Immune system and infectious diseases

Question 1

What is the definition of the immune system?

Answer 1

A network of organs, white blood cells, proteins & chemicals that work together to protect & heal your body.

Question 2

What is the first line of defence in the innate immune system?

Answer 2

Physical barriers such as skin, mucous membranes, and natural microbiome.

Question 3

What are phagocytic cells?

Answer 3

Cells that engulf and digest pathogens and dead cells, including macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, and natural killer cells.

Question 4

What is the role of dendritic cells in the immune system?

Answer 4

They bridge innate and adaptive immunity by capturing antigens and presenting them to T-cells.

Question 5

What are the types of T-cells in the adaptive immune system?

Answer 5

• Cytotoxic T-cells
• Helper T-cells
• Regulatory T-cells
• Memory T-cells

Question 6

What do B-cells produce in the adaptive immune response?

Answer 6

Antibodies.

Question 7

Fill in the blank: The _______ immune system is also known as the acquired immune system.

Answer 7

adaptive

Question 8

What is passive immunity?

Answer 8

Immunity acquired through maternal antibodies in breast milk.

Question 9

What is active immunity?

Answer 9

Immunity developed through natural exposure to pathogens or vaccination.

Question 10

What is an antigen?

Answer 10

Molecules found on the surface of a pathogen that triggers immune responses.

Question 11

What are white blood cells (leukocytes)?

Answer 11

Blood cells involved in mediating immune response, produced in the bone marrow.

Question 12

What are the two main types of infectious diseases?

Answer 12

• Contagious/infectious
• Acute or Chronic

Question 13

What are common examples of non-infectious diseases?

Answer 13

• Cardiovascular diseases
• Diabetes
• Neurodegenerative diseases
• Lung cancer

Question 14

What is the definition of pathogens?

Answer 14

Biological agents that can cause diseases and are usually spreadable.

Question 15

True or False: Prions are infectious pathogens.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

What are the modes of transmission for infectious diseases?

Answer 16

• Direct transmission
• Indirect transmission
• Vector transmission

Question 17

What does vector transmission involve?

Answer 17

Pathogen transmission through other living organisms.

Question 18

What is the difference between passive and active vector transmission?

Answer 18

• Passive - carrying the pathogen
• Active - carrying and multiplying the pathogen inside the host

Question 19

What is quarantine in the context of infectious disease control?

Answer 19

Isolation of individuals to prevent the spread of disease.

Question 20

What is herd immunity?

Answer 20

Immunity that occurs when a large percentage of a population becomes immune to an infection.

Question 21

What is the importance of patient zero tracking?

Answer 21

To identify the source of an outbreak and control its spread.

Question 22

What organs are affected by Toxoplasmosis?

Answer 22

Various organs; effects may differ based on the organ infected.

Question 23

Fill in the blank: The _______ immune system includes programmed immune cells.

Answer 23

adaptive

Question 24

What is the function of plasma cells?

Answer 24

To produce antibodies.

Question 25

What are the key characteristics of infectious diseases?

Answer 25

* Contagious/infectious * Caused by pathogens * Can be acute or chronic

Question 26

What is the role of cytokines in the immune response?

Answer 26

To coordinate the immune response among various immune cells.

Question 27

What is the significance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)?

Answer 27

It presents antigens on infected cells and antigen presenting cells.

Question 28

What are the symptoms of an infectious disease?

Answer 28

Symptoms can vary depending on the pathogen and affected organs.

Question 29

What is the role of macrophages in the immune response?

Answer 29

To engulf and digest dead cells and pathogens.

Question 30

Oseophagus

Answer 30

Protects the body from pathogens through the utilisation of the cough reflex. It triggers the cough receptors to produce a cough as way of removing the pathogen using rapidly moving air

Question 31

Cornea

Answer 31

Clear solution surrounding the eye which acts a shield protecting the eye from pathogens and foreign invaders

Question 32

Earwax

Answer 32

Protects tissues and body by trapping infections into the earwax and preventing them from entering any further. Uses antibodies which help in further destroying the pathogen

Question 33

Enzymes in tears and saliva

Answer 33

Both tears and saliva contain the enzyme lysosome which has the main function of destroying pathogens by breaking down their cell wall. Specifically in the saliva it prevents the overgrowth of oral microbial population

Question 34

Mucus

Answer 34

Lines alimentary canal and respiratory tract, protects the body from pathogens by capturing any foreign invaders it identifies.