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adaptive immune response
an immune response targeted at a specific antigen
can “remember” an antigen so that it can respond effectively upon subsequent exposure
allergen
a normally innocuous antigen that can cause an overreaction from the immune system known as an allergy
allergy
an immune system response characterised by IgE (Immunoglobulin E) production to an innocuous substance
anaphylactic shock
a severe allergic reaction that causes widespread swelling, including of the face and neck, that can lead to difficulty breathing
antibiotic
a naturally or synthetically produced compound that is toxic to bacteria
antigen
a large molecule, usually a protein or polysaccharide, that generate an immune response
apoptosis
a programmed series of events that lead to cell death as a result of the dismantling of the internal contents of cells by various enzymes, including caspases
bacteria
unicellular prokaryotes that can be pathogenic and therefore carry disease
bacterial capsule
a polysaccharide layer surrounding some bacteria that makes them resistant to phagocytosis and thus more virulent
cellular pathogen
a disease causing pathogen that is made up of one or more living cells such as bacteria or fungi
chemokine
a type of cytokine that induces chemotaxis
chemotaxis
the movement of an organism or a cell along a chemical concentration gradient either towards or away from a chemokine
cilia
slender hair-like structures projecting from a cell surface that beat against fluid
companion plant
a plant that is grown with another plant because one species improves the growth of the other
complement
a number of small proteins found in blood that, when activated, promote chemotaxis, cell lysis, and phagocytosis
cytokine
a signalling molecule that coordinates inflammation and immune responses and that leukocytes use to communicate with one another; includes interleukins and interferons
defensin
a type of small antimicrobial peptide secreted by nearly all plants and animals
degranulation
a cellular process in which the granules of neutrophils, mast cells, basophils, or eisinophils are emptied into extracellular surroundings
dendritic cell
a phagocyte with membranous extensions that engulf pathogens, process them and present them to other cells of the immune system
desensitisation
a treatment to make a person more tolerant of a substance to which they are allergic
disease
any condition that interferes with how an organism, or any part of it, functions
eosinophil
a leukocyte that secretes powerful enzymes capable of rupturing multicellular organism
first line of defence
physical and chemical barriers that keep pathogens from entering the body of a living thing
flagellum
a helical filament that rotates to give bacteria locomotion
fungus
a heterotrophic organism made up of one or many cells; has cell walls but is not a plant
granulocyte
a white blood cell that has granules in the cytoplasm
histamine
a chemical released by mast cells and basophils that increase blood flow and the permeability of capillaries
host
the organism in which a parasite lives
immune system
a complex network of cells, tissues and organs in the body that detect differences between self molecules and foreign (non-self) organisms, and mounts an immune response that results in the formation of memory lymphocytes
immune tolerance
tolerance of the presence of an antigen by the immune system so it does not mount an immune response to an antigen
infectious disease
a disorder caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and other organisms, that can often be transmitted to other members of a population
inflammation
an innate response to infection or damage that causes pain, swelling, heat, and redness
innate immune response
a response to a pathogen that is not specific to an antigenm only that is has been identified as being non-self; the response does not generate antibodies or memory lymphocytes
interferon
a type of cytokine produced by the cells of an immune system in response to challenges by foreign agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, and tumour cells
keratin
the tough, fibrous protein of the outer epidermis layer
leukocyte
the general term for a white blood cell
lymphocyte
a type of leukocyte involved in adaptive immune responses
lysis
the process of a cell bursting
lysozyme
an antibacterial enzyme found in tears, saliva, and other bodily fluids
macrophage
a large white blood cell that phagocytoses pathogens; originates as monocytes in circulation
mast cell
a cell that is located in the tissues and releases granules containing histamines when activated
microbiome
the bacteria, viruses and fungi that live
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