POM - IMMUNITY - HYPERSENSITIVITY Flashcards
1
Q
What is an antigen?
A
Any substance that when recognised can elicit an antibody response against it
2
Q
What is an antibody?
A
- aka an immunoglobulin or when expressed on the surface of B cell, the B cell receptor
- Y shaped heterodimeric protein that specifically binds to an antigen
- secreted by antibody secreted cells
3
Q
What is an adjuvant?
A
a substance that activates and enhances the body’s immune response against an antigen
4
Q
What is an allergen?
A
An antigen that in some causes can elicit an allergic reaction
5
Q
What is a hapten?
A
a small molecule which on its own is not antigen but when associated with a large carrier such as a protein can form an antigen
6
Q
What is meant by hypersensitivity?
A
- an undesirable, adverse/excessive PATHOLOGICAL immune response to an antigen
7
Q
What is an immune complex?
A
- an antibody bound to its antigen
- often the immune complexes are made of multiple antibody-antigen units
8
Q
What is meant by immunogenicity?
A
the ability of a substance to cause an immune response
9
Q
What is DAMP?
A
- damage associated molecular patterns
- molecules released as a result of non-apoptotic cell death
- recognised by and activate the immune system
10
Q
What is PAMP?
A
- pathogen associated molecular patterns
- common molecular patterns found in pathogens and microbes but NORMALLY NOT FOUND IN HOST CELLS
- Recognised by and activate the innate immune system
11
Q
What are PRRs?
A
- pattern recognition receptors
- they are host proteins that recognise DAMPs and PAMPs
