Chapter 14-16: Microbiota and Immune System

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from Chapters 14 to 16, including microbiota and the immune system.

Microbiome

The collection of all microbes (bacteria, archaea, fungi, etc.) that inhabit human bodies.

Virome

The specific combination of all the viruses present in human bodies.

Symbiosis

The relationship between the host and microbiome, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.

Dysbiosis

An imbalance of the natural microbiome caused by factors such as stress, antibiotics, or infection.

Mutualism

A type of symbiosis where both the host and microbe benefit.

Commensalism

A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits while the other is unaffected.

Parasitism

A type of symbiosis where one organism benefits at the expense of the other.

Transient microbes

Temporary microbes that inhabit the body for short periods.

Colonization

The ability of a microbe to attach, adhere to a surface, and begin replication.

Opportunistic pathogens

Microbes that can cause disease in immunocompromised hosts.

Gut-brain axis

The communication between the stomach, brain, and microbiome.

Hygiene hypothesis

The theory that reduced exposure to environmental microbes increases the risk of autoimmune diseases and allergies.

Low fiber diet

A diet lacking in fiber necessary for gut microbes, potentially leading to dysbiosis.

Mucociliary escalator

A mechanism in the respiratory tract that helps trap and expel pathogens.

Phage therapy

A treatment that uses bacteriophages to target and kill specific bacterial pathogens.

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)

A mechanism wherein antibodies tag infected cells for destruction by natural killer cells.

T Cell Receptor (TCR)

A unique, transmembrane receptor on T cells that recognizes specific antigens presented on MHC.

Clonal expansion

The rapid division of activated T or B cells to respond to an infection.

Antigen presenting cells (APCs)

Cells that process and present antigens to T cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells.

Epitopes

Specific pieces of antigens recognized by the immune system.

Complement system

A group of proteins that play a role in the immune response, including opsonization and cell lysis.

Primary immune response

The immune response when the immune system encounters a specific pathogen for the first time.

Secondary immune response

The immune response to a pathogen that the immune system has encountered before, resulting in a quicker response.