Adaptive Immunity and Immunology Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering adaptive immunity concepts, B and T cell activation, immunoglobulin classes, antigens, and cytokine responses from the lecture transcript.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific resistance to a specific pathogen identified by a particular antigen, which can be acquired actively or passively.

Active Immunity

Long-term immunity produced when exposure to an antigen stimulates an immune response in the host, resulting in the creation of memory cells.

Passive Immunity

Short-term, immediate immunity provided by direct exposure to antibodies rather than antigens, without stimulating an immune response or producing memory cells.

Naturally Acquired Immunity

Immunity acquired through everyday natural events without direct human intervention, such as contracting a disease or receiving maternal antibodies.

Artificially Acquired Immunity

Immunity acquired through direct human intervention, such as receiving an injection of a vaccine or antibodies.

Colostrum

Initial mother's milk high in antibodies that provides a newborn with naturally acquired passive immunity.

Antigen

A substance, typically composed of proteins or polysaccharides, that causes the body to produce specific antibodies or sensitize T cells.

Antibody

A protein made by plasma cells in response to a specific antigen.

Serology

The study of the interaction between antibodies and antigens.

Gamma Globulins

The specific subset of serum proteins (globulins) that function as antibodies.

T Dependent Antigen

An antigen that must be bonded to an MHC molecule to be recognized and activate T cells.

T Independent Antigen

An antigen that does not require an MHC molecule for recognition and directly stimulates B cells.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

A multi-gene protein complex that plays a role in self-recognition by differentiating host cells from foreign cells.

MHC Class I

Molecules found on all body cells except erythrocytes that present antigens to stimulate CD8 cytotoxic T cells.

MHC Class II

Molecules found on antigen-presenting cells (macrophages, B cells, and dendritic cells) that present antigens to activate helper T cells.

Clonal Selection

The process wherein a specific B cell clone is selected and activated only when its receptor binds to its corresponding antigen.

Plasma Cells

Short-lived cells derived from activated B cells whose sole function is to produce antibodies.

Memory Cells

Long-lived lymphocytes formed during an initial exposure that provide long-term immunological memory for subsequent exposures.

Clonal Deletion

The embryological process of deleting lymphocyte stem lines that recognize self-antigens to prevent autoimmune diseases.

Agglutination

The antibody-mediated clumping of pathogens to limit motility and enhance the efficiency of phagocytosis.

Opsonization

The process of coating a pathogen with antibodies to make it more visible to phagocytes and increase phagocytosis.

Neutralization

The binding of antibodies to toxins or surface attachments of pathogens to block their interaction with host cells.

Hybridoma

A hybrid cell created by fusing a mouse B cell with a cancer cell to continuously produce large quantities of specific antibodies.

Epitope

Also known as an antigenic determinant, it is the specific region on an antigen that binds to an antibody or T-cell receptor.

Hapten

A molecule too small by itself to act as an antigen unless combined with a carrier molecule.

Autoantigen

A host cell molecule that triggers an immune response against the body's own cells, leading to autoimmune disorders.

Alloantigen

Cell surface markers (such as MHC) from one individual that are recognized as foreign by another individual of the same species.

Heterophilic Antigen

Molecules from unrelated species that bear similar antigenic determinants.

Superantigen

An exotoxin antigen that stimulates an intense, overwhelming immune response.

IgG

The most common monomeric antibody class in blood serum that crosses the placenta and indicates a recovery or late stage of infection.

IgM

A pentameric antibody with 10 antigen-binding sites that is the first class produced in response to an initial infection.

IgA

A dimeric antibody class found in mucosal secretions that protects portals of entry from infection.

Helper T Cell

A CD4-positive cell that coordinates immune responses when activated by an antigen processed and presented with MHC Class II.

Cytotoxic T Cell

A CD8-positive lymphocyte that targets compromised cells and induces apoptosis or lysis via perforins and granzymes.

M Cells

Microfold epithelial cells located in mucosal tissues (intestines, lungs, nasopharynx) that take up antigens and transport them to underlying immune cells.

Cytokines

Chemical messengers that regulate, amplify, and perpetuate the immune response.

Cytokine Storm

An overwhelming release of cytokines that causes severe vasodilation, inflammation, and fluid accumulation in tissues.

Antibody Titer

A diagnostic test measuring antibody levels in serum to confirm immunological memory or determine the stage of an infection.