Cell Recognition Flashcards
What molecules of the cell surface membrane help to identify specific non-self/forgein cells
Glycoproteins, glycolipids can act similarly
What do these surface proteins help to recognise
-pathogenic cells
-abnormal/ cancerous cells
-toxins
-cells from other individuals from the same species
Define antigen
A protein/glycoprotein found on the cell surface membrane.
A molecule that identifies a cell as self or non-self
Give 2 examples of places where non-self antigens might occur inside an organism
Surface of pathogens
Toxins
Infected body cells
Cancerous/tumour cells
Cells form another individual
Explain why it is important to have T-lymphocytes with different specific receptors
Each is specific/complementary to a different antigen
The immune system is able to recognise/respond to many different pathogens/toxins
Explain why it is important to have T-lymphocytes with different specific receptors
Each is specific/complementary to a different antigen
The immune system is able to recognise/respond to many different pathogens/toxins
What type of antigens are produces by the organisms own body?
Self antigens
What are self antigens
Antigens that do not stimulate an immune response
What are non-self antigens
Antigens not produces by the organisms own body, and they stimulate an immune response
Why do some pathogens hsve antigen variability
The antigens present on their surface can change frequently due to genetic mutations
Why is having antigen variability a problem for the immune system fo many mammals?
Surface receptors are complementary to only one antigen, so when the antigen on a pathogen changes the lymphocytes and memory cells can no longer bind - no secondary immune response, so host suffers form disease again
What are phagocytes and where are they produced?
They are white blood cells that are produced continuously in the bone marrow
What is the role of phagocytes?
The recognise and engulf pathogens in phagocytosis
What is phagocytosis as example of?
A non-specific immune response
What do phagocytes have on their surface that recognise antigens as non-self
Receptor proteins
What is the full process of phagocytosis?
-Chemicals released by pathogens attract phagocytes
-Phagocytes move toward site of infection, where pathogens can be identified due to presence of pathogenic antigens
-the phagocyte attaches to the pathogen by binding to its antigens
-once attached, the phagocytes csm engulf the pathogen (endocytosis)
- forms a phagosome
-the phagocytes vacuole fuses with a lysosome = phagolysosome
-lysosome releases lysozymes to digest the pathogen
- product of pathogen digestion can sometimes be displayed on the cell surface of a phagocyte to trigger specific immune response.
What are lymphocytes and what are they a part of?
WBC, plays part in the specific immune response
When are T-lymphocytes activated?
When they encounter and bind to their specific antigen that’s being presented by one of the hosts cells.
What do activated T-lymphocytes do?
They divide by mitosis to increase in number
What are the 2 main types of T-cell that T-lymphocytes differentiate into?
-helper T cells
-cytotoxic T cells (killer T cells)
When do T-lymphocytes produce an immune response ?
When they are exposed to a specific antigen
When do T-cells bind?
To an antigen if it’s present on the surface of an antigen-presenting cell
What is an antigen presenting cell?
One of the hosts cells that has been invaded by a pathogen and is displaying them antigen on the cell surface membrane.
Describe the cell-mediated immune response
First, a naive helper T cells receptors bind to an antigen on an antigen presenting cell. This stimulates the helper T cell to clone itself.
The clones helper T cells stimulate B cells to clone, phagocytes to undergo phagocytosis and cytotoxic T cells to target virus-infected body cells.
When cytotoxic T cell receptors bind to antigens on virus-infected body cells, they release perforin. This protein creates holes in the cell surface membrane leading to cell death