Immunological Memory and Adaptive Immune System

Flashcards about immunological memory, adaptive immune system, B cells and T cells and vaccination

Immunological Memory

A cardinal feature of the adaptive system distinguishing it from the innate system, allowing the immune system to remember an encounter with a pathogen.

Activation Phase

The initial phase of the adaptive immune response where T and B cells get activated upon encountering an antigen.

Clonal Expansion

A process where adaptive cells (T and B cells) make carbon copies of themselves to recognize a specific pathogen.

Secondary Response

The magnitude of the immune response is greater and the time delay to respond is shorter compared to the primary response.

Tenderness

The ability of memory cells to become effector cells upon encountering a pathogen again.

Longevity

The capacity of memory cells to persist for a lifetime, providing long-term immunity.

Robustness

The ability of memory cells to quickly and effectively fight pathogens upon re-exposure, preventing severe disease.

T Cell Dependent Responses

B cell responses that require T cell help to generate memory responses.

Isotype Switching

The process by which B cells switch from producing IgM antibodies to other types of antibodies like IgG, IgA, or IgE.

Helper T Cells

CD4 T cells that help B cells perform their functions better through cell-to-cell communication and cytokine production.

CD40-CD40 Ligand Interaction

The interaction between CD40 ligand on T cells and CD40 on B cells, crucial for initiating isotype switching in B cells.

Affinity Maturation

The phenomenon by which the affinity of antibodies for their antigens increases over the course of an immune response.

Somatic Hypermutation

A process where mutations are introduced into the variable regions of antibody genes to fine-tune the affinity of antibodies.