biotech 2nd round of pgs

Flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture on the immune system, antibodies, vaccines, and microbial diagnostics.

What is an antigen?

A foreign substance that stimulates an immune response.

What is antibody-mediated immunity?

The immune response where B cells recognize and bind to foreign antigens to produce antibodies.

What role do B cells play in the immune system?

B cells recognize foreign antigens, undergo activation with the help of T helper cells, and produce antibodies.

How do macrophages interact with antibodies?

Macrophages can recognize and phagocytize antigens coated with antibodies.

What is the purpose of vaccines?

To stimulate the immune system against infections by pathogens.

What are subunit vaccines?

Vaccines made from purified proteins or structures from viruses or bacteria.

What is an attenuated vaccine?

A vaccine that uses live bacteria or viruses that have been weakened.

How are inactivated (killed) vaccines made?

By killing the pathogen and using the dead or inactivated microorganism for the vaccine.

What are mRNA vaccines?

Vaccines that use non-replicating mRNA encased in a lipid nanoparticle to promote an immune response.

What is recombinant DNA technology in vaccine production?

A method where genes for viral proteins are cloned into plasmids and transformed into microbes to produce vaccines.

What is metagenomics?

The study of genetic material recovered directly from environmental samples.

What is the goal of the Human Microbiome Project?

To catalog microbial genomes and understand their role in human health.

What is the importance of sequencing microbial genomes?

To identify genes involved in metabolism and pathogenicity, and to find disease-causing organisms.

What techniques are used for microbial diagnostics?

Techniques such as RFLP analysis, PCR, and DNA Sequencing are used for detecting and tracking microbes.

How can microarrays be used in medicine?

Microarrays can track contagious diseases by examining the host responses to infectious pathogens.

What is the significance of improved crop breeding methods?

To feed a larger population with limited increases in arable land.