Immunology Practice Questions #1
Below is a sample of questions that might appear on Exam 1. This is not an exhaustive set of questions, so concepts found in Chapters 1-3 that are not covered in this practice exam may appear on the actual exam.
Multiple/Multiple Choice. Under each question or statement are 5 possible answers. There can be anywhere from 1 to all 5 answers correct. Circle ALL that apply.
1.
Which of the following applies to the “innate” immune mechanisms:
A.
Absence of specificity
B.
A memory component
C.
Barriers
D.
pH
E.
Differentiation of lymphocytes
2.
Which of the following cell types is/are derived from a lymphoid progenitor:
A.
neutrophils
B.
monocytes
C.
natural killer cells
D.
eosinophils
E.
T Cells
3.
To which cell type(s) does the Clonal Selection Theory apply?
A.
Neutrophil
B.
T lymphocyte
C.
Monocyte
D.
B lymphocyte
E.
Natural Killer Cells
4. Which of the following are polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN)
A.
neutrophils
B.
red blood cells
C.
eosinophils
D.
basophils
E.
monocytes
6. An immunoglobulin molecule contains
A.
two identical light chains
B.
variable and constant regions on each chain present
C.
two identical heavy chains
D.
one heavy chain
E.
one light chain
7. What does BALT stand for? ________Bronchus Associated Lymphoid
Tissue______________________________________________________
8. (4 points) Describe the clonal selection theory (again).
I’ll let you look up this one from your notes.

9. CD8 T cells recognize antigen in the context of which MHC complex _I_____________________ .
10. Describe inflammation starting from the introduction of the infectious agent into tissue. Include all cell types, important cytokines and effector function. Start with the innate response and finish with adaptive
Start with macrophages in tissues, secreting inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, CXCL8, TNFalpha (you should know what each of these does!). Cytokines will act on the vascular epithelium to relax the cells so that complement and neutrophils and more macrophages can come into the site of infection. Also, the vascular epithelium will upregulate adhesion molecules that will help traffic neutrophils into the site. Once there, complement will be fixed, opsonization will occur, and many of the pathogens will be destroyed. Meanwhile, dendritic cells will carry the pathogens to the nearest secondary lymphoid organ where the adaptive immune response will be activated.
11. True or False. You have a better chance of survival if you lack the adaptive arm or the immune system than if you lacked the innate arm?
12. Which of the following are considered C5 convertases? a.
C4b2a b.
C4b2a3b c.
C3bBb3b d.
C3bBbP e.
C6-C9
13. Name one complement component (other than C6-C9) that is common to both the classical and alternative pathway? _____C3 or C5________________
14. Which of the following are considered anaphylatoxins? a.
C3a b.
C3b c.
C4b d.
C2b e.
C5a
15. Some characteristics of complement are a.
complement is actually a group of at least 20 serum proteins b.
complement components are often cleaved into subunits c.
complement proteins work in a cascade d.
one function of complement is to recruit cells to the site of infection e.
complement components have specificity for particular antigens
16. Which molecule of the lectin pathway is responsible for cleaving C4 into C4a and C4b? ____MASP or MBL__
17. C6-C9 binds to C5b on the surface of a cell, this forms the ________Membrane Attack Complex (MAC)_
18. Activation of the classical complement pathway requires a.
binding of C1q to C-reactive protein b.
binding of C1q to the surface of the infected cell c.
binding of C4b by Mannose-binding lectin d.
binding of C1q by Factor H e.
disassociation of C3b

19. Some of the biological functions of complement include: a.
slow degradation processes of microbes b.
direct lysis of foreign cells c.
opsonization for phagocytosis d.
plays a role in the inflammatory response e.
aids in clearance of viruses by activating CD8 T Cells
20. (7 points) Diagram, outline or describe EITHER the classical complement cascade, the lectin pathway or the alternative complement cascade during an inflammatory response. Make sure to use proper nomenclature and to include all steps.
This is another one I’ll let you use your book to do.
21. The Lectin Pathway is very similar to the classical pathway. Describe how it is different.
Classical pathway uses antibodies or C-reactive protein to bind to pathogen, then C1 binds to C reactive ptorein in order to cleave C4 into C4b, followed by cleavage of C2 to C2a and C2b (C2a binds to C3b) to form C3 convertase. Lectin pathway uses Mannose binding lectin to cleave C4 to C4b (it does not use C1), and the rest is exactly like the classical pathway.
22. What is the purpose of the CR1 receptor on red blood cells? To bind with C3b in order to remove small toxins/pathogens or immune complexes where they are processed by the spleen.
23. Describe the cytokines that induce fever. What other functions do these cytokines have? What cell produces these cytokines? IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-alpha. They also are involved with the inflammatory response which help the vascular epithelium relax. TNF-alpha also contributes to clotting, which keeps pathogens from escaping the site of infection and out into the blood. Macrophages produce these cytokines.
24. What are Toll-like receptors? What are their functions? These are receptors found on many leukocytes of innate immunity (especially macrophages, dendritics and neutrophils). Each TLR is specific for a different common pathogen component that help initiate an innate response. They are also capable of initiating an adaptive response.
25. Describe how natural killer cells recognize and kill virally infected cells? They have both inhibitory and activating receptors. When a cell is NOT virally infected they only express receptors specific for the inhibitory receptors in the NK cell (which in turn sends an inhibitory signal, so no response will occur). When a cell is virally infected it will be induced to make an activating receptor that is recognized by the NK cell. This signal will override the inhibitory signal and will induce the NK cell to degranulate (release the granules to lyse the cell).
26. Draw and label a surface immunoglobulin and a T-Cell Receptor. Be sure to label all parts of the receptors.
Use the figure in the book. Make sure you label all parts such as heavy chain, light chains, variable and constant regions and antigen specificity. Same thing for TCR with alpha, beta etc.
27. T Cells can only recognize antigen in context of MHC. Desribe which MHC molecules and which CELLS are antigen presenting cells for 1) CD8 T Cells and 2) CD4 T Cells.
1)CD8 gets antigen presented to them on MHC class I from any virally infected nucleated cell.
2)CD4 gets antigen presented to them by the Professional APC’s only which use MHC class II
28. Name the five isotypes of antibodies. IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA and IgE
29. Name the 3 Professional Antigen Presenting Cells. B Cells, dendritics and macrophages

30. Describe this figure:
Use your book and text to understand these two figures.
31. Describe this figure:
32. What is somatic hypermutation and isotype switching?
Somatic hypermutation is when activated B Cells undergo rearrangement of their hypervariable regions then test themselves on antigen to see if they recognize it better/worse/the same. If worse, they are deleted, if better they are selected, cloned and used.
Isotype switching is when an activated B cell rearranges its constant region genes to utilize the isotype of antibody best suited to the job.