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Course Introduction
pg 1-17
21
Biology
Professional
01/12/2012

Additional Biology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is an antigen?
Definition
A protein, lipid or carbohydrate that is recognized and reacted to by the immune system ("antibody generator" and T-cell activator).
Term
What are the Cellular and Humoral components of the two "arms" of the active immune system?
Definition
1) Innate- neutrophils etc. (cellular) and cytokines (humoral)

2) Adaptive- T cell-mediated cell to cell contact (cellular) and Antibody (humoral)
Term
What are the primary differences between the innate and adaptive immune systems?
Definition
1) Innate is fast and non-specific, while Adaptive is slow and specific.

2) Innate relies on pre-existing cells, receptors and molecules while adaptive involves antibody production (B cells) and helper and killers (T-Cells).
Term
What is an example of "artificially acquired passive immunity"?
Definition
Transfer of serum from an immune person
Term
What does "cross-reactivity" mean in the context of vaccination?
Definition
A good example is small-pox, where cow-pox and small-pox are immunologically similar, but not identical. The cow-pox injection generates an immune response that is protective against the small-pox.
Term
Differentiate between active and passive immunity
Definition
1) A person is actively immune if he/she made their own protective immune response to antigen

2) Passive immunity can be conferred to a naïve individual by injecting serum (antibodies) or T cells from an immune individual.

Another example of passive immunity is the fact that antibodies are passed from mother to child in utero.
Term
Differentiate between Affinity and Avidity
Definition
1) Affinity is the property of one combining site H + L, or α + β, BCR or TCR.

2) Avidity is the product of multiple combining sites in close proximity, since there are at least two H+L per IgG molecule, or many α + β TCRs on surface of lymphocyte
Term
What is an antibody?
Definition
Protein composed of heavy and light chains that can bind to a specific antigen.

All antibodies have the same overall structure and are known collectively as immunoglobulins or Ig.

Also known as receptor for antigen on B-cell or BCR. May be membrane bound or secreted, based on pre-mRNA processing
Term
What is the difference between an Antigen and an Immunogen?
Definition
Only antigens can independently elicit antibody production.
Term
What is the difference between an Antigen and an Immunogen?
Definition
Only antigens can independently elicit antibody production.
Term
What is a "complementarity determining region"?
Definition
CDRs are hyper-variable (hv) in AA sequence and are located at region where antigen and BCR or TCR interact with antigen.
Term
Which complement molecule is common to all pathways in both the innate and adaptive arms of the active immune system?
Definition
C3b
Term
Which cells are the primary producers of cytokines?
Definition
Macrophages, NK cells and T-lymphocytes
Term
What is an epitope?
Definition
Site on immunogen/antigen that is recognized by Ab (may be continuous or discontinuous on antigen and is approximately 5 AA long)
Term
What is Hapten? Provide an example.
Definition
Small molecule that cannot, by itself, elicit an immune response, but can react with an Ab at the antigen combining site (they become immunogenic when linked to a "carrier," which is generally a larger protein).

Example is Penicillin
Term
What is the J-chain and the J-segment?
Definition
1) J-chain is part of IgM and IgA secreted molecule

2) J-segment is piece of DNA where somatic rearrangement of BCR or TCR can occur.
Term
What are Lectins?
Definition
Proteins that can bind sugars
Term
What does it mean for "somatic rearrangement" to occur in a J-segment?
Definition
DNA joining of segments V to J or V to D to J, that is unique to lymphocytes (somatic cells, i.e. not germline) and that generates unique antigen receptor sequences in the V region of the antibody molecule or TCR.
Term
What does it mean for "somatic rearrangement" to occur in a J-segment?
Definition
DNA joining of segments V to J or V to D to J, that is unique to lymphocytes (somatic cells, i.e. not germline) and that generates unique antigen receptor sequences in the V region of the antibody molecule or TCR.
Term
What are Toll-like receptors?
Definition
Specific receptors that recognize PAMPS (i.e. TLR4 for LPS) or DAMPs
Term
How do V gene segments differ from rearranged "V regions"?
Definition
V genes possess a shorter V-gene segment and lacks J or D:J found in "V-region".
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