Immune Response and Retroviruses

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the immune response and retroviruses, including definitions, functions, and specific immune cells.

Retroviruses

RNA viruses that use reverse transcriptase to convert their RNA genomes into DNA, which can then be inserted into a host genome.

Antigens

Foreign molecules that can trigger an immune response.

Innate Immune Response

The general anti-invader response that serves as the first line of defense.

Phagocytes

Types of immune cells that engulf and digest bacteria and other small cells.

Complement Proteins

Nearly 60 proteins that work with the immune system to protect against infections and remove dead cells.

Interferons

Proteins produced by the immune system to fight viral infections by inhibiting viral replication and activating antiviral actions in surrounding cells.

Inflammatory Response

A series of events that occur in response to antigen invasion or physical injury, involving immune cells recognizing foreign substances.

Adaptive Immune Response

A response that carefully catalogs each antigen and includes a memory component to help fight repeat attacks.

Lymphocytes

Primary cells of the immune system, types of white blood cells found in blood and lymph nodes, including B-cells.

B-cell

A type of lymphocyte that matures in the bone marrow and is involved in the humoral response to defend the body against extracellular pathogens.