Unit 11- Immunity (AICE BIO)

Antigen

A foreign molecule that stimulates an immune response

Antibody

A glycoprotein made by plasma cells that binds to a specific antigen

Immune response

The body's complex response to a foreign antigen involving lymphocytes and phagocytes

Self

Body substances the immune system does not attack

Non-self

Substances recognised as foreign that trigger an immune response

Phagocyte

White blood cell that engulfs and digests pathogens

Neutrophil

Short-lived phagocyte forming

Macrophage

Large, long-lived phagocyte found in organs

Phagocytosis

Process where a cell engulfs a pathogen into a vacuole and digests it with enzymes

Histamine

Chemical released at infection sites to attract neutrophils

Lymphocyte

White blood cell involved in specific immune responses

B-lymphocyte

Lymphocyte that produces antibodies

T-lymphocyte

Lymphocyte that kills infected cells or activates other immune cells

Plasma cell

Activated B cell that secretes thousands of antibodies per second

Memory cell

Long-lived lymphocyte enabling a faster secondary immune response

Primary response

Slow first immune response

few B cells specific to antigen

Secondary response

Fast, stronger response due to memory cells from prior exposure

Immunological memory

Long-lasting memory cells that enable rapid response to repeat antigens

Variable region

Part of antibody with unique shape complementary to one antigen

Immunoglobulin

The protein group that antibodies belong to

Antitoxin

Antibody that neutralises bacterial toxins

Active immunity

Immunity from the body producing its own antibodies

Passive immunity

Immunity from receiving antibodies made by another organism

Natural immunity

Active: gained by infection
Passive: antibodies from mother

Artificial immunity

Active: via vaccination
Passive: injection of antibodies

Vaccine

Preparation of antigens used to stimulate artificial active immunity

Herd immunity

When enough of a population is immune to prevent disease spread

Ring vaccination

Vaccinating all contacts around a case to contain a disease

Autoimmune disease

Condition where the immune system attacks the body's own tissues

Myasthenia gravis

Autoimmune disease where antibodies block acetylcholine receptors causing muscle weakness

Monoclonal antibodies

Identical antibodies produced from a single B cell clone

Hybridoma

Cell made by fusing a plasma cell with a cancer cell to produce monoclonal antibodie