Natural Immunity, inherited and operating at birth. Acts as body's first line of defense. Non-specific + Non-adaptive.
What is the first line of defense?
Physiological barriers such as skin, mucosa, saliva,stomach acid etc.
What is the second line of defense?
Phagocytes + NK Cells, Inflammation.
What are interferons?
Product of virally infected cells, to limit the spread and protect surrounding non-infected cells. Coat surrounding cells to make them viral resistant.
What are the two main functions of interferons?
They act as messengers within the immune system and between other systems. They also inhibit tumor growth.
Adaptive + Specific. Not present at birth, it is learned. It can recognize, attack, and destroy foreign substances. Produces specific responses to invader. Prevents proliferation of mutant cells.
Acquired Immunity is primarily mediated by which cells?
T-cells + B-cells.
Define Immunocompetence.
Ability to mount an appropriate immune reaction.
What are the two types of acquired immunity?
Cell mediated- T cell immunity. & Humoral- B cell immunity. Immunoglobulin related immunity.
What is the essential first step in leading to a specific immune response?
Any substance that does not have the characteristic cell surface markers MHC of that individual, and is capable of eliciting an immune response.
Define Antibodies
Protein Molecules that fit specifically to an antigen.
Define Major Histocompatibility Complex.
Cell markers on the surface of all of our body's cells that are unique to each of us. Allows the immune system's cells to communicate with one another.
Define Epitopes
The part of an antigen that elicits the immune response. The part that binds to the antibody.