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Pharmacy Science > Unit 5- Immunity > Flashcards

Unit 5- Immunity Flashcards

1
Q

What are the consequences of under-activity and over-activity of the immune system?

A
  • Under-activity- lead to infections as the body becomes unable to effectively combat pathogens.
  • Overactivity- result in allergies, hypersensitivity reactions, organ transplant rejection & chronic disease.
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2
Q

What is the difference between INNATE & ADAPTIVE immunity?

A
  • Innate: Acts as the first responder & involves generalised defences, such as neutrophils & cytokines release.
  • Adaptive: More specialised, activating specific lymphocytes & creating memory for for faster responses in the future.
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3
Q

What is the function of natural killer cells?

A

Destroy virus infected cells.

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4
Q

What is the function of phagocytes ?

A

Cells like macrophages and neutrophils that engulf and destroy pathogens through phagocytosis.

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5
Q

What is the function of eosinophils?

A

Release substances to kill parasites like protozoa and worms.

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6
Q

What is the function of complement system and acute phase proteins?

A

Group of proteins that attract phagocytes, making pathogens easier to be recognised (opsonisation), and directly destroy microorganisms.

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7
Q

What is the function of cytokines?

A

Chemical messengers that coordinate immune responses.

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8
Q

What is the first line of defence in innate immunity?

A

Physical and chemical barriers that prevent foreign invaders from entering the body.

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9
Q

What’s happens when physical and chemical barriers are breached?

A

The second layer of innate immunity activates, involving immune cells, proteins, and chemical messengers.

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10
Q

What are PAMPs?

A

Pathogens-associated molecular patterns, unique features of microorganisms that innate immune cells recognise.

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11
Q

What are PRRs, and what do they do?

A

Pathogens recognition receptors on immune cells that detect PAMPs and activate responses like phagocytosis.

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12
Q

Give examples of PRRs.

A
  • Toll-like Receptors (TLRs): Recognise various microbial components.
  • LPS Receptors: Detect lipopolysaccharides.
  • Mannose Receptors: Bind to mannose sugars on pathogens.
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13
Q

How does the adaptive immune response enhance innate immunity?

A

Antibodies coat pathogens, making them easier for phagocytes to detect and destroy.

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14
Q

What happens when a pathogen bypasses innate immunity?

A

The pathogen multiplies, triggering a stronger innate response and activating the adaptive immune response.

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15
Q

What are the two types of adaptive immune responses?

A
  • Antibody-mediated (humoral): Involves B cells.
  • Cell-mediated: Involves T cells.
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16
Q

How does adaptive immunity differ from innate immunity?

A
  • Adaptive immunity is highly specific to particular antigens.
  • It has memory, improving the response with repeated exposures.
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17
Q

What gives adaptive immunity its specificity?

A
  • B cells recognise specific antigen through antibodies.
  • T cells recognise antigens via T-cells receptors.
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18
Q

How does adaptive immunity develop memory?

A

Activated lymphocytes responding to a specific antigen remain in the body as memory cells, increasing the response during subsequent exposures.

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19
Q

Why is there a lag period before adaptive immunity responds?

A

Time is required to find and activate the specific B or T cells that recognise the pathogen.

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20
Q

What are the types of granulocytes?

A

Neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils which all contain granules in their cytoplasm.

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21
Q

How are granules of the granulocytes stained?

A
  • Neutrophils: Not stained with either acidic (eosinophils) or basic dyes.
  • Eosinophils: Stain pink/red with eosin (acidic dye).
  • Basophils: Stain blue with basic dyes.
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22
Q

What distinguishes granulocytes from other white blood cells?

A

They have multi-lobed nuclei and are also called polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs)

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23
Q

What are agranulocytes, and how do they differ from granulocytes?

A

Moniocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes because they lack granules in their cytoplasm.

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24
Q

Describe the structure of monocytes and lymphocytes?

A
  • Monocytes: Large cells with kidney-shaped nuclei.
  • Lymphocytes: Have round nuclei, most are small with little cytoplasm, but some are larger with abundant cytoplasm.
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25
What is the function of neutrophils?
Stay in the blood and are recruited to infection sites by cytokines to destroy pathogens.
26
What happens to basophils in tissues?
They become mast cells, important for defending against parasites and mediating allergic reactions.
27
What is the primary role of lymphocytes?
Key players in adaptive immunity, continuously migrating between blood, tissues and lymphoid organs.
28
How do NK cells differentiate from T and B lymphocytes?
NK cells are naturally occurring, part of innate immunity, and are larger with granular cytoplasm.
29
What are the 2 main components of the lymphatic system?
Lymphatic vessels and lymphoid tissues/organs.
30
What are examples of lymphoid tissues and organs?
* Lymph nodes * Spleen * Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT)
31
What is the primary function of lymphoid tissues and organs?
They are sites lymphocytes are produced, matured, or activated.
32
What are the primary (central) lymphoid organs?
* Bone marrow: produces all lymphocytes * Thymus: T-lymphocytes mature.
33
What’s are secondary (peripheral) lymphoid organs?
* Lymph nodes * Spleen * Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues (MALT).
34
What happens in the peripheral lymphoid organs?
Antigens are presented to circulating lymphocytes, and the adaptive immune response is initiated.
35
What are antibodies, and which cells produce them?
Antibodies are proteins produced by activated B-cells as part of the adaptive immune response.
36
What is the basic structure of an antibody?
Y-shaped molecule with: * 2 heavy chains and 2 light chains. * Each has constant and variable segments. * 2 antigen-binding sites formed by the variable segments.
37
What do the antigen-binding sites of antibodies do?
Bind to specific parts of antigens called epitopes.
38
What determines the class of antibody produced?
The nature of the antigen and how it activates the B-cell in lymphoid tissue.
39
Which antibody class is produced in response to bacterial antigens?
IgG
40
Which antibody class is produced in response to pollen antigens?
IgE
41
Which antibody class is produced on mucosal surfaces?
IgA
42
How do antigen-antibody complexes eliminate antigens?
* Neutralisation * Opsonisation (enhancing phagocytosis) * Complement fixation (antigen destruction). * Prevention of bacterial and viral adhesion. * Stimulation of inflammation.
43
What happens when IgG antibodies are produced?
They destroy antigens through complement activation, opsonisation, and phagocytosis.
44
What happens when IgE antibodies are produced?
They activate mast cells to cause inflammation.
45
What happens when IgA antibodies are produced?
They are secreted on mucosal surfaces to prevent bacterial and viral adhesion.
46
What is the function of CD8 T cells?
CD8 T cells directly attack infected or altered cells, such as virus-infected or tumor cells.
47
What is the role of CD4 T cells (helper T cells).
CD4 T cells stimulate B cells to produce correct antibodies and help activate CD8 T cells.
48
What are the 3 types of antigen-presenting cells (APCs)?
* Dendritic cells * Activated macrophages * B cells
49
What are antigen-presenting cells (APCs)?
APCs are cells that process and present antigen to T cells.
50
What is the role of MHC proteins in antigen presentation?
MHC proteins display processed antigens on the surface of APCs to activate T cells.
51
What is the difference between MHC Class I and Class II proteins?
* MHC Class I: Presents cytoplasmic antigens (e.g. viral peptides) to CD8 T cells. * MHC Class II: Presents extra cellular antigens (from phagosomes) to CD4 T cells.
52
What happens after antigens are processed by APCs?
They are broken into fragments and displayed on the APC surface in association with MHC proteins.
53
What type of antigens can T cells recognise?
T cells can only recognise peptide antigens.
54
Which type of antigens are recognised by CD4 T cells (helper T cells)?
Antigens of extracellular origin.
55
Which type of antigens are recognised by CD8 T cells (cytotoxic T cells)?
Antigens of cytoplasmic origin.
56
What happens after T cell activation?
T cells undergo cell division, producing memory cells and effector cells.
57
What are the 2 types of cells produced by activated CD8 T cells?
* Memory T cells (long lived). * Cytotoxic T cells (Tc cells), which destroy cels presenting the original antigen.
58
What is the role of cytokines in T cell activation?
Cytokines coordinate the activities of T cells, B cells, and phagocytes, contributing to cell-mediated immunity.
59
How is the adaptive immune response regulated?
Through suppressor T cells, which suppress the activity of T and B cells.
60
What is the purpose of immunisation?
To stimulate the immune system to provide protection against pathogens or toxins via humoral or cell-mediated immunity.
61
What are the 2 types of immunisation?
Passive immunisation and active immunisation.
62
What is naturally acquired passive immunity?
Immunity transferred from mother to child via: * Placental transfer of IgG * Colostral transfer of IgA
63
What is artificially acquired passive immunity?
Immunity transferred through gamma-globulin injections, often used for acute infections, poisoning, or prophylaxis.
64
What are the advantages and limitations of artificially aquifer passive immunity?
* Advantages: Immediate protection. * Limitations: Short duration, risk of serum sickness, anaphylaxis, and disease transmission.
65
What is passive cell-mediated immunity?
Immunity transferred through cells, used in diseases like cancer or immunodeficiency, but with risks like graft-versus-host disease (GvHD).
66
What is the purpose of vaccine?
To achieve artificially acquired active immunity by introducing antigens from pathogens. Specifically to target and prevent the spread of various infectious diseases.
67
What are the types of vaccines?
* Live attenuated organisms. * Killed whole organisms. * Microbial components. * Detoxified secreted toxins.
68
What are the advantages of vaccines?
Long-lasting protection by stimulating the body’s own immune response.
69
What are the risks of live vaccines?
* Risk of causing disease in immunocompromised individuals. * Pathogen reversion to its virulent form.
70
How are killed vaccines prepared?
By using heat, chemicals, or UV radiation to inactivate pathogens.
71
What are subunit vaccines?
Vaccines using purified components like bacterial or viral proteins/polysaccharides or detoxified toxins (e.g. diphtheria, tetanus).
72
Why are polysaccharides in vaccines often conjugated with proteins?
To make them T-dependent antigens, improving immunogenicity and memory responses.
73
How do DNA vaccines work?
They use viral peptide genes cloned into vectors to produce both humoral and cell-mediated immunity.
74
What is the purpose of adjuvants in vaccines?
To enhance immunogenicity of weaker antigens.
75
What is the most commonly approved adjuvant for human use?
Aluminium salts
76
What are some adverse effects of immunisation?
Fever, malaise, joint pain, neurological disorder (e.g. from DTP, rubella, or influenza vaccines).
77
How has the pertussis vaccine been improved to reduce adverse effects?
By replacing the whole-cell pertussis component with an acellular preparation.

Pharmacy Science (9 decks)

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