Haptens and the Immune System

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What is the process by which a B-cell clone matures into a plasma cell that secretes antibodies against the hapten?

Somatic hypermutation

Isotype switching

Affinity maturation

Clonal expansion (correct)

In the context of haptens modifying normal proteins to make them immunogenic, which type of protein alteration occurs?

Haptenation (correct)

Phosphorylation

Acetylation

Glycosylation

Which cell becomes activated when many molecules of a hapten bind to a host protein and cause cross-linking of antibodies, leading to allergic reactions like hives and bronchoconstriction?

Natural killer cells

T-helper cells

Mast cells (correct)

B-cells

What is the term for the process where an MHC-presented hapten-protein complex is recognized as foreign due to the modification of the protein by the hapten?

Immunogenicity Signup and view all the answers

Which process involves nonimmunogenic haptens activating cells by clustering antibodies together on a carrier protein?

Receptor cross-linking Signup and view all the answers

What role do adjuvants play in enhancing the immune response without binding to antibody or immunogen?

Enhance antigen presentation Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of haptens in relation to T cell activation?

They need to be covalently bound to a carrier protein to activate T cells Signup and view all the answers

How do haptens stimulate a primary adaptive response?

By forming a complex with carrier proteins Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of helper T cells in the response to haptens?

Present peptides associated with MHC proteins to B cells Signup and view all the answers

Why can haptens not activate T cells on their own?

Because they lack immunogenicity without carrier proteins Signup and view all the answers

In what way do conjugate vaccines utilize haptens?

By conjugating them with strong immunogens Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes haptens from antigens in terms of immunogenicity?

Antigens can elicit an immune response independently Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of helper T cells in the process of producing antibody to a hapten in conjugate vaccines?

Help stimulate B cells to produce antibody Signup and view all the answers

Why is a hapten alone incapable of inducing antibody production?

Only peptides, not haptens, can be loaded onto MHC proteins for T cell recognition Signup and view all the answers

What happens after a hapten-carrier protein complex is internalized by a B cell?

The carrier protein is processed into peptides Signup and view all the answers

How do conjugate vaccines enhance the immunogenicity of a weak hapten?

By conjugating the hapten with a strong peptide antigen Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of T-cell recognition of carrier protein epitope in antibody production?

It prompts T helper cytokine production that stimulates B cells Signup and view all the answers

Why is the interaction between hapten and B cell insufficient for antibody induction?

Peptides are required for loading onto MHC proteins for T cell recognition Signup and view all the answers