Innate Immunity: The Induced Response to Infection

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to innate immunity and the induced response to infection based on the provided lecture notes.

Immediate innate immune response

The body's first line of defense against infection occurring within the first 0-4 hours after pathogen invasion.

Induced innate immune response

An immune response activated approximately 4 hours to 4 days after infection that involves inflammation and recruitment of effector cells.

Adaptive immune response

The immune response that follows the induced response, typically 4 days to defeat the pathogen or lead to chronic disease.

Complement system

A group of proteins in the blood that help antibodies and phagocytic cells to clear pathogens from an organism.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs)

Signaling receptors that recognize a variety of microbial products and play a key role in activating innate immunity.

Phagocytosis

The process by which cells, such as macrophages, engulf and digest pathogens.

Natural Killer Cells (NK)

A type of lymphocyte that plays a role in innate immunity by destroying infected or cancerous cells.

Inflammation

The body's response to infection characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain.

Cytokines

Signaling proteins secreted by immune cells to communicate and orchestrate immune responses.

Type I interferons

Cytokines that interfere with viral replication and activate immune responses against viruses.

Neutrophils

White blood cells that are the first responders to microbial infection and are highly effective at phagocytosis.

Pyroptosis

A form of programmed cell death associated with inflammation, typically seen in macrophages after encountering pathogens.

NOD-like receptors (NLRs)

Intracellular receptors that detect bacterial degradation products and activate immune responses.

Dendritic cells

Antigen-presenting cells that process antigen material and present it to lymphocytes; they help to initiate adaptive immunity.

Macrophages

Large phagocytic cells that play a key role in the immune response by ingesting foreign particles and pathogens.

Acute-phase response

An immediate immune response that includes increased production of certain proteins by the liver in response to inflammation.

Diapedesis

The process by which white blood cells move out of the circulatory system to the site of tissue damage or infection.

Interleukins

A group of cytokines that play important roles in the immune system by promoting cell communication.