Exam 1 Flashcards
(188 cards)
Which IFNs function in viral infection?
- IFN alpha/beta (aka type I IFN)
How does innate immunity help combat viruses?
- IFN alpha and beta (collectively known as type I IFN), NK cells, macrophages
How are IFNs released with viral infection? What are their functions? MOA?
- Most viruses stimulate production of IFNalpha, beta (aka type I) when in cell
- Function: inhibit viral replication in surrounding uninfected! host cells, increase MHC I, activate DCs and macrophages, activate NK cells
- MOA: bind – activation of oligoadenylate synthetase and dsRNA-dependent protein kinase – activation of RNASE L and eIF2 alpha phosphorylated respectively – degrades mRNA and makes eIF2 inactive
Function of NK cells in virus infection? How?
- Kill virus-infected cells early in infection (see how in another flash card)
- How:
- A. Mediate ADCC (antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity): ab binds to cell, NK cells come along with FC receptor to ab, activated NK, apoptosis
- B. Perforin-mediated osmotic death: many viruses reduce production of class I MHC to avoid CTL-induced lysis. Absence of MHC I removes NK cells from inhibitory state leading to infected cell death.
What chemical mediators produced by macrophages have anti-viral effects? How?
- TNF-alpha and NO. These interfere with virus replication.
Which viruses infect macrophages? How can this be bad?
- CMV, Ebola, HIV, measles, rubella
- Macrophages can traffic virus to many body sites.
Virus infections at mucosal sites vs systemic infections. Which leads to short-lived protective immunity? Long-lived?
- Mucosal sites = short-lived
- Systemic = long-lived
Which arm of adaptive immunity is most important in early viral infections? During established viral infections?
- Early = Humoral
- Established = Cell-mediated (CD8 CTLs)
Functions of ab in viral infection
- Prevent virus from binding to target host cell
- Opsonize virus to enhance phagocytosis
- Activate complement to lyse viral envelopes
- Facilitate ADCC by NK cells to lyse infected host cells
Functions of CD8 CTLs in viral infection
- Produce TNF-alpha to interfere with viral replication
- Kill virally-infected cells via apoptosis and perforin-mediated mechanisms. Use of MHC I.
Order the following features of the immune system as response to viral infection
a. NK-mediated killing of infected cells
b. T-cell mediated killing of infected cells
c. Production of IFN-alpha, IFN-beta, TNF-alpha and IL-12
- Order = C, A, B
Describe how memory T and B cells are different
- Memory T cells = quiescent until reactivated by ag
- Memory B cells = actively producing serum ab for decades potentially
How to viruses attempt to evade the immune system?
- Alter ags through point mutations or reassortment of genomes
- Prevent class I MCH expression of viral peptides
- Infection/killing of immune cells (eg. HIV and CD4+ T cells)
- Latent infection
- Infection of immunologically privileged site
Describe the deleterious effects of the immune response in viral infections
- CTLs induce destruction of tissue (eg. hep B liver destruction)
- Immune complex leads to kidney and arteriole destruction
- Molecular mimicry: viral proteins are homologous with host normal tissue and immune system targets host
Examples of intracellular bacteria
- Listeria monocytogenes, mycobacterium leprae, chlamydia trachomatis
What innate immunity mechanism acts to defeat intracellular bacterium?
- Macrophages produce IL-12, which activates NK cells. NK cells produce IFN-gamma, which activates macrophages, leading them to become more efficient killers. Specifically, IFN-gamma leads to production of NO leading to some killing of intracellular bacteria.
What type of adaptive immune response deals with intracellular bacterium?
- Delayed-type hypersensitivity (type 4) rxn.
- T-cells are activated, secrete IFN-gamma, macrophages are activated.
- IL-12 released by macrophages steering a TH-1 mediated response (cell-mediated). This leads to granuloma formation.
- Granulomas impair replication: macrophages produce NO, fibrosis and calcification decreases nutrient and o2 supply.
- Note: CTLs can be generated against bacteria that escape phagosomes intracellularly and have peptides presented on class I MHC.
How do intracellular bacteria evade the immune system?
- Inhibition of fusion of phagosomes and lysosomes
- Scavenging of ROS intermediates
- Disruption of phagosome, escape into cytosol
What are the deleterious effects of the immune system in intracellular bacterial infections?
- Granuloma formation can lead to severe compromise of normal tissue function.
In leprosy, which response leads to worse disease?
- Tuberculoid: TH-1 mediated = milder dz (granuloma + few bacilli). Normal T cell response.
- Lepromatous: TH-2 mediated = worse disease (many bacilli in lesions). Hypergammaglobulinemia.
Is the leading cause of acute otitis media viral, bacterial or fungal? Clinical implication of this?
- Viral (70%). Wait 48 hrs to initiate tx.
Strep pneumo. Gram stain, shape, lab/physiologic features?
- G stain: pos
- Shape: cocci in chains
- Features: catalase neg, alpha hemolytic (green: partial), optochin sensitive, bile soluble, capsule +ve quellung test
How can staph and strep be differentiated by lab test?
- Staph = catalase pos
- Strep = catalase neg
Staph aureus. Gram stain, shape, lab/physiologic features?
- G stain: pos
- Shape: cocci in clusters
- Features: catalase pos, coagulase pos