Immunology and Serology

Antigen

Any foreign substance that induces host response

Immunogen

Any substance that is capabale of inducing an immune response

Epitope

Key portion of the immunogen recognized within MHC molecules

Hapten

By itself cannot trigger the immune system but becomes immunogenic once attached to a larger molecule

Adjuvants

Its purpose is for potentiating or enhancing, the immune response

Mechanical barriers

Unbroken skin and mucosal membrane surfaces

Chemical Barriers

Secretions such as the mucus, FA, lactice acid and cerumen

5.6

Skin pH:

Biological barriers

The normal microbiota

Second line

The cellular response and humoral response

Third line

Specific immune response such as memory cells, plasma cells, antibodies

Immunity

The condition of being resistant to infection based on the ability of the immune system to recognize and dispose of foreign (nonself) material

Transmigration

Migration of the leukocytes through the endothelium into the tissues

Chemotaxis

Migration of cells in the direction of a chemical messenger

Opsonizations

Coating if pathogens by antibodies or complement proteins

Elie Metchnikoff

The first to observe phagocytosis

Antigen presenting cells

Phagocytize, process and present (3Ps) antigens to T cells

Dendritic cells

They are considered the most effective APC and most potent phagocytic cell

Acute phase reactants

Nonspecific indicator of an inflammatory process

C-reactive protein

Primitive nonspecific form of Ab

Serum Amyloid A

binds to HDL and can modulate cholesterol transport and metabolism

Alpha 1 Antitrypsin

Premature emphysema

Haptoglobin

Prevent formation of peroxides and free radicals

Procalcitonin

Elevated in patients with sepsis

B cells

It secretes antibodies to neutralize pathogens

Cytotoxic T cells

Directly kill target cells infected with intracellular pathogens such as viruses and certain bacteria

HelperT cells

Doesn’t directly kill cells but instead they control the immune response through the section of cytokines

Regulatory T cells

Develop from Th0 cell; CD25 they suppress or regulated the activitt of the other immune cells

Memory T cells

Remain in the body and remember past infections providing long term immunity

PAMPS

Substances only found in microorganisms