Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
1. Innate immunity Arm of the immune system that is *present from birth and present before the on-
set of infection* that constitutes *non-specific immune mechanisms* for defense
against pathogens.
2. Acquired Immu- Requires *recognition specificity* to foreign, non-self, antigens. Must be *in-
nity duced b*y other immunoregulatory agents, usually part of the *innate immune
system*, to become active against infections or tumors. Properties include:
1. * Antigen-specificity*- recognizes antigens, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, or
nucleic acids.
2. *Memory*- Results in increased reactivity upon repeated antigen or infectious
agent exposure.
3. *Regulation*- Discrimination between* self and non-self *to prevent autoim-
mune reactions.
3. Components of *B- lymphocytes* which ditterentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
Acquired immu-
nity *T-lymphocytes: T-helper cells* which activate macrophages and other lympho-
cytes, *Cytotoxic T-cells *which kill infected or tumor targets, *Regulatory T-cells*
which down-regulate, suppress or tolerize other lymphocytes.
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
4. Antigen present- Cells that can ingest foreign molecules or pathogens and display the antigens on
ing cells (APCs) the cellular surface resulting in activation of humoral and adaptive responses.
Includes: Macrophages, Dendritic cells, Langerhan's cells.
5. Immunoglobu- Aka Antibodies, produced by B-cells and have antigen-specific receptor cells.
lins Consist of 2 heavy chains and 2 light chains linked via disulfide bridges.
5 sub-types: IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, IgE.
6. VDJ joining Generation of antigen binding diversity through extensive DNA rearrangement
resulting in a unique combination of VDJ DNA regions. Occurs after exposure
to antigens. The order of the VDJ segments before recombination is conserved
between individuals.
The mechanism of recombination is coordinated by *recombinase-activating
genes RAG-1 and RAG-2* which recognize specific DNA signal sequences of a
heptamer,spacer (12 or 23 bp) and a nonamer recombination signal sequence.
*If RAG gene is impaired or missing SCID can arise.*
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
7. Immunogen Any substance capable of inducing an immune response
8. Clonal Selection The binding of B or T lymphocytes to specific antigens results in a large prolifer-
ation of antigen-specific activated lymphocytes.
9. Secondary re- Memory of previously encountered antigens results in a faster and greater im-
sponse of adap- mune response upon subsequent antigen exposure.
tive immunity
10. Antigen Substances capable of reacting with preformed antibodies or activatable cells
(specific portions of substances that have high specificity for antibody binding
sites).
11. Immunodeficien- Inability to recognize and control health-threatening agents leading to an absence
cy or of immune function or specific immune response. Causes can be congenital or
Hyporeactivity acquired, due to senescence, iatrogenic, due to malnutrition, malignancies or
infectious organisms, or due to trauma or stress.
12. Categories of im- 1. Neutrophil disorders
munodeficiency 2. Antibody deficiency
3. Complement Deficiency
4. T-cell dysfunction
13. Hypersensitivity A definable immune response that produces harm to the host as opposed to
Disease protection. Can occur due to inappropriate response to foreign material, exces-
sive magnitude of response, prolonged duration of response, or the Innocent
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
bystander ettect where an immune cell displaying foreign antigens of a virus or
bacteria is killed by the host immune response.
14. Type 1 Hypersen- IgE mediated hypersensitivity
sitivity Ex: Allergies
15. Type 2 Hypersen- Cytotoxic ANTIBODY mediated cell destruction
sitivity Ex: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
16. Type 3 Hypersen- Immune Complexes of Antigen and Antibody
sitivity Ex: Serum sickness
17. Type 4 Hypersen- Delayed type hypersensitivity reactions.
sitivity T-cell and Macrophage mediated.
Ex: Tuberculosis
18. 4 components of 1. Anatomic
innate immunity 2. Physiologic
1. Innate immunity Arm of the immune system that is *present from birth and present before the on-
set of infection* that constitutes *non-specific immune mechanisms* for defense
against pathogens.
2. Acquired Immu- Requires *recognition specificity* to foreign, non-self, antigens. Must be *in-
nity duced b*y other immunoregulatory agents, usually part of the *innate immune
system*, to become active against infections or tumors. Properties include:
1. * Antigen-specificity*- recognizes antigens, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, or
nucleic acids.
2. *Memory*- Results in increased reactivity upon repeated antigen or infectious
agent exposure.
3. *Regulation*- Discrimination between* self and non-self *to prevent autoim-
mune reactions.
3. Components of *B- lymphocytes* which ditterentiate into plasma cells that produce antibodies.
Acquired immu-
nity *T-lymphocytes: T-helper cells* which activate macrophages and other lympho-
cytes, *Cytotoxic T-cells *which kill infected or tumor targets, *Regulatory T-cells*
which down-regulate, suppress or tolerize other lymphocytes.
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
4. Antigen present- Cells that can ingest foreign molecules or pathogens and display the antigens on
ing cells (APCs) the cellular surface resulting in activation of humoral and adaptive responses.
Includes: Macrophages, Dendritic cells, Langerhan's cells.
5. Immunoglobu- Aka Antibodies, produced by B-cells and have antigen-specific receptor cells.
lins Consist of 2 heavy chains and 2 light chains linked via disulfide bridges.
5 sub-types: IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA, IgE.
6. VDJ joining Generation of antigen binding diversity through extensive DNA rearrangement
resulting in a unique combination of VDJ DNA regions. Occurs after exposure
to antigens. The order of the VDJ segments before recombination is conserved
between individuals.
The mechanism of recombination is coordinated by *recombinase-activating
genes RAG-1 and RAG-2* which recognize specific DNA signal sequences of a
heptamer,spacer (12 or 23 bp) and a nonamer recombination signal sequence.
*If RAG gene is impaired or missing SCID can arise.*
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
7. Immunogen Any substance capable of inducing an immune response
8. Clonal Selection The binding of B or T lymphocytes to specific antigens results in a large prolifer-
ation of antigen-specific activated lymphocytes.
9. Secondary re- Memory of previously encountered antigens results in a faster and greater im-
sponse of adap- mune response upon subsequent antigen exposure.
tive immunity
10. Antigen Substances capable of reacting with preformed antibodies or activatable cells
(specific portions of substances that have high specificity for antibody binding
sites).
11. Immunodeficien- Inability to recognize and control health-threatening agents leading to an absence
cy or of immune function or specific immune response. Causes can be congenital or
Hyporeactivity acquired, due to senescence, iatrogenic, due to malnutrition, malignancies or
infectious organisms, or due to trauma or stress.
12. Categories of im- 1. Neutrophil disorders
munodeficiency 2. Antibody deficiency
3. Complement Deficiency
4. T-cell dysfunction
13. Hypersensitivity A definable immune response that produces harm to the host as opposed to
Disease protection. Can occur due to inappropriate response to foreign material, exces-
sive magnitude of response, prolonged duration of response, or the Innocent
, Immunology Test Questions and Answers Graded A+
bystander ettect where an immune cell displaying foreign antigens of a virus or
bacteria is killed by the host immune response.
14. Type 1 Hypersen- IgE mediated hypersensitivity
sitivity Ex: Allergies
15. Type 2 Hypersen- Cytotoxic ANTIBODY mediated cell destruction
sitivity Ex: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
16. Type 3 Hypersen- Immune Complexes of Antigen and Antibody
sitivity Ex: Serum sickness
17. Type 4 Hypersen- Delayed type hypersensitivity reactions.
sitivity T-cell and Macrophage mediated.
Ex: Tuberculosis
18. 4 components of 1. Anatomic
innate immunity 2. Physiologic
