Cell recognition and the immune system
Pathogen - ANSWER: a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause
disease.
Immunity - ANSWER: the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by
the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
Non specific defence mechanism - ANSWER: (also called innate defence). Includes
barriers to entry, the inflammatory response and other defences that provide general
protection against infection.
Specific defence mechanism - ANSWER: the ability of the body to develop immunity
against specific pathogens, toxins or foreign things. This is possible by a special
immune system that produces antibodies and/or activated lymphocytes that attack and
destroy specific invading organisms or toxins.
Phagocyte - ANSWER: A white blood cell that destroys pathogens by engulfing them,
forming a vaculoe and breaking the pathogen down using hydrolytic enzymes
Phagocytosis - ANSWER: The process by which phagocytes engulf pathogens
Phagosome - ANSWER: A vacuole formed within a phagocytic cell as pseudopodia
surround a particle during the process of phagocytosis.
Pseudopodia - ANSWER: A cellular extension of amoeboid cells used in moving and
feeding.
Lysozymes - ANSWER: enzymes produced by a variety of cells that can destroy
bacteria by rupturing cell membranes
Antigen - ANSWER: a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune
response in the body by lymphocytes
Lymphocyte - ANSWER: Types of white blood cell responsible for the immune
response. They are activated by antigens.
B Lymphocyte - ANSWER: A type of WBC that mature in the bone marrow and produce
antibodies. They are responsible for humoral immunity
Humoral immunity - ANSWER: specific immunity produced by B cells that produce
antibodies that circulate in body fluids. Refers to "body humors" and means the
dissolved component of immunity, antibodies are soluble.
, Antibody - ANSWER: An antigen-binding immunoglobulin, produced by B cells, that
functions as the effector in an immune response.
Immunoglobulin - ANSWER: protein with antibody activity
Endocytosis - ANSWER: process by which a cell takes material into the cell by infolding
of the cell membrane
Plasma cells - ANSWER: Cells that develop from B cells and produce antibodies.
Memory cells - ANSWER: a long-lived lymphocyte capable of responding to a particular
antigen on its reintroduction, long after the exposure that prompted its production.
Primary immune response - ANSWER: Immune response the first time the body is
exposed to a particular antigen. Does not peak until 10-17 days after exposure.
Secondary immune response - ANSWER: Immune response after the body has already
been exposed to a specific antigen. Response is faster, of greater magnitude, and more
prolonged.
Clonal selection - ANSWER: The process by which an antigen selectively binds to and
activates only those lymphocytes bearing receptors specific for the antigen. The
selected lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into a clone of effector cells and a
clone of memory cells specific for the stimulating antigen.
Effector cells - ANSWER: Alternative word for plasma cells
T lymphocyte - ANSWER: a type of white blood cell that completes maturation in the
thymus and that has various roles in the immune system, including the identification of
specific foreign antigens in the body and the activation and deactivation of other
immune cells.
Cell mediated immunity - ANSWER: type of immunity produced by T cells that attack
infected or abnormal body cells
Cellular response - ANSWER: Alternative term for cell mediated immunity
Antigen presenting cell (APC) - ANSWER: A cell that displays foreign antigens with
major histocompatibility complexes on their surfaces
Major histocompatability complex - ANSWER: A protein used to present antigen to
APCs, helpt to confirm recognition of antigen by WBC
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte - ANSWER: A WBC that kills abnormal (cancerous) and
infected body cells
Pathogen - ANSWER: a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause
disease.
Immunity - ANSWER: the ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by
the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.
Non specific defence mechanism - ANSWER: (also called innate defence). Includes
barriers to entry, the inflammatory response and other defences that provide general
protection against infection.
Specific defence mechanism - ANSWER: the ability of the body to develop immunity
against specific pathogens, toxins or foreign things. This is possible by a special
immune system that produces antibodies and/or activated lymphocytes that attack and
destroy specific invading organisms or toxins.
Phagocyte - ANSWER: A white blood cell that destroys pathogens by engulfing them,
forming a vaculoe and breaking the pathogen down using hydrolytic enzymes
Phagocytosis - ANSWER: The process by which phagocytes engulf pathogens
Phagosome - ANSWER: A vacuole formed within a phagocytic cell as pseudopodia
surround a particle during the process of phagocytosis.
Pseudopodia - ANSWER: A cellular extension of amoeboid cells used in moving and
feeding.
Lysozymes - ANSWER: enzymes produced by a variety of cells that can destroy
bacteria by rupturing cell membranes
Antigen - ANSWER: a toxin or other foreign substance that induces an immune
response in the body by lymphocytes
Lymphocyte - ANSWER: Types of white blood cell responsible for the immune
response. They are activated by antigens.
B Lymphocyte - ANSWER: A type of WBC that mature in the bone marrow and produce
antibodies. They are responsible for humoral immunity
Humoral immunity - ANSWER: specific immunity produced by B cells that produce
antibodies that circulate in body fluids. Refers to "body humors" and means the
dissolved component of immunity, antibodies are soluble.
, Antibody - ANSWER: An antigen-binding immunoglobulin, produced by B cells, that
functions as the effector in an immune response.
Immunoglobulin - ANSWER: protein with antibody activity
Endocytosis - ANSWER: process by which a cell takes material into the cell by infolding
of the cell membrane
Plasma cells - ANSWER: Cells that develop from B cells and produce antibodies.
Memory cells - ANSWER: a long-lived lymphocyte capable of responding to a particular
antigen on its reintroduction, long after the exposure that prompted its production.
Primary immune response - ANSWER: Immune response the first time the body is
exposed to a particular antigen. Does not peak until 10-17 days after exposure.
Secondary immune response - ANSWER: Immune response after the body has already
been exposed to a specific antigen. Response is faster, of greater magnitude, and more
prolonged.
Clonal selection - ANSWER: The process by which an antigen selectively binds to and
activates only those lymphocytes bearing receptors specific for the antigen. The
selected lymphocytes proliferate and differentiate into a clone of effector cells and a
clone of memory cells specific for the stimulating antigen.
Effector cells - ANSWER: Alternative word for plasma cells
T lymphocyte - ANSWER: a type of white blood cell that completes maturation in the
thymus and that has various roles in the immune system, including the identification of
specific foreign antigens in the body and the activation and deactivation of other
immune cells.
Cell mediated immunity - ANSWER: type of immunity produced by T cells that attack
infected or abnormal body cells
Cellular response - ANSWER: Alternative term for cell mediated immunity
Antigen presenting cell (APC) - ANSWER: A cell that displays foreign antigens with
major histocompatibility complexes on their surfaces
Major histocompatability complex - ANSWER: A protein used to present antigen to
APCs, helpt to confirm recognition of antigen by WBC
Cytotoxic T lymphocyte - ANSWER: A WBC that kills abnormal (cancerous) and
infected body cells
