Microbiology and Immunology Comprehensive Practice Flashcards

Flashcards based on comprehensive microbiology and immunology lecture notes, covering vocabulary for immune responses, pathogens, and diagnostic tests.

A complement

Part of the innate immune system that enhances the ability of antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear microbes, promotes inflammation, and attacks the pathogen's cell membrane.

Lysozyme

A nonspecific chemical barrier to infection found in saliva and a protective skin mechanism capable of breaking down the cell walls of certain bacteria.

Normal flora

Microorganisms that protect the body from pathogens by competing with pathogenic bacteria and producing toxins that kill them.

NK cells

Lymphocytes involved in nonspecific immune defense and specialized in attacking cancer cells and virus-infected cells.

Neutrophil

A type of white blood cell capable of phagocytosis and involved in the inflammatory process.

Opsonins

Any substance, such as certain antibodies or complement component $C3b$, that promotes phagocytosis of antigens by binding to them.

Clonal proliferation

The selective proliferation of $B$ cells in response to their interaction with a specific antigen.

IgG

The most abundant antibody in newborns and the serum fraction containing predominantly gamma globulins; it provides long-term immunity.

IL-4

A cytokine characteristically produced by $\text{Th2 CD4}$ cells to provide help for antibody production.

Treg cell deficiency

A condition that could result in autoimmunity.

Smallpox

A disease characterized by the $\text{Orthopoxvirus}$ ($\text{Variola major}$ and $\text{Variola minor}$) that has been completely eradicated worldwide.

BCG

A vaccine used to protect against $\text{Tuberculosis}$.

Active immunization

A method of immunization, such as vaccination, where the body’s own immune system is activated.

Passive immunization

The administration of pre-formed antibodies, such as those passed from mother to fetus or through breast milk.

Negative selection

A mechanism for the induction of immune tolerance.

Autoimmune disorder

Occurs when a person's immune system fails to distinguish between self-cells and non-self-cells and attacks healthy body tissue.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

A diagnostic marker for tumors of the colon.

Oncofetal antigens

Antigens normally expressed only on embryonic cells but also found on tumors; they consist of proteins expressed at high levels in cancer and fetal tissues.

Immune surveillance

The normal immunological control of tumors by the immune system.

Herd immunity

A form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a large percentage of a population has become immune to an infection.

Septicemia

A condition where $\text{Bacillus anthracis}$ or other pathogens are multiplying in the blood.

Nosocomial infections

Infections acquired during the course of hospitalization, often attributed to antibiotic resistance, lack of handwashing, or lapses in aseptic techniques.

Transient microbiota

Microorganisms that differ from normal microbiota in that they are present for a relatively short time.

Naegleria fowleri

A free-living amoeba colloquially known as the "brain-eating amoeba" that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, often acquired from warm ponds.

Tinea cruris

The medical term for ringworm of the groin.

Bullous impetigo

A disease characterized by a localized toxin that causes bullae.

Toxic shock syndrome

A condition caused by $\text{Streptococcus pyogenes}$ characterized by fever, vomiting, sunburnt-like rash, shock, and potential organ failure.

Hansen’s disease

The formal name for $\text{Leprosy}$.

Tsetse fly (Glossina species)

The biological vector responsible for the transmission of $\text{African sleeping sickness}$.

Epstein-Barr virus

A virus implicated in infectious mononucleosis, $\text{Burkitt's lymphoma}$, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and $\text{Hodgkin's disease}$.

Acute sinusitis

A condition characterized by facial pain or pressure, nasal congestion, and purulent nasal discharge, but typically not epistaxis.

Epistaxis

The proper medical term for a nosebleed.

Psittacosis

A disease spread by contact with bird droppings and exudates, caused by $\text{Chlamydophila}$.

Tuberculin skin test

A diagnostic test where a positive result indicates current or previous infection or vaccination, but not necessarily active disease.

Aflatoxin

A mycotoxin associated with the ingestion of contaminated peanuts.

Cystitis

A urinary tract infection most often caused by $\text{Escherichia coli}$.

Pyelonephritis

A serious danger resulting from lower urinary tract infections that can be caused by $\text{Escherichia coli}$ or $\text{Proteus spp}$.

$$\text{C3b}$$

A complement component that opsonizes bacteria.

$$\text{C5a}$$

A complement component that is strongly chemotactic for neutrophils.

Membrane attack complex

A structure in the complement pathway consisting of $\text{C5b, 6, 7, 8, 9}$ that causes cell lysis.

Plasma cells

The effector cells derived from $B$ cells that secrete antibodies.

MHC class I

A cell surface molecule present on all nucleated cells that presents peptides from inside the cell to $\text{CD8}^+$ cells.

MHC class II

A cell surface molecule present on antigen-presenting cells ($\text{APCs}$) that presents antigens from outside the cell to $\text{CD4}^+$ cells.

Hybridoma technology

The technology used for the production of monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) by fusing $B$ cells with myeloma cells.

Western blotting

Also known as immunoblotting, a technique used to detect specific proteins in a sample.

HAART

Highly active antiretroviral therapy, a combination chemotherapy regimen used to treat patients with $\text{HIV}$/$\text{AIDS}$.

Koplik spots

A diagnostic indicator of $\text{Measles}$.

Thrush

A condition caused by $\text{Candida albicans}$, often occurring following antibiotic therapy.

Rhinovirus and coronavirus

The two viral groups that make up more than 50 \text{%} of common colds.

$CD4:CD8$ ratio

A measure of balanced immune function, typically between $0.9 - 1.9$.

Buboes

The term for swollen lymph nodes, characteristic of the plague.

Variolation

The inoculation of scab material into small skin wounds to induce immunity against smallpox.

Syngeneic graft

A transfer of tissue between genetically identical individuals.

Xenograft

A tissue graft between individuals of different animal species.

Tetanospasmin

The toxin produced by $\text{Clostridium tetani}$ responsible for the symptoms of tetanus.