BI108 Mechanisms of Human Disease - Immunology

Flashcards covering key concepts in the mechanisms of human disease, focusing on immunology.

What is immunology?

The study of the mechanisms of defense against pathogens.

What are the two types of immunity?

Innate immunity and adaptive immunity.

What is the primary function of innate immunity?

Immediate response to eliminate pathogens without specific recognition.

What is the key difference between innate and adaptive immunity?

Innate immunity is non-specific and immediate; adaptive immunity is specific and takes longer to activate.

What types of cells are involved in innate immunity?

Phagocytes (like neutrophils and macrophages) and non-cellular components (like cytokines, complement proteins).

What are antigen-presenting cells (APCs)?

Cells that display antigen on their surface to activate T cells, including dendritic cells and macrophages.

What is the role of dendritic cells in immunity?

They capture pathogens and present their antigens to naive T cells to activate them.

What does MHC stand for and what is its role?

Major Histocompatibility Complex; it presents peptide antigens to T cells.

What are the two classes of T cells?

CD4+ T helper cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells.

What is clonal expansion in relation to T and B cells?

The proliferation of antigen-specific T or B cells to produce a larger population that can respond to a pathogen.

What are antibodies and their main function?

Proteins produced by B cells that bind to specific antigens to help eliminate pathogens.

What is the effector function of antibodies in neutralization?

Antibodies bind to toxins or viral particles to prevent them from damaging host cells.

How do antibodies aid in opsonization?

They coat microbes to enhance their recognition and uptake by phagocytes.

What is antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)?

A mechanism by which antibodies mark infected cells for destruction by immune cells like NK cells.

What is an antigen?

Any molecule that can be recognized by the adaptive immune response, usually proteins or polysaccharides from pathogens.

What is cytokine release's role in the immune response?

Cytokines serve as chemical messengers that regulate immune responses and activate various immune cells.

What impact does age have on the immune response?

Elderly individuals often have impaired immune responses, increasing vulnerability to infections and diseases.

How does sex influence immune responses?

Females generally have stronger immune responses compared to males, affecting outcomes during infections.