EXAM 4

Immunity

The ability of an organism to resist harmful microorganisms or viruses.

Basophils

white blood cell that helps attack large parasites like worms

Mast cells

Cells that release histamines in response to allergens.

B cells

White blood cells that produce antibodies.

NK cells

cells that patrol the body for abnormalities

Normal Microbiota

Microorganisms that are normally present in the body and prevent pathogens from taking over.

Hematopoiesis

The formation of blood cellular components.

Phagocytosis

The process where certain cells engulf and digest pathogens.

Cytolysis

The destruction of cells, often associated with the complement system.

Interferons

Proteins produced by cells in response to viral infections that inhibit replication.

Candidiasis

An opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida albicans.

Trichomoniasis

A sexually transmitted infection caused by Trichomonas vaginalis.

Coccidioidomycosis

A fungal infection caused by inhaling spores of Coccidioides immitis.

Histoplasmosis

fungal infection

caused by inhaling spores

Histoplasma capsulatum

Giardiasis

An intestinal infection caused by the protozoan Giardia duodenalis.

Adaptive Immunity

very specific and develops after exposure to a pathogen

can distinguish cells from self vs. non self

acquire memory of pathogen

B cells

Lymphocytes that mature in the bone marrow and produce antibodies.

T cells

lymphocytes that mature in the thymus and regulate the immune response

attack infected or cancerous cells directly

Hypersensitivity

An exaggerated immune response to an antigen.

Vaccination

The administration of a vaccine to stimulate an immune response.

Attenuated vaccine

vaccine made of live but weakened pathogens

should not give any signs or symptoms

may revert back to virulent form

Inactivated vaccine

A vaccine made from pathogens that have been killed.

IgE response

antibody response for allergic reactions

Desensitization

A process that decreases allergy response by promoting IgG production.

Hybridoma

cell line used to produce monoclonal antibodies against cancer

ELISA

A laboratory technique used to detect the presence of antibodies or antigens in a sample.

Antigen

A substance that induces an immune response, often found on the surface of pathogens.

Antibody

A protein produced by B cells that bind to specific antigens to neutralize or destroy them.

Cell-mediated immunity

A type of immunity that involves T cells and does not involve antibodies.

Humoral immunity

A type of immunity characterized by the production of antibodies by B cells.

Cytokines

Signaling proteins that mediate communication between cells in the immune system.

Complement system

group of proteins that enhance immune response by promoting inflammation and attacking membranes of pathogens

Memory cells

Long-lived B or T cells that can quickly respond to previously encountered antigens.

Passive immunity

Immunity gained through the transfer of antibodies from another individual, such as from mother to child.

Active immunity

Immunity that develops after exposure to a pathogen or after vaccination.

Immunotherapy

Treatment that uses the body's immune system to fight diseases like cancer.

Cytotoxic T cells

A type of T cell that kills cancer cells and cells infected with viruses.

T regulatory cells

T cells that modulate the immune response; prevent autoimmune diseases

Dendritic cells

Antigen-presenting cells that help activate T cells by presenting them with antigens.

Antigen presenting cells (APCs)

Cells that display antigens on their surface to T cells, initiating the immune response.

Inflammation

A localized physical condition characterized by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, often as a reaction to injury or infection.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by HIV that weakens the immune system by destroying CD4 T cells.

Autoimmunity

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

Monocytes

A type of white blood cell that differentiates into macrophages and dendritic cells.

Macrophages

Large phagocytic cells that engulf and digest cellular debris and pathogens.

Vaccination schedule

A timeline for administering vaccines to ensure optimal immunity development.

Zoonotic diseases

Diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Serology

The study of serum and its components, often used to diagnose infections by detecting antibodies.

Immunogen

A substance capable of inducing an immune response.

Adjuvants

Substances added to vaccines to enhance the body's immune response to the provided antigen.

Vaccines

provide acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease

T helper cells

A subset of T cells that help activate B cells and cytotoxic T cells by releasing cytokines.

Self-tolerance

immune system can recognize its own cells

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies that are identical and produced by a single clone of cells, used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

T cell receptor (TCR)

A molecule found on T cells that recognizes antigens presented by other cells.

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs)

Molecules associated with groups of pathogens, recognized by the immune system as signals of infection.

Dendritic cell migration

The process by which dendritic cells move to lymph nodes to present antigens to T cells.

Immunosenescence

The gradual deterioration of the immune system associated with aging.

Vaccine efficacy

percentage reduction of disease in a vaccinated group compared to an unvaccinated group

Cytokine storm

excessive immune response; too many cytokines released

Infection control

Strategies and practices to prevent the spread of infections.

Microbial resistance

The ability of microorganisms, especially bacteria, to withstand the effects of antibiotics.

Inflammatory response

The body's immediate defensive reaction to tissue damage or infection.

immunomodulators

agents that modify immune response or functioning of the immune system

Seroconversion

The period during which a specific antibody becomes detectable in the blood, indicating an immune response.

Antisera

Blood serum containing antibodies against specific antigens used for treatment or diagnosis.

Apheresis

A medical procedure to separate components of blood, often used to collect specific blood cells.

ELISPOT

A laboratory technique used to measure the frequency of specific immune cells responding to an antigen.

Zoonosis

An infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Immunogenicity

The ability of a substance to provoke an immune response.

Transfusion reactions

Adverse reactions occurring after blood transfusion due to mismatched blood types.

Serum sickness

An immune response that occurs after exposure to certain medications or antiserum.

Cytokine network

The interaction and communication between various cytokines to coordinate immune responses.

T cell activation

The process by which T cells become capable of responding to antigens, requiring antigen presentation and co-stimulation.

Dendritic cell maturation

when dendritic cells develop from precursor cells; present antigens more easily

opsonization

decoration on organism that promotes attachment of a phagocyte to microbe

cytolysis

activated complement proteins create MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX (MAC)

inflammation

activated complement proteins bind to mast cells, neighbor cells
release histamine

outcomes of complement activation

cytolysis
opsonization

inflammation

iFN-g

cause neutrophils and macrophages to kill bacteria
used in cancer treatment

iFN-a and b

produced by cells in response to viral infections

cause neighboring cells to produce antiviral proteins

iron binding proteins

prevent bacteria from grabbing iron from our bodies

transferrin

host protein for iron

found in blood and tissue fluid

lactoferrin

host protein for iron

found in milk, saliva, and mucus

ferritin

host protein for iron

found in liver, spleen, and red bone marrow

siderophores

virulence factor for bacteria

bacteria ability to capture iron

hemoglobin

found in red blood cells

antimicrobial peptides

help destroy bacteria

may inhibit bacteria in different ways (cell wall, protein synthesis)

do not survive human body well

innate immunity

very general immunity

primary response

first contact with pathogen

sets up ability to fight pathogen

stores memory of pathogen

secondary response

later interaction with pathogen

faster and more effective due to memory

humoral antibodies

c

cell mediated immune response

T cell reacts directly with the antigen

constant regions in interferon stems

long end of antibody, stem

recognized by c1

variable regions on interferons

IgD. IgA, IfM, igG, IfE

IgG

makes up most antibodies

can cross placenta, protects fetus

neutralize toxins and viruses

can attack fetus with anti Rh antibodies

IgM

5 monomers of Y molecules brought together by J chain

big, CAN PICK UP 10 CELLS

causes agglutination of cells

activated complement

first response to pathogen

cannot cross placenta

IgA

embedded in mucous membrane

prevents microbial attachment

IgD

not much is known

unknown function

found on B cells

IgE

monomer

important in allergic response

inflammatory response