Kuby Immunology Chapter 1 - Overview of the Immune System

Vocabulary flashcards on basic immunology principles, key immune responses, cellular mechanisms, and microbiome dynamics based on Chapter 1 of Kuby Immunology.

Immunity

The state of protection against foreign pathogens or substances (antigens), originating from the Latin word immunis, meaning "exempt".

Thucydides

An ancient historian who recorded in 430 BC that individuals who had recovered from a plague in Athens could safely nurse currently ill patients without becoming reinfected.

Vaccination

A preventive measure that prepares the immune system to eradicate an infectious agent before it causes disease, avoiding disease onset.

Humoral Immunity

An immune response that combats pathogens using antibodies produced by B lymphocytes, which can be transferred between individuals to grant passive immunity.

Cell-Mediated Immunity

An immune response primarily involving T lymphocytes that eradicate pathogens, clear infected host cells, or assist other cells in mounting an immune defense.

Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs)

Germ-line encoded receptors that bind to pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), generic structures shared by many pathogens.

Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs)

Generic molecular structures found across many different pathogen types, such as peptidoglycan, that are recognized by pattern recognition receptors.

Clonal Selection

The process by which an individual B or T cell binding to its specific antigen becomes activated and proliferates into clones with identical antigen specificity.

Tolerance

A mechanism that prevents anti-self-recognition receptors and lymphocytes from circulating in the body, protecting host tissues from autoimmune destruction.

Innate Immunity

A fast, non-specific immune mechanism operating within minutes to hours that relies on germ-line encoded recognition molecules, physical barriers, and phagocytic cells.

Adaptive Immunity

A highly specific immune defense that takes days to develop, utilizing randomly generated antigen receptors on B and T lymphocytes to target specific pathogens and adapt over time.

Memory Lymphocytes

Long-lived lymphocytes produced during a primary immune response that persist after antigen clearance, enabling a faster and stronger secondary response upon re-exposure.

Primary Immunodeficiency

An inherited genetic loss of immune system function.

Secondary Immunodeficiency

An acquired loss of immune function, which can lead to opportunistic infections such as oral thrush.

Commensal Organisms

Microorganisms that live on and inside host organisms without causing harm, contributing to metabolic and immune homeostasis.

Dysbiosis

An imbalance in microflora composition resulting from environmental factors or dietary changes, leading to gut barrier permeability, immune overstimulation, and inflammation.

Humoral vs. Cell-Mediated Response Overview Diagram

A diagram illustrating B cells recognizing antigens to secrete antibodies for antigen elimination (humoral) alongside T cells recognizing antigens to secrete cytokines or kill infected cells (cell-mediated).

Clonal Selection and Generation of Diversity Diagram

A schematic showing lymphocyte generation of diversity and self-reactive cell deletion in primary lymphoid organs, followed by antigen-driven clonal selection and expansion in circulation.

Primary vs. Secondary Adaptive Response Curve

A graph comparing the magnitude and timeline of innate and adaptive responses during initial antigen exposure (primary response) versus re-exposure (secondary response).

Microbiome Dynamics Diagram (Symbiosis vs. Dysbiosis)

A diagram contrasting factors that lead to homeostatic symbiosis versus those that cause dysbiosis, gut barrier permeability, chronic inflammation, and metabolic disruption.