Host 2 Adaptive Immunity

Practice flashcards covering the concepts of innate vs. adaptive immunity, T and B cell function, and types of immunity from the lecture notes.

Innate Immunity

A non-specific response that acts the same way regardless of the pathogen.

Adaptive Immunity

A specific response to pathogens infecting the body involving T cells and B cells.

Naturally acquired active immunity

Occurs when an individual has and recovers from an infectious disease, leading to antibody production and memory response.

Artificially acquired active immunity

Occurs when someone receives a vaccine that stimulates T cells and B cells to produce antibodies and a memory response.

Naturally acquired passive immunity

Occurs when antibodies are passed from mother to child via the placenta or breastmilk without a lasting memory response.

Artificially acquired passive immunity

Occurs when specific antibodies are given to an individual from a donor to provide immediate defense.

Antigen

A substance the body identifies as foreign and toward which it mounts an immune response.

Antibody

A protein produced in response to an antigen that is capable of binding specifically to it.

Epitope

The specific portion on an antigen that binds to an antibody.

Paratope

The specific portion on an antibody that binds to an antigen.

Helper T cells

Cells that function to activate Macrophages, B cells, and Cytotoxic T cells using a CD4 receptor.

T cell receptor (TCR)

A receptor used by T cells to bind to specific antigens.

CD4 receptor

A receptor specific to Helper T cells that allows them to bind to antigen held on MHC II receptors.

Cytotoxic T cells

Cells that kill specific virus-infected and cancer cells using a CD8 receptor.

CD8 receptor

A receptor specific to Cytotoxic T cells used to bind to antigen held on MHC I receptors.

B cells

Cells containing a BCR that binds to foreign antigen and differentiates into plasma cells when activated.

B cell receptor (BCR)

A receptor on B cells that binds to foreign antigen.

Plasma cells

Activated B cells that produce antibodies to mark specific antigens for destruction.

Antigen Presenting Cells (APCs)

Cells such as Macrophages, B cells, and Dendritic cells that contain MHC II receptors.

Macrophages

One of the three types of APCs that can be activated by Helper T cells.

Dendritic cells

One of the three types of APCs responsible for processing and presenting antigens to Helper T cells.

MHC II receptor

A receptor on APCs that complexes with processed antigen for presentation to Helper T cells.

MHC I receptor

A receptor found on all nucleated cells that presents antigen if the cell is virus-infected or cancerous.

Natural Killer Cells

Cells that destroy virus-infected and cancerous cells in a non-specific manner and lack specificity for antigen.

T cell dependent activation

The process where a B cell acts as an APC and binds its MHC II receptor to the TCR of a Helper T cell.

Memory cells

Cells that differentiate from activated T and B cells to provide lasting protection against a specific pathogen.

Opsonization

A process where antibodies enhance phagocytosis by tagging pathogens for destruction.

Neutralization

The coating of antigens so a microorganism cannot bind to its target in the body.

Agglutination

The process of sticking microbes together so phagocytic cells can consume more at once.

Complement proteins

Proteins in the blood that are activated by antibodies to destroy bacteria.

Primary Response

The response during an initial infection that takes days to fully activate and produces memory cells.

Secondary Response

A fast immune response where memory B cells instantly proliferate into plasma cells to destroy a pathogen.

Nucleated cells

Cells that possess an MHC I receptor and can be targeted by Cytotoxic T cells if infected.

Placenta

A route for naturally acquired passive immunity where antibodies pass from mother to child.

Breastmilk

One of the ways naturally acquired passive immunity provides protection to a baby during the first year of life.

Vaccine

A tool used in artificially acquired active immunity to stimulate T and B cells for future protection.

Donor

The source of antibodies in artificially acquired passive immunity.

Phagocytosis

A process enhanced by opsonization through the tagging of pathogens.

Non-specific manner

The method by which Natural Killer cells destroy infected cells, unlike the specialized approach of Cytotoxic T cells.

Proliferation

The rapid production of plasma cells from memory B cells during a secondary immune response.