Ch 5.2 Antigens
Studied by 0 people
Learn
Practice Test
Spaced Repetition
Match
Flashcards1/47
There's no tags or description
Looks like no tags are added yet.
Name | Mastery | Learn | Test | Matching | Spaced |
|---|
No study sessions yet.
48 Terms
What is an antigen?
A unique molecule or part of a molecule that elicits an immune response.
Where are antigens found?
On pathogens
What distinguishes 'self' from 'non-self'?
Protein markers (antigens) on cell surfaces.
What are MHC markers?
Self-antigens used by the immune system to recognise own cells.
What are MHC markers also called?
Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA).
Where is MHC-I found?
On all nucleated body cells.
What does MHC-I do?
Allows cytotoxic T cells or NK cells to identify cells as 'self'.
Where is MHC-II found?
On antigen-presenting cells (APCs) like dendritic cells
What does MHC-II do?
Helps activate the adaptive immune response.
What are antibodies?
Proteins produced by B lymphocytes in response to antigens.
Where are antibodies found?
Bound to B cells or secreted into the blood/lymph.
What are antigens made of?
Usually proteins
What determines blood types?
The antigens on the surface of red blood cells.
How are antigens detected?
By receptors on B and T lymphocytes.
What is an immunogen?
An antigen that triggers an immune response.
What is an allergen?
An antigen that triggers an allergic response.
What is a disease?
A condition that disrupts normal functioning of an organism.
What is an infectious disease?
A disease caused by a pathogen.
What is a non-infectious disease?
A disease caused by genetics
What is a pathogen?
A microorganism or agent that causes disease.
What are obligate pathogens?
Pathogens that always cause disease.
What are opportunistic pathogens?
Pathogens that cause disease only when immunity is weakened.
What are cellular pathogens?
Living pathogens like bacteria
What are non-cellular pathogens?
Non-living agents like viruses
How do bacteria reproduce?
By binary fission.
How do bacteria cause disease?
By releasing toxins
What is a bacterial carrier?
An infected person with no symptoms.
What are protozoans?
Unicellular eukaryotic pathogens.
How do protozoans evade the immune system?
By changing their surface antigens during their life cycle.
What are examples of protozoan diseases?
Malaria (Plasmodium)
What are fungi?
Multicellular
What diseases can fungi cause?
Athlete’s foot
What are oomycetes?
Fungus-like organisms with cellulose walls and motile spores.
How do oomycetes infect?
By releasing enzymes that digest plant tissues and suppress immune responses.
What are parasitic worms?
Flatworms and roundworms that live inside animal hosts.
What do parasitic worms do to the immune system?
Suppress the host’s immune response.
What are arthropods in disease?
Vectors like ticks and mosquitoes that transmit pathogens.
How do arthropods help pathogens?
Their saliva inhibits inflammation
What are viruses?
Non-living intracellular parasites made of RNA or DNA in a protein coat.
How do viruses reproduce?
By hijacking a host cell's machinery to make copies of themselves.
What is a virus capsid?
The protein coat surrounding a virus's genetic material.
What are enveloped viruses?
Viruses that bud out of the host cell
How do symptoms differ with enveloped viruses?
They cause longer-lasting infections (e.g.
What is a retrovirus?
A virus with RNA and reverse transcriptase (e.g.
What are viroids?
Tiny circular RNA molecules without protein coats that infect plants.
What do viroids infect?
Plants such as potatoes
What are prions?
Infectious proteins that cause other proteins to fold incorrectly.
What diseases are caused by prions?
CJD and kuru.