Recognition of Pathogens in Innate Immunity

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What is the role of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the innate immune response?

Produce antibodies against a wide variety of pathogens

Trigger adaptive immune responses against specific pathogens

Recognize characteristic features of pathogens and molecules released by damaged cells (correct)

Regulate the activity of cytotoxic NK cells

Why is the variety of pattern recognition receptors limited in the innate immune system?

To increase the number of receptors active against pathogens

Due to the need for each receptor type to be encoded by a specific gene (correct)

To focus on recognizing only a particular type of pathogen

Because they are not present on the cell surface

What is the major difference between the innate and adaptive immune systems in terms of receptor diversity?

Innate and adaptive immune systems have an equal number of diverse receptors.

Innate immune system has no receptors, while adaptive immune system has many receptors.

Innate immune system uses a limited number of receptors with broad specificity, while adaptive immune system uses numerous specific receptors. (correct)

Innate immune system uses specific receptors for each pathogen, while adaptive immune system uses broad-spectrum receptors.

Why is the variety of pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system constrained by the cell membrane's surface area?

The finite surface area limits the number of receptors that can be present on the cell membrane Signup and view all the answers

Which type of immune response has evolved prior to the other, innate or adaptive?

Innate immune response Signup and view all the answers

What is the main disadvantage of the approach used by the innate immune system in terms of receptor specificity?

Limited specificity due to using a small number of broadly specific receptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the innate immune system cells upon recognizing a pathogen?

Initiate phagocytosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of chemokines in the immune response?

Attract cells through chemotaxis Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes chemokines from cytokines?

Their role in attracting cells through chemotaxis Signup and view all the answers

Which type of signaling molecule allows cells to communicate with each other over short distances?

Cytokine Signup and view all the answers

What initiates a change in the physiology of a receiving cell when exposed to a cytokine?

The action of the cytokine Signup and view all the answers

Which event occurs when an innate immune system cell recognizes an intracellular pathogen?

Cellular apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the cells of the innate immune system upon recognizing a pathogen?

Initiating phagocytosis or cellular apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

How do cytokines and chemokines differ in their functions?

Chemokines induce cells to change their physiology, while cytokines attract cells. Signup and view all the answers

What type of receptor is usually found on cells of the innate immune system?

Receptors for bacterial components Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of chemokines in the immune response?

Attracting cells towards a specific location Signup and view all the answers

How do soluble mediators affect the behavior of cells in the immune response?

By triggering changes in cell physiology Signup and view all the answers

What happens when an intracellular pathogen is recognized by a cell of the innate immune system?

The cell initiates phagocytosis or undergoes cellular apoptosis Signup and view all the answers

What type of cells recognize patterns of pathogen-specific molecules in the innate immune response?

Phagocytic cells and cytotoxic NK cells Signup and view all the answers

Why is the variety of pattern recognition receptors limited in the innate immune system according to the text?

Because the finite surface area of the cell membrane prevents unlimited receptor expression Signup and view all the answers

How does the approach to receptor diversity differ between the innate and adaptive immune systems?

The innate immune system uses a limited number of receptors, while the adaptive immune system uses a large number of highly specific receptors Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary constraint on the variety of pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune system?

The need for each receptor type to be encoded by a specific gene Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the innate immune response from receptors in the adaptive immune response?

PRRs are present on the cell surface whether needed or not, while adaptive immune receptors are only expressed when pathogens are present Signup and view all the answers

Why does the innate immune system need to use a limited number of receptors that are active against a wide variety of pathogens?

Due to the constraint of having limited DNA allocated to make receptors Signup and view all the answers