Vaccination and Immunology Exam Prep

Exam 1 Study Strategies

• Exam objectives are available on Canvas, within the exam one content page. Look for a page listing high-yield readings, PowerPoint objectives, and textbook objectives.
• Prioritize PowerPoint objectives; the instructor bases exam questions on them. Textbook objectives are helpful but less representative.
• The PowerPoint slides are the primary study resource; review them repeatedly.
• Supplement slide review with practice problems, past exams, and concept understanding.
• Identify and focus on weak areas. Read questions and answers meticulously.

Vaccination and Immunology History

• Vaccines create immunological memory for quicker responses upon re-exposure.
• Thoroughly review H1N1 (swine flu) details.
• Understand FluMist and intramuscular injections; identify suitable populations for each.
• Hemagglutinin (viral entry) and neuraminidase (viral exit) are crucial.
• Smallpox has been eradicated through vaccination.
• Disprove fraudulent vaccine claims (e.g., autism).
• The MMR vaccine contains measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Focus on top immunologists/scientists.
• Understand herd immunity.
• Master polio, invasive Hemophilus influenzae, mumps, measles, and rubella; understand their details and incubation periods from the slides.
• Differentiate passive (e.g., horse antisera, milkmaids) and active immunity; distinguish serum from cells.

Innate vs. Adaptive Immunity

• Innate immunity responds faster, while adaptive immunity takes days to activate.
• Adaptive immunity is more diverse and has stronger memory, innate immunity has limited memory.
• Innate immunity better distinguishes self from non-self; adaptive immunity can malfunction, causing autoimmune disorders.
• Adaptive soluble components (antibodies, cytokines); Innate soluble components (proteins, antimicrobial peptides).

Innate Immune System Details

• Key inflammatory cytokines: IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha (important but chronic inflammation is detrimental).
• Physical barriers: Skin (acidic/salty, nonspecific antimicrobial chemicals).
• Antiviral interferons (IFNs).
• Innate immune response chemicals: Lactoferrins, cathelicidins, psoriasin, calprotectins.
• Calprotectins target gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) and psoriasin targets gram-negative bacteria (E. coli).
• Bacterial signs help fight pathogenic bacteria.
• Complement assists inflammation, lysis, and opsonization; avoid chronic complement activation.
• Complement is covered in later exams—less focus for Exam 1.
• Macrophages: Phagocytosis, antigen presentation via MHC Class II.
• PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns) and DAMPs (damage-associated molecular patterns) are recognized by the innate immune system.
• Endocytosis mechanisms (pinocytosis, receptor-mediated endocytosis) are part of the innate immune system.

Cells of the Immune System and their Markers

• Cell identification: Understand structural features (pseudopodia, phagosomes, lysosomes, MHC receptors).
• MHC Class I (virtually all nucleated cells) vs. MHC Class II (macrophages, B cells, dendritic cells).
• B cells: Antibody production (cell surface or soluble); antigen presentation.
• Antibody structure: Heavy and light chains linked by disulfide bonds.
• Differentiate macrophage types (intestinal, alveolar, Kupffer cells).
• Identify cell types (neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils) from images/descriptions.
• Dendritic cells: Antigen presentation.
• Distinguish follicular dendritic cells from other dendritic cells.
• Monocytes differentiate into macrophages and dendritic cells.
• Type 1 interferons: Understand stimuli and the resulting cell differentiation.
• NK cells: Innate immune T cell-like cells; do not require cascade activation.
• NK cell activation: Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).
• NK vs. NKT cells: Distinguish based on CD markers.
• Key CD markers: CD3, CD4, CD8 (and others).
• T helper cells (TH): Activation signals, functions (cytokines like IL-4, interferon-gamma, B cell isotype switching).
• Cytotoxic T cells (TC): Functions (perforin, granzymes).

Immune Responses and Mechanisms

• T cell receptors (TCRs) and B cell receptors (BCRs) generated through genome rearrangement.
• Immune response timeframe: Rapid innate response (days) vs. adaptive response (weeks).
• Interferons and cytokines in immune responses.
• Self/non-self recognition and tolerance.
• Apoptosis (good death) vs. necrosis (bad death).

Additional High-Yield Information

• Pathogen types (fungi, parasites, bacteria).
• Opportunistic infections (HSV, Candida albicans).
• HIV: Destroys CD4+ T cells.
• Blood cell distribution: "Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas" mnemonic.
• Focus on starred items on charts.
• Review diseases: influenza, Ebola, Zika, coronavirus.