold, replicate well at 33 C but grow poorly at 37 C, while influenza virus, which infects the lower respiratory tract, shows the inverse temperature preference.
Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR)
viral surface receptors that recognize specific pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are macromolecules present in virus and othe microbes, but not on host cell. One class of PRRs are Toll-like receptors (TLRs)
T/F Interferons show no virus specificity
True
T/F DNA viruses are stronger inducers of interferons than RNA Viruses
FALSE: RNA viruses are stronger inducers
How should interferons be administered to a patient?
Parenteral route (injection) because they are glycoproteins
Interferons
A group of cytokines (complex glycoproteins) that are secreted by somatic cells in response to viral infections and to other stimuli. They possess potent antiviral, immunomodulating and anticancer properties
IFN-a
Leukocyte interferon. Produced in large quantities by plasmacytoid dendritic cells
What produces Type II interferons?
Antigen-stimulated T cells and Natural Killer (NK) cells
IFN-B
Fibroblast interferon. Secreted by virus-infected fibroblast.
IFN-y
Only type of Type II Interferon
When are Type III interferons expressed?
In response to viral infections and activation of TLRs
3 types of Type III Interferons
k
Primary function of Type III interferons
Immunoregulator
Purpose of IFN-y
Mostly immunoregulatory (Type II)
What mediates humoral immunity
Antibodies released from B lymphocytes
What mediates cellular immunity
T lymphocytes
What elicits Cellular Mediated Immune (CMI) response? (2)
Internal viral antigens
Surface antigens (+ humoral response)
What can antibodies be directed against? (2)
1) Viral proteins on free virions (capsid or envelope)
2) Viral proteins expressed on surface of infected cell
Virus Neutralization
Neutralizing antibodies prevent virus attachment and entry into host cells. They bind to the viral capsid or host envelope.
Opsonization
Coating of virions with antibodies. Antibody coated virion is recognized and phagocytosed by macrophages, and sometimes by neutrophils.
Antigenic Plasticity
Rapid changes in the structure of the viral antigen. May be result of mutation, resassortment or recombination.
Due to change in antigen structure, the virus may become resistant to immunity generated by previous infection.
Antigenic Multiplicity
Antigenic variants with little or no cross-reactivity
Virokines
Some viruses synthesize proteins which are homologs of cytokines/interferons