Animal Defence Part 2

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from an immunology lecture, including humoral and cellular immune responses, antibodies, T cells, MHC complexes, and related topics.

Humoral Immune Response

Immune response mainly involving B cells and antibody production.

Antigen

A substance or molecule recognized by the immune system, triggering a response.

B Cells Response

B cells interact with T helper cells upon encountering an antigen, leading to the production and release of antibodies.

Antibody (Immunoglobulin)

A Y-shaped molecule produced by B cells that recognizes and binds to specific antigens.

Constant Region

Region of an antibody that defines its class, function, and destination.

Variable Region

Region of an antibody that is specific to each immunoglobulin and provides the site for antigen binding.

IgM

First immunoglobulin released during adaptive immunity; pentameric with high avidity but low affinity.

IgG

Immunoglobulin that can bind antigens, often presented by macrophages. One of the other immunoglobulins that takes place once the kind of pathogen and the specific kind of antibody needed to be produced are identified.

Monoclonal Antibody

Antibody produced by a single clone of B cells/plasma cells, specific to one antigen.

Polyclonal Antibodies

Antibodies produced by different B cells that recognize various antigens.

Hybridoma

A cell created by merging a B cell with a myeloma cell line to mass-produce monoclonal antibodies.

T Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes, including T helper and T cytotoxic cells, which has receptors with variable and constant regions.

Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC)

Proteins that present antigens to T lymphocytes for recognition.

Cytotoxic T Cell

Recognizes and destroys virus-infected or mutated cells presenting antigens through MHC I.

T Helper Cell

Coordinates both cytotoxic T cells (cellular response) and B cells (humoral response).

MHC Class I

Expressed on all nucleated cells; presents antigens to cytotoxic T cells.

MHC Class II

Expressed on antigen-presenting cells (B cells and macrophages); presents antigens to T helper cells.

CD8

Cluster of differentiation for cytotoxic T cells; recognizes antigen presented by MHC I.

CD4

Cluster of differentiation for T helper cells; recognizes antigen presented by MHC II.

T Regulatory Cells

Regulate the immune response by recognizing self-antigens and sending signals to suppress cytotoxic T cells.

Tolerance

The process through which self-recognizing lymphocytes are eliminated to prevent autoimmunity.

Autoimmunity

Condition where the immune system attacks self-antigens, causing disease.

Class Switching

Mechanism where B cells change the type of antibody they produce (e.g., from IgM to IgG) based on signals from T helper cells.

Immunodeficiency

A condition in which the immune system is not functioning properly.

HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

A disease that affects the ability of the T helper cells to do their job. Because the T helper cells play a key role by activating and modulating the action of the B cells, where you don't have the T helper cells working properly, also your B cells will be affected.

Innate Immunity

The first immunity that happens and it's not selective. It's really quick and recognizes a pathogen.

Macrophages

Professional antigen presenting cells. They are professional because they express on the surface the major histocompatibility complex two. Acting as a bridge between the innate immunity and adaptive immunity.