describe specific/adaptive immune system
classified into active immunity/passive immunity >
immunity obtained from
active immunity: development of Ab in response to exposure to Ag(vaccination/infectious disease attack) &
passive immunity: transmission of Ab from mother->fetus through placenta/injection of antiserum >
composes cellular components; lymphocytes(B,T cells);
humoral component; Ab in extracellular fluid >
triggered when innate IS cant eliminate infection; develops > slowly, targets specific pathogen Ag, stimulates long-lasting immunity to repeated exposure to same pathogen >
1o IR; Ag contacts IS for the 1st time, IS learns to recognise Ag, make Ab against it, produce memory B, T cells >
2o IR; same Ag contacts IS again, immunological memory established, start producing Ab immediately >
IR faster, stronger & last longer if exposed to same pathogen
describe non-specific/innate immune system
first line of defence - provides resistance through several physical, chemical barriers; pathogens first encounter physical barriers(epithelial layers) that line skin & mucous membranes >
second line of defence - provides resistance through cellular components(macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells) >
activated immediately upon infection, response non-specific, diff cell types participate in innate immunity, receptors recognising pathogens limited in specificity; each cell recognise & respond to many diff pathogen types, many can recognise same pathogen >
no immunological memory as receptor structures same over host lifetime >
no clonal expansion
how non-specific/innate immune system act as 1st line of defense?
physical barrier
epithelial surfaces act as barriers against pathogens >
pathogen breaches host's physical barriers, other innate immune mechanisms act immediately
chemical barriers
mucus, tears, saliva produced by mucous membranes trap pathogens, provide washing action, inhibit colonisation by fungi, bacteria >
stomach mucus acidic pH prevent microorganism growth >
antimicrobial enzymes cleaves peptidoglycan glycosidic bonds -> bacterial cell lysis >
antimicrobial peptides disrupt bacteria, fungi membranes, membrane envelopes of some viruses
phagocytic cells
inflammation; protective response, eliminate infecting pathogens by delivering immune cells to right place, right time >
histamines(mast cells), cytokines(macrophages) released; increases blood flow to infection site & leakage of fluid, proteins from blood into tissue space, produce redness, swelling
how immune cells of innate immune system kill pathogens?
histamine(mast cells), signalling molecule, trigger dilation of blood vessels, results in increased blood flow; recruits > phagocytic cells, increases permeability of blood vessels near infection site to antibacterial peptides(disrupt bacteria membrane) >
cytokines(macrophages), signalling protein, dilates blood vessels, increase blood flow; further recruits, increases movement of > phagocytic cells to infection site >
pathogen binding to receptors embedded in phagocytic cell membrane activates phagocytic cells; engulf pathogens(phagocytosis), digest them w/ lysomal enzymes >
APCs(macrophages, dendritic cells) present Ag(peptide fragments) to B, T cells, activate adaptive IR
what is active immunity
development of antibodies in response to exposure to Ag >
latent period b4 response seen as B, T cells activated to respond to antigen; proliferate, differentiate into effector cells >
immunity lasts longer due to lymphocytes, Ab produce & presence of memory B, T cells >
naturally acquired -> exposure to sub-clinical infections
artificially acquired -> vaccination of Ag(attenuated organisms)
what is passive immunity
immunity produced when individual receives Ab/activated lymphocytes from another individual/immune animal >
immediate protection, individual immune to Ag w/o prior exposure to Ag >
immunity not long-lived, persists only as long as Ab/lymphocytes last; Ab not produced by B cells, regarded as foreign & will be removed from circulation by phagocytes >
risk of hepatitis, AIDs, serum sickness/graft versus host disease
naturally acquired -> transfer of maternal Ab through placenta/breast milk
artificially acquired -> antiserum injection into person bitten to quickly neutralise venom
outline roles of antigen presenting cells(APCs) in specific primary & secondary immune responses
APCs(macrophages, dendritic cells) link innate IS to adaptive IS when pathogen Ag presented to lymphocytes such as B, T cells to activate adaptive IR
what are the principles of adaptive immunity?
cellular components(cell mediated) - T cells
humoral component(antibody mediated) - Ab produced by B cells
describe main stages in antigen presentation by APC
bacterial cell binds receptor on membrane of phagocyte, activate phagocyte >
phagocyte engulfs bacterial cell(phagocytosis), form endocytic vesicle containing bacterial cell >
endocytic vesicle containing bacterial cell fuses w/ lysosome >
bacterial cell digested by lysosomal/hydrolytic enzymes >
bacterial cell processed into short peptides/fragments >
peptides/Ag bind to MHC proteins -> MHC-Ag complexes, transported to CSM of APC(vesicles) >
vacuole containing undigested substances moves to CSM, released out of cell(exocytosis) >
MHC-Ag complex on APC membrane ready for presentation to B, T cells to activate active IR
outline role of helper T cells
TH cell secrete cytokines;
activate B cells to undergo ClEx, dy/dx into plasma cells, memory cells; plasma cells secrete Ab for Ab-mediated response >
stimulate CD8+ T cells to undergo ClEx, dy/dx into cytotoxic T cells >
promote recruitment of > monocytes, macrophages,TH cells from blood to area of damage
outline role of cytotoxic T cells
TC cell kill virally infected cells;
secrete proteins, kills infected cell by forming pores in CSM(perforins), break down cell contents(granzymes) & virus it carries, eventually lyses cell
outline role of memory T cells
memory T cell persist long post-infection;
quickly divide by mitosis, undergo ClEx, dy/dx, develop large no. of effector T cells upon re-exposure to same Ag -> provides immunological memory against past infections >
majority T cells die once pathogens cleared; memory T cells persist >
memory T cell no. higher than b4 infection occurred, can be rapidly reactivated upon re-exposure to same Ag >
increased T cell no. increases chances of APC contact >
faster response for 2o, subsequent IR
outline role of plasma cells
secrete Ab for Ab-mediated response
outline role of memory B cells
memory B cell persist long post-infection;
quickly divide by mitosis, undergo ClEx, dy/dx to large no. of plasma cells upon same Ag re-exposure -> provides immunological memory against past infections >
majority B cells die once pathogens cleared; memory B cells persist >
memory B cell no. higher than b4 infection occurred, can be rapidly reactivated upon re-exposure to same Ag >
increased B cell no. increases chances of APC contact >
faster response for 2o, subsequent IR
how naive T cells activated?
APCs display peptides bound to MHCs to TcRs on naive T cells, naive T cells whose TcRs can r&b MHC-Ag complexes activated >
activated T cells produce cytokines, undergo ClEx, dy/dx into effector, memory T cells
how naive B cells activated?
activation requires 2 signals;
1st activation signal, BcR r&b Ag, activates naive B cell >
BcR+bound Ag endocytosed into B cell, Ag processed into short peptides, attached to MHC proteins, form MHC-Ag complexes >
MHC-Ag complexes transported to CSM of B cell, acts as APC to TH cells >
TH cell TcR r&b MHC-Ag complex on B cell CSM >
TH cell provides 2nd activation signal to B cell, secretes cytokines, activates B cell to undergo ClEx, dy/dx into plasma cells, memory cells
discuss benefits of vaccination
protect indiv against disease by conferring immunity to indiv w/o prior exposure to pathogen >
upon pathogen encounter, memory B T cells ClEx, dy/dx form effector B T cells to provide 2o IR against pathogen >
confer lifelong immunity; memory B T cells long-lived, contribute to immunological memory to vac indiv >
confer herd immunity to unvac indivs in community >
when infected, immunised indiv wont spread pathogen as readily compared to susceptible indiv >
herd immunity reduces possibility of transmission b/w indivs; unvacc indivs low risk of infection >
contribute to elimination of infectious diseases in human popn if pathogen relies on human host >
herd immunity established, maintained in popn for sufficient time, no disease transmission in popn; if done to whole popn in endemic region, virus eradicated
discuss risks of vaccination
adverse reactions post-vaccination observed in small no. of indivs, e.g. life-threatening allergic reaction, fainting, rashes >
some indivs > susceptible to vac risks than others, e.g. indivs w/ weaked IS >
for live attenuated vaccine, pathogens used modified to be < virulent; possibility of pathogen regaining virulence, causing disease
describe structure of antibody IgG
globular protein w/ 4o structure held tgt by intermolecular H, ionic, disulfide bonds, hydrophobic interactions b/w R groups of amino acids >
consists 4 polypeptide chains; 2 identical HC, 2 identical LC >
each chain divided into variable region, constant region >
each LC, HC folded into specific 3o structure, form part of Ag-binding site of Ab OR
in 4o structure, one VH, one VL brought tgt form Ag-binding site
explain r/s of molecular structure of antibody IgG to its functions
Fab region; contains specific Ag-binding site to bind to specific Ag, prevent pathogens attaching to host cell receptor(neutralisation) >
Fc region; binds to Fc receptor on phagocytes/macrophages & activates them so phagocytosis of pathogen occurs, pathogen ingested, killed(opsonisation) >
CH region; determines diff class of Ab & diff biological fn, determine mechanism used destroy Ag/if Ab secreted or membrane bound >
2 identical Ag-binding sites; bind to 2 same Ag, concentrates Ag tgt(agglutination) >
hinge region; allows indep mvmt of 2 Ag-binding sites, allow both to bind to Ag spaced @ variable dist apart(agglutination) >
disulfide bonds; holds each LC w/ HC, holds 2 HC tgt, maintain Ab as globular protein w/ 4o structure
explain how somatic recombination results in millions of diff Ab molecules
form of DNA rearrangement, various gene segments joint tgt randomly, some intervening segments enzymatically removed followed by rejoining of remaining seq >
occurs prior to Ag contact during B cell development in bone marrow >
results in production of naive B cell, expresses BcR specific to particular Ag
explain how somatic hypermutation results in millions of diff Ab molecules
RPM in rearranged VDJ/VJ regions in activated B cells >
occurs only in TH cell-activated B cells, takes place outside bone marrow where activated B cells divide rapidly during ClEx >
RPMs occur in variable regions of HC, LC gene loci when there is prolonged exposure to particular Ag >
each activated B cell w/ mutation acquire slight a.a. diff in variable region of Ig chains >
possesses slightly diff BcRs w/ varying specificity, affinity for particular Ag; results in further diversification of Ab >
altered BcRs bind Ag better than original, B cells selected for dy/dx into plasma, memory cells >
w/ repeated exposure to same Ag, B cells produce Ab of successively greater affinities to Ag(affinity maturation) >
leads to diversity of Ag-binding site, allows IS recognise various Ag
explain how class-switching results in millions of diff Ab molecules
form of DNA rearrangement @ Constant gene segment of HC locus in TH cell-activated B cells >
results in Ab w/ diff constant(Fc) region of Ab HC which can interact w/ diff effector molecules, leads to faster, more ways to eradicate pathogens
what is organisation of genes coding for Ig protein
genes coding for Ig found @ 3 gene loci > each locus made up of multiple gene segments;
HC gene contains Variable, Diversity, Joining, Constant gene segments >
LC gene contains V, J, C segments >
2 types LC; kappa chain encoded by IgK locus on chr 2, lambda chain encoded by IgL locus on chr 22
how vaccination can control disease(including eradication of small pox)
def; process whereby vaccine administered to indiv, stimulate long lasting, active immunity against infectious diseases >
3 types of vaccine; attenuated/dead pathogen, non-disease causing pathogen w/ same Ag, fragment of pathogen >
non-pathogenic, immunogenic >
generates memory B, T cells specific to pathogen; confers immunological memory >
provide 2o IR faster, stronger than 1o IR upon actual exposure to same pathogen; indiv protected from disease >
vaccination of high enough proportion confers herd immunity to unvac indivs; breaks disease transmission cycle
outline factors leading to successful eradication of small pox
virus didnt mutate frequently, same vaccine used for whole programme/need not be changed >
cow pox virus harmless, allow use of 'live' virus vaccine, results in stronger IR >
vaccine heat stable, suitable for hot countries/isolated areas/rural areas >
one dose enough to give life-long immunity, no boosters required >
few/no symptomless carriers, no animal reservoir as virus infects humans, infected ppl easy to identify & isolate to prevent spread of disease >
mandatory for each country run their own mass vac campaigns & eradicate disease within own borders, confers herd immunity to unvac indivs & vac of high enough proportion of popn can break disease transmission cycle
explain how influenza virus causes diseases in humans
rapid repn of influenza virus in epithelial cells of RT disturbs cellular fn, damages tissue >
excessive budding of newly synthesised influenza virions depletes epithelial cells CSM >
cells produce >> mucus, secrete cytokines -> inflammation to activate IS; causes typical flu symptoms(fever,chills,fatigue,cough,body aches) >
causes epithelial lining of upper, lower RT to be lost >
causes cell damage, death within host's RT >
if virus reaches lower RT, leads to > severe complications(viral pneumonia)
explain how HIV causes diseases in humans
enters bloodstream, targets cells w/ CD4 proteins on surface(TH cells) >
activated TH cells req in development, activation of AIR >
HIV infects TH cells, viral DNA integrate into TH cell chr, remain dormant evading AIS, attacks only actively replicating viruses >
random insertion of viral DNA in host cell chr disrupt T cell fn >
over long time period, untreated HIV infection leads to repn of new virus, triggers TH cell destruction; excessive budding of new virions from TH cells disrupts plasma membrane permeability, fn >
TH cell count declines below critical level, cell mediated immunity lost, AIS weakened >
host susceptible to opportunistic infections >
immunodeficiency+uncontrolled opportunistic infections -> AIDS occurs
explain mode of transmission of M. tuberculosis
transmitted from person to person via fine, aerosol droplets in which bacterial cells carried within >
infected person sneezes, coughs out aerosol droplets; droplets inhaled by uninfected person
explain mode of infection of M. tuberculosis
once in lungs, alveolar macrophages phagocytose bacteria, form phagosomes w/ MTB >
inside phagosome, MTB inhibits fusion of phagosome w/ lysosomes; no lysosomal enzymes available kill MTB >
MTB survives, continues multiply inside macrophages >
tubercle formed, consists of macrophages in tight ball-like formation >
@ center of tubercle, cell death by necrosis occurs -> macrophage cell membrane ruptures, releases cell contents to surroundings, tubercle remains intact; disease arrested, remain latent for years >
TB active when tubercle ruptures, MTB released into bronchiole, infection spreads in lungs, productive cough develops; facilitates aerosol MTB spread >
lungs progressively destroyed by cavity formation as tubercles rupture
deduce difference b/w action of bactericidal & bacteriostatic antibiotics
bacteriostatic; inhibits growth of bacteria(no. of bacteria remains constant)
bactericidal; kills bacteria(no. of bacteria decreases)
describe mode of action of bactericidal antibiotic, penicillin
inhibit peptidoglycan synthesis, component of bacterial cell wall essential for maintaining structural integrity of bacterial cell >
inhibits enzyme transpeptidase, prevents formation of cross-links b/w adjacent chains of peptidoglycans >
indiv peptidoglycan chains remain separated, cross-links cant be formed >
BCWs of dividing bact cells weakened, osmotic lysis occurs due to high osmotic pressure within bact cells
how antibiotics effective in eliminating infections caused by bacteria
antibiotics; natural substances obtained from microorganisms, kill/inhibit growth, replication of bact by disrupting metabolism >
limit bacteria growth to level where host IS can eliminate pathogen >
antibiotics effective to bact, usually builds up antibiotics within cytoplasm >
cell wall synthesis(refer to flashcard 32)
protein synthesis
streptomycin; binds to SRS of bact ribosome, itRNA cant bind to SRS >
as unstable mRNA-ribosome complex formed, N-Formylmethionine(fMet)-tRNA cant bind SRS >
leads to codon misreading, eventual protein synthesis inhibition >
tetracycline; inhibit protein synthesis, blocks entry of aminoacyl-tRNA to A site of bacterial ribosome
nucleic acid synthesis
rifampin; inhibit RNA syn by binding to bact RNA pol, prevent t/c >
quinolones; inhibit bact DNA gyrase/topoisomerase, inhibit DNA repn, t/c