Immunology Chapter Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of enzymes secreted by organisms?

To break down pathogens (correct)

To promote tissue growth

To absorb nutrients more effectively

To produce energy for metabolic processes

What role do complement proteins play in the immune response?

They directly kill pathogens

They provide nutrients to immune cells

They stimulate the production of antibodies

They assist in various immune functions such as chemotaxis and lysis (correct)

How do plants utilize enzymes in their defense mechanisms against pathogens?

To inhibit nutrient absorption in pathogens

As a food source for beneficial microbes

To stimulate growth in the presence of bacteria

To digest the cell walls of fungi (correct)

What is the function of cytokines in the immune system?

To act as chemical messengers that regulate immune responses Signup and view all the answers

What effect do non-phagocytotic mechanisms have on cancer cells and virus-infected cells?

They lyse or burst the cell membrane to kill these cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of dendritic cells in the immune system?

To identify threats and act as messengers Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the role of eosinophils in the immune response?

They secrete toxic proteins to kill bacteria and parasites Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes memory T cells from other T cells in the immune system?

They provide long-term immunity Signup and view all the answers

Which physical barrier is present in plants to prevent pathogen spread?

Gall formation Signup and view all the answers

What is a key function of mast cells in the immune response?

To release histamine as part of inflammation Signup and view all the answers

What do inactivated vaccines contain?

Killed bacteria or inactivated viruses Signup and view all the answers

What type of vaccines contain components that act like an antigen?

Subunit vaccines Signup and view all the answers

What impact did European colonization have on Indigenous populations?

Increased infection risks due to behavior changes Signup and view all the answers

How do monoclonal antibodies function in cancer treatment?

They neutralize or target specific markers or antigens Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of toxoid vaccines?

Harmless bacterial toxoids Signup and view all the answers

What was a consequence of the British appropriation of land regarding Indigenous peoples?

Restricted access to traditional food sources Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following populations had no prior exposure to smallpox, measles, and influenza?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Signup and view all the answers

What role does the concept of herd immunity play in relation to vaccination?

It protects those who cannot be vaccinated Signup and view all the answers

What do vaccines primarily do to the immune system?

Activate the immune system to produce antibodies Signup and view all the answers

Which type of immunity involves the organism producing its own antibodies?

Active Immunity Signup and view all the answers

What defines emerging infectious diseases?

Infectious diseases that are new or have increased in incidence recently Signup and view all the answers

How is passive immunity achieved through artificial means?

By receiving an injection of antibodies, like antivenom Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between natural and artificial active immunity?

Natural active immunity results from exposure to pathogens, while artificial involves vaccination Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of live/attenuated vaccines?

They contain modified or weakened versions of the pathogen Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes re-emerging infectious diseases?

Previously controlled diseases that are now becoming health problems again Signup and view all the answers

What is a source of natural passive immunity?

Transfer of antibodies from mother to child through placenta or breastmilk Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of antigen presentation in the immune response?

To inform the adaptive immune system about infections Signup and view all the answers

What initiates the inflammatory response when a pathogen breaches the first line of defense?

Histamine release Signup and view all the answers

Which type of pathogen is classified as a cellular pathogen?

Fungi Signup and view all the answers

Which step is NOT part of managing disease according to the outlined steps?

Evaluate the transmission mode Signup and view all the answers

Which immune cells are primarily responsible for phagocyte attack during inflammation?

Macrophages and Neutrophils Signup and view all the answers

What is the mode of transmission that involves contact with an infected individual?

Direct mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a non-cellular pathogen?

Viruses Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the inflammatory response regarding blood vessels?

Vasodilation and increased permeability Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of the lymphatic system in the immune response?

Transports immune cells and filters pathogens Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in managing a disease outbreak?

Identify the disease's etiology Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Physical Barriers

Intact skin, mucous membranes, and cerumen (ear wax) trap microbes and dust
Waxy cuticle on plants, hairs on their surface, and gall formations repel insect vectors and trap pathogen spread

Chemical Barriers

Animals have pH barriers like acidic sweat and stomach acid, as well as enzymes that break down pathogens
Plants use oils to repel insects and enzymes to digest fungi walls
Plants produce enzymes that act like antibodies

Microbiota

In animals, microbiota competes for space and nutrients, inhibiting bacterial growth

Dendritic Cells

Phagocytic cells that play a key role in Antigen Presentation by identifying threats and acting as messengers for the immune system.

Helper T Cells

Activate B cells

Memory T Cells

Provide immunity

Cytotoxic T Cells

Release cytotoxins

Regulatory T Cells

Control the magnitude and duration of the immune response

Eosinophils

Granulocytes that secrete highly toxic proteins and free radicals to kill bacteria and parasites

Mast Cells

Release histamine, a key component of the inflammatory response

Natural Killer Cells

Non-phagocytic: Lyse/burst the cell membrane with granzymes and perforin
Can kill cancer cells and virus-infected cells

Complement Proteins

Assist the immune response by chemotaxis, agglutination, lysis, and opsonisation.

Cytokines/Interferons

Chemical messengers

Antigen Presentation

Detects, engulfs, and informs the adaptive immune response about an infection

Inflammatory Response

The second line of defense triggered when a pathogen breaches the first line.
Involves vascular spasm, mast cell histamine release causing vasodilation, increased permeability, and phagocyte attack by macrophages and neutrophils to consume bacteria and cell debris.
Facilitates tissue healing.

Lymphatic System Role in Third Line of Defense

Scans for antigens in lymph nodes

Modes of Disease Transmission

Direct mechanisms:
- Contact
- Droplet spread
Indirect mechanisms:
- Airborne
- Vehicle-borne
- Vector-borne

Cellular VS Non-Cellular Pathogens

Cellular pathogens: bacteria, fungi, protozoa, parasitic worms
Non-cellular pathogens: virus, viroids, prions

Disease Management Steps

Step 1: Identify the disease
- Epidemiology
- Morphology
- Symptoms
- Immunological patterns
Step 2: Identify the mode of transmission and treatment options
- Drugs
- Disinfectants

Vaccinations and Herd Immunity

Vaccines activate the immune system to produce antibodies against pathogens without causing the disease. They induce active immunity.
Types of vaccines:
- Live/attenuated
- Inactivated
- Toxoid
- Subunit
Active Immunity:
- Natural: Exposure to the pathogen
- Artificial: Vaccination
Passive Immunity:
- Natural: Mother to child (placenta, breast milk)
- Artificial: Injection (e.g. antivenom)
Monoclonal Antibodies: Artificially produced antibodies targeting a specific marker/antigen. Used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer.

Emerging VS Re-emerging Diseases

Emerging: New infections or ones with significantly increasing incidence recently.
Re-emerging: Previously controlled diseases that are becoming health problems again.

Herd Immunity

The protection a community has against infection when a large percentage of the population is immune to a disease.
Vaccination significantly contributes to herd immunity.

Indigenous Populations and Disease

European arrival exposed Indigenous populations to new diseases they had no prior immunity to.
Higher mortality rates resulted due to inadequate immunity.
European colonization impacted Indigenous practices and behaviors, increasing infection risks, including land appropriation that restricted access to traditional food sources and forced the abandonment of nomadic lifestyles.

How Do Monoclonal Antibodies Help In Cancer Treatment?

Monoclonal antibodies specifically target cancer cells, reducing their growth and spread.
They can also be used to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells, minimizing harm to healthy cells.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of immunology with a focus on physical and chemical barriers, as well as the roles of various immune cells. This quiz covers essential concepts such as dendritic cells, T cells, and microbiota in the immune system's defense mechanisms.