Immunology and Immune Response Concepts

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and concepts related to immunology and the immune response, aiding in review and understanding for the exam.

Histamine

A chemical released during allergic reactions that causes inflammation.

Antigen presenting cells (APCs)

Cells that process and present antigens to T cells; include macrophages and dendritic cells.

T helper cells

A type of T cell that helps activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells.

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)

An antibody type associated with allergic reactions.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

Molecules on cell surfaces that present antigens to T cells.

Immunotherapy

A treatment designed to enhance or suppress the immune system.

Cytotoxic T cells

T cells that kill infected or cancerous cells.

Apoptosis

Programmed cell death.

Natural killer cells

Lymphocytes that can attack tumor cells or virus-infected cells without prior sensitization.

Autoimmune disease

A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells.

Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)

A mechanism where antibodies mark target cells for destruction by immune cells.

Passive immunity

Immunity obtained from another source, such as mother’s milk.

Vaccination

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an immune response.

Herd immunity

When a large portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, indirectly protecting non-immune individuals.

Prion

An infectious agent composed only of protein, causing neurodegenerative diseases.

Histamine

A chemical released during allergic reactions that causes inflammation.

cells present antigens to T cells; include macrophages and dendritic cells.

Antigen presenting cells (APCs)

A type of T cell that helps activate cells and cytotoxic T cells.

T helper cells

An antibody type associated with reactions.

allergic

Molecules on cell surfaces that present to T cells.

antigens

A treatment designed to enhance or suppress the system.

immune

T cells that kill infected or cells.

cancerous

cell death is a programmed process.

Apoptosis

Lymphocytes that can attack tumor cells or virus-infected cells without prior .

sensitization

A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own .

cells

A mechanism where antibodies mark target cells for by immune cells.

destruction

Immunity obtained from another source, such as mother’s .

milk

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an response.

immune

When a large portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, indirectly protecting individuals.

non-immune

An infectious agent composed only of , causing neurodegenerative diseases.

protein

What is histamine?

A chemical released during allergic reactions that causes inflammation.

What are antigen presenting cells (APCs)?

Cells that process and present antigens to T cells; include macrophages and dendritic cells.

What is the role of T helper cells?

A type of T cell that helps activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells.

What is immunoglobulin E (IgE) associated with?

An antibody type associated with allergic reactions.

What is the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)?

Molecules on cell surfaces that present antigens to T cells.

What is immunotherapy?

A treatment designed to enhance or suppress the immune system.

What are cytotoxic T cells?

T cells that kill infected or cancerous cells.

What is apoptosis?

Programmed cell death.

What are natural killer cells?

Lymphocytes that can attack tumor cells or virus-infected cells without prior sensitization.

What is an autoimmune disease?

A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells.

What is antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)?

A mechanism where antibodies mark target cells for destruction by immune cells.

What is passive immunity?

Immunity obtained from another source, such as mother’s milk.

What is vaccination?

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an immune response.

What is herd immunity?

When a large portion of a population becomes immune to a disease, indirectly protecting non-immune individuals.

What is a prion?

An infectious agent composed a misfolded protein