Chapter 16
Specific Host Defense Mechanisms:
An Introduction to Immunology
Terms Introduced in This Chapter
After reading Chapter 16, you should be familiar with the following terms. These terms are
defined in Chapter 16 and in the Glossary.
Acquired immunity
Active acquired immunity
Agammaglobulinemia
Allergen
Anaphylactic reactions
Anaphylactic shock
Anaphylaxis
Antigen–antibody complex
Antigen-presenting cell (APC)
Antigenic
Antigenic determinant
Antigenic variation
Antiserum
Antitoxins
Artificial active acquired immunity
Artificial passive acquire immunity
Atopic person
Attenuated
Attenuated vaccine
Attenuation
Autogenous vaccine
Autoimmune disease
B cells (B lymphocytes)
Blocking antibodies
Cell-mediated immunity
Conjugate vaccine
Cutaneous anaphylaxis
Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions
DNA vaccine
Erythema
Hapten
Humoral immunity
Hybridoma
Hypersensitivity reactions
Hypogammaglobulinemia
Immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions
Immune
Immunity
Immunocompetent person
Immunodiagnostic procedures
Immunoglobulins
Immunosuppressed person
Immunology
Inactivated vaccine
Lymphokines
Monoclonal antibodies
Natural active acquired immunity
Natural passive acquired immunity
Passive acquired immunity
Plasma cell
Primary response
Protective antibodies
Regulatory T cells
Secondary response
Serologic procedures
Subunit vaccine
T cells (T lymphocytes)
T-dependent antigens
T-independent antigens
Toxoid
Toxoid vaccine
Vaccine
Increase Your Knowledge
It has been stated that “boosting your immune system is the single most important thing
you can do for your health.” Students interested in learning how to improve their immune
system should read The Immune Advantage: The Powerful, Natural Immune-Boosting
Program to Help You Prevent Disease, Enhance Vitality, Live a Longer, Healthier Life,
by Ellen Mazo, et al. (Rodale Inc., 2002).
Microbiology—Hollywood Style
Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is sometimes called “the boy-in-the-bubble”
disease, referring to a case involving a boy named David Vetter. David survived with
SCID until age 12 by living within a sterile plastic chamber. He died in 1984, as a result
of complications of an experimental bone marrow transplant. A 1976 Hollywood movie,
entitled The Boy in the Plastic Bubble, is loosely based on the case. John Travolta plays
the boy with SCID.
Critical Thinking
1.
In Chapter 14, you learned that some bacteria possess polysaccharide capsules, which
prevent phagocytes from ingesting these bacteria. Using information in Chapters 14, 15,
and 16, explain why phagocytes are unable to attach to the encapsulated bacteria, and
then describe two ways in which the host’s defense mechanisms can overcome this
problem.
2.
Reread the information in Chapter 14 about adhesins. Then answer the following
question. How might a vaccine containing Streptococcus pyogenes adhesins protect
someone from getting strep throat?
3.
The blood of a newborn infant contains IgM antibodies against a particular pathogen
(we’ll call it pathogen X). What conclusion can be drawn?
4.
A friend of yours has systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Use an Internet search engine
(e.g., Google) to find out more about her disease. Be prepared to discuss your findings in
class.
Answers to the Chapter 16 Self-Assessment Exercises
in the Text
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
A
C
C
C
C
D
B
D
D
C
Additional Chapter 16 Self-Assessment Exercises
(Note: Don’t peek at the answers before you attempt to solve these self-assessment exercises.)
Matching Questions
A.
B.
C.
D.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
artificial active acquired
immunity
artificial passive acquired
immunity
natural active acquired
immunity
natural passive acquired
immunity
antibodies
antigens
epitopes
haptens
immune complexes
_____ 1.
The immunity that a fetus acquires in
utero, as a result of receiving protective
antibodies from Mom’s blood is called
_______________.
_____ 2.
The immunity that someone acquires as
a result of an infection is called
_______________.
_____ 3.
The immunity that someone acquires
after receiving a shot of gamma globulin
is called _______________.
_____ 4.
The immunity that someone acquires as
a result of receiving a vaccine is called
_______________.
_____ 5.
The immunity that an infant acquires as
a result of breast-feeding is called
_______________.
_____ 6.
_______________ are also known as
immunogens.
_____ 7.
Molecules referred to as antigenic
determinants are also known as
_______________.
_____ 8.
_______________ are in a class of
proteins called immunoglobulins.
_____ 9.
Small molecules called
_______________ are antigenic only
when they are coupled with large carrier
molecules such as proteins.
_____ 10.
_______________ initiate type III
hypersensitivity reactions.
True/False Questions
_____ 1.
Technically speaking, all antibodies are immunoglobulins, but not all
immunoglobulins are antibodies.
_____ 2.
IgG is the largest of the five classes of immunoglobulins.
_____ 3.
The primary function of NK and K cells is to kill foreign cells, virus-infected
cells, and tumor cells.
_____ 4.
Common allergic reactions, such as those experienced in hayfever, are also
known as anaphylactic reactions.
_____ 5.
IgM antibodies and basophils play major roles in anaphylactic reactions.
_____ 6.
The penicillin molecule is an example of a hapten.
_____ 7.
Autoimmune diseases are always the result of type II hypersensitivity reactions.
_____ 8.
With respect to a particular pathogen, detection of antibodies in a patient’s blood
provides better proof of current infection than does detection of antigens.
_____ 9.
If a person’s immune system is not functioning properly, that person is said to be
immunocompetent.
_____ 10.
An IgM molecule can bind to ten antigenic determinants, but they would all have
to be the antigenic determinant that stimulated the production of that IgM
molecule.
Answers to the Additional Chapter 16 Self-Assessment
Exercises
Matching Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
D
C
B
A
D
B
C
A
D
10.
E
True/False Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
True
False (IgM is the largest of the five classes of immunoglobulins)
True
True
False (IgE antibodies and basophils play major roles in anaphylactic reactions)
True
False (autoimmune diseases may be the result of type II, type III, or type IV
hypersensitivity reactions)
False (the reverse is true)
False (if a person’s immune system is not functioning properly, that person is said to be
immunosuppressed, immunodepressed, or immunocompromised)
True