Definitions 4 Flashcards
What is affinity maturation?
The process by which antibodies gain increased affinity and anti-pathogen activity.
Is the result of somatic hypermutation of immunoglobulin genes in B cells coupled to selection for antigen binding.
What is isotype switching?
A biological mechanism that changes a B cell’s production of antibody from one class to another; changes the effector function of the antibody and improves its ability to eliminate the pathogen that induced the response.
What is hybridoma?
A hybrid of a B cell and a myeloma cell (plasma cell tumor) that makes one specific antibody for one specific epitope.
What is flow cytometry?
A technology that rapidly analyzes single cells or particles as they flow past single or multiple lasers while suspended in a buffered salt-based solution and each particle is measured for visible light scatter.
What is immunophenotyping?
A technique used to study the protein expressed by cells.
What is titer?
A laboratory test that measures the presence and amounts of antibodies in blood.
What does polyclonal mean?
Antibodies that are secreted from different B cell lineages within the body; they recognize a specific antigen, each antibody identifying a different epitope.
What does monoclonal mean?
Antibody that is from one clone (very specific; all antibodies are the same).
What is clonal expansion?
Multiplication of a population of identical cells descended from a single progenitor cell.
What is gammopathy?
Conditions in which abnormal proteins are found in the blood.
