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Immunology Flashcards

(39 cards)

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1
Q

What is a non specific response

A

A response which is immediate and the same for all pathogens

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2
Q

What are some examples of non specific response

A 
Physical barriers (skin) 
Chemical barriers (HCl in stomach) 
Phagocytosis
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3
Q

What is an antigen

A

Any protein or glycoprotein on the cell surface membrane which stimulate an immune response

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4
Q

What are two types of phagocyte

A

Macrophages and neutrophils

They are non specific in their response to pathogens- engulf and digest all foreign cells and viruses

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5
Q

What is a specific response

A

A response which is slower and specific to each pathogen

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6
Q

What are some examples of a specific response

A 
Cell mediated response (T lymphocytes) 
Humoral response ( B lymphocytes) which produce antibodies
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7
Q

What does the immune system identify

A
  • pathogens
  • non self material from individuals of the same species (organ transplant)
  • toxins
  • abnormal body cells (cancer cells or cell infected with viral particles)
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8
Q

Where are B lymphocytes produced

A

Produced in the bone marrow

Mature in the bone marrow and then concentrate in the lymph nodes and spleen

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9
Q

Where are T lymphocytes produced

A

Produced in the bone marrow

Mature in the thymus

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10
Q

What are the 3 types of T lymphocyte

A

Helper T cells (Th cells)
Memory T cells
Cytotoxic T cell (Tc)

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11
Q

What do T helper cells do

A
  • attract and stimulate phagocytes to engulf more pathogens by releasing chemicals called cytokines
  • they activate cytotoxic T cells
  • they activate B cells to divide which increases antibody production
  • develop into memory T cells hitch remain in the blood - allows the immune response to respond quicker to a future infection by the same pathogen
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12
Q

What does a cytotoxic T cell do

A
  • destroys the body’s own cells infected with viruses or cancer cells
  • by complementary binding of antigen and receptor and releases the protein PERFORMIN which punches holes in the cell membrane of the antigen
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13
Q

What is a plasma cell

A
  • secrete lots of specific monoclonal antibodies
  • survive only a few days but produce about 2000 antibodies a second
  • responsible for the primary response
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14
Q

What is a memory cell

A
  • circulate in the blood for years
  • don’t produce antibodies
  • if they encounter the same antigen they divide and produce more plasma cells
  • secondary immune response
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15
Q

What does an antibody consist of

A

Antigen binding sites
Heavy chain of polyproteins
Light chain of polyproteins
Joined by disulphide bridges

( has a constant region and a variable region)

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16
Q

What are antibodies features

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A

Made of 4 polypeptide chains
Form antigen- antibody complexes
THEY DON’T HAVE ACTIVE SITES - antigen binding sites

Each binding site is made up of a specific sequence of amino acids folded into a specific 3D shape (tertiary structure)

17
Q

What do antibodies do

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A

They DON’T destroy pathogens directly
They DO bind to specific antigens to form antigen- antibody complexes
They DO prepare them for destruction by phagocytes by agglutination
They DO neutralise viruses

18
Q

What are the advantages of vaccinations

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A 
Can eradicate 
Fewer people get the disease 
Cheaper than healthcare 
Less chance of people dying 
Become immune without getting the disease 
Herd immunity
19
Q

What are the disadvantages of vaccinations

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A

Side effects (eg rashes)
Can get a mild version of the disease
Allergic reactions

20
Q

What does AIDS stand for

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A

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

21
Q

What are the signs and symptoms of AIDS

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A

Dramatic weight loss
Pneumocystis carnill
Gum and mouth infection
Kaposi’s sarcoma

22
Q

What does HIV stand for

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A

Human immunodeficiency virus

23
Q

What is special about HIV

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A

It’s a retrovirus

24
Q

What is a retrovirus

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A

Means it contains RNA rather than DNA
Viral DNA is made of viral RNA by reverse transcription using the viral enzyme reverse transcriptase
Viral DNA is incorporated into host DNA in the nucleus by viral enzyme integrase

25
What are the consequences of HIV infection
Loss of Th cells T cells are killed by T killer cells (Cytotoxic T cell) Reduces the number of T and B lymphocytes meaning there's fewer lymphocytes in the blood, slowing down the immune response
26
What is the acute phase
Lasts 3-12 weeks Rapid viral multiplication and loss of Th cells Symptoms: headaches, sweat, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes Increase in HIV antibodies- now HIV positive Cytotoxic T cells destroy the infected Th cells
27
Chronic phase (asymptomatic or latent phase)
Can last up to 20 years Viruses continue to reproduce and infect T cells but numbers kept in check immune system Active virus present so HIV positive individuals are infectious Multiple rapidly (x10 9 produced each day) Reduced immune system inefficiency
28
Disease phase
Increase in the number of viruses and ever declining number of T helper cells which weakens the immune system Opportunistic infections- infections normally controlled in healthy people but potentially life threating Includes TB, pneumonia and cryptosporidiosis
29
What is active immunity?
Becomes immune by producing its own antibodies after being stimulated by an antigen
30
What is passive immunity?
Become immune by being given antibodies made by a different organism Natural- when a baby becomes immune due to the antibodies it receives through breast milk Artificial- when you become immune after being infected with antibodies from someone else
31
What are the differences between active and passive immunity
Active - requires exposure to an antigen - takes time for protection to develop - memory cells are produced - protection is long term- antibodies are produced which are complementary to the antigen Passive - doesn't require exposure to an antigen - immediate response - memory cells aren't produced - protection is short term- antibodies are broken down
32
What are the ethical issues with vaccination
- religious issues - issues with animal testing - vaccination on humans can be risky- some side effects sometimes - if there was an epidemic of a new disease there would be a rush of people who would want the vaccine and there would be difficult decisions on who would receive it first
33
What is antigenic variation
Where the pathogens change their antigens
34
What is herd immunity
Where unvaccinated people are protected because of the occurrence of the disease is reduced by the number of people who are vaccinated
35
What is an example of antigenic variation
The influenza virus changes each year meaning people have to be vaccinated each year, especially those who are susceptible to the virus (people aged 65+)
36
What is a polyclonal antibody
Are a collection of many different types of antibody - with different variable regions - with different bonding sites which are complementary to different antigens
37
What are monoclonal antibodies
Collection of a single type of antibody that has been isolated and cloned - produced by fusion of single plasma cells with a tumour cell
38
What are the uses of monoclonal antibodies
1. Targeting medication to specific cell types by attaching a therapeutic drug to an antibody Direct monoclonal antibody -specific to antigens on the cancer cells are produced Indirect monoclonal antibody - magic bullets - attaching radioactive drug or cytotoxic drug to the monoclonal antibody 2. Medical diagnosis Diagnosis of influenza, HIV and many cancers
39
Direct Elisa test
- attach monoclonal to PSA to bottom of the well - any PSA in patients plasma will adhere to antibodies - well washed to remove any unstuck antigens - add second antibody complementary to antigen - washed again to remove any unbound antibodies - add substate -> induce a colour change if complementary

Biology (5 decks)

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