IMMUNOLOGY Antigen- a component of the foreign material
that gives rise to the primary interaction with
Thucydides- Described in detail an epidemic. the body’s immune system
Variolation- inoculation of live organisms of
smallpox obtained from the diseased pustules Immunogen- if an antigen elicits an immune
of patients who were recovering from the response.
disease.
Antigenic determinants or epitopes-
Edward Jenner recognition sites for the adaptive immune
system
Cowpox virus = vaccinia virus
5-20 amino acids
Pasteur- introduced vaccine to commemorate Linear chain or cluster of amino acid
Jenner’s work.
Antibodies or Immunoglobulins (Ig)- produced
1979- Eradication of smallpox and secreted out by the adaptive immune
system.
Decrease in morbidity and mortality.
Diphtheria Widely used in vitro diagnostics.
Pertussis
Mumps Monoclonal antibody- recognizing single
Measles antigen and a single common epitope.
Rubella
Polyclonal antibody- recognizing a single
Hepatitis A and B
antigen but a number of different epitopes.
Definitions and outline structure of
Immune system: 2 types of response
the immune system
a.) innate immune response
*primary function- defend and eliminate
foreign material. Minimize damage. Non-specific
No time lag
*foreign- is non-self. Not necessarily pathogenic Not intrinsically infected by prior
alone contact with infectious agent
b.) adaptive immune response
Allogenic- Withing species Time lag
Highly-specific recognition
Xenogeneic- between species Generation of immunological memory
Pathogen- ability to cause disease.
Virulence- Degree of pathogenicity Types of adaptive immune response
Attenuation- reduction of virulence a.) humoral immunity
Avirulent- completely lose its virulence. Effector cells- B-lymphocytes
Antigen recognition occurs through
interaction with antibodies.
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b.) Cell-mediated immunity o Nuts
Effector cells- T-lymphocytes
Antigen recognition occurs through 4. natural killer (NK)
peptide antigen. Phenotype
T-cells receptors Like lymphocyte
Peptide antigen must be introduced to lacks recognition receptor
the t-lymphocytes through major non-specific
histocompatibility complex (MHC) cytotoxic actions
protein.
lymphocytes
Cells of the immune system a.) B-lymphocytes- mature and differentiate in
the bone marrow before leaving to circulate in
Progenitor cell population- found in the bone the blood and lymph.
marrow. Cells involved for the immune system. plasma cell- differentiated lymphocytes.
Varies in terms of growth factor.
b.) T-lymphocytes- mature in the thymus.
Principal cells of the innate immune system
The innate immune system
1. mononuclear phagocytic cells Innate barriers at epidermal and mucosal
Short lived (>8hrs) surfaces
Monocytes (blood circulation -> tissues)
Undergo differentiation -> long lived epidermis and mucosal barrier
(macrophage – key effector cell) non-specific mechanism
commensal organism- organism derives
2. granulocyte cell food or other benefits from
Neutrophil another organism without hurting or
Basophil helping it
Eosinophil o non-pathogenic
o help prevent colonization of
3. mast cell pathogens
Tissue resident cell ex: tear ducts, urogenital tract skin
Triggered by tissue damage or infection secretion posses bacteriostatic or
Initiating factors -> inflammatory bactericidal activity due to low ph or
response hydrolytic enzymes
o Histamine o ex lysozyme (peptidoglycan
o Leukotrienes B4, C4, D4 hydrolase)
o Proinflammatory cytokines
Signals proteins Innate defense once epidermal or
released by leukocytes mucosal barriers have been compromised
(white blood cells
Tumor necrosis factor-a interstitial tissues and the vascular
Chemotactic compartment rely largely on the
substances- interleukin- processes of phagocytosis and
8 activation of the alternative
Responsible for anaphylactic reactions complement pathway
o Bee stings
o Penicillin
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mononuclear phagocytic cell and
granulocyte- main cell mediating
phagocytosis
A. Mononuclear phagocytic cells Mononuclear phagocytic cell receptors
Monocytes Receptors for chemotaxis
short lived (>8hours) Receptors for secreted bacterial
5% of the circulating leucocytes peptides
population Ex: formylmethionyl peptide
Differentiated into macrophage Receptors for complement proteins
Macrophage Leucocytes activator
Long-lived o C3a and C5a
Widely distributed heterogenous Complements protein that serve to coat
population of cell types o Opsonize
Kupffer cell o C3b
Opsonin triggering enhanced activity of
Secretion of mononuclear phagocytic cells the phagocyte.
molecules Receptors for promoting adherence
Molecules break down or permeabilize Lectin receptors – interacts with
microbial membrane. Extracellular carbohydrates moieties
killings of microorganism. Fc Domains – non-antigen- recognition
o Enzymes domains or antibodies which opsonize
Lysosomes microorganisms
Cathepsin G o Ex: receptors for Fc domain of
o Bactericidal reactive oxygen IgG is Fcg
species Integrin receptors – for cell-cell
o Cationic proteins adhesion
Cytokines o Promoting interaction between
Innate protective antiviral a macrophage and T-
o Ex: interferon (IFN) lymphocyte
o Antitumor Receptor for cytokines
Chemokines – group of cytokines. Includes macrophage activation.
Chemoattracts other leukocytes into an o IFN-Y
infection or inflammation Limiting macrophage mobility
Proinflammation action o Macrophage inhibitory factor
IL-8 attracts neutrophils (MIF)- increases cell retention
IL-1 and TNF activates endothelial and at a site of infection
leucocytes cells
IL-1 activation of T-lymphocytes B. Granulocyte cell population
Basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils
Bioactive lipids Short-lived (2-3 days)
Thromboxane Neutrophils
Prostaglandins most abundant (>90% of all circulating
Leukotrienes blood granulocyte)
Promotes inflammatory response by most important in phagocytosis
increasing capillary vasodilation and secretion is similar to macrophage
permeability.
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does not present antigen via MHC class Cationic protein- begin microbial
II proteins membrane degradation
IL-8 – a neutrophil-specific chemotactic o Defensins
factor that recruits to site of tissue o Reactive oxygen species
infection or inflammation
Complement protein
o C3a Phagolysosome
o Bacterial formyl methionyl Fusion of phagosome and lysosome
peptides Acidic (pH 5)
o Leukotrienes Active breakdown of microbial structure
Undergo respiratory burst- effective
generators of reactive oxygen species D. Alternative complement pathway
Critical role for innate immunity
Eosinophils Complement system comprises of 20
Poor phagocytic cells different serum proteins. (“C” & “#”)
Kills Helminths Zymogens – compliment protein
Cant be physically phagocytosed o Proenzyme- require proteolytic
cleavage
Basophils Suffix “b” – larger fragment compared
Non-phagocytic cells to “a”. stays associated with a microbial
membrane
C. Phagocytosis Suffix “a” - smaller fragment. Diffuses
1. chemotaxis away
Through signals arising from Cascade sequence – the activation of
compliment proteins (C3a & C5a) the compliment pathway
2. adherence
At the surface of the phagocyte Resting state
Through lectin receptors which Absence of infection
interacts with carbohydrates moieties Complement proteins are inactive or
o C3b and Fc receptors low level of activation
3. membrane activation
Of phagocyte actin-myosin contractile Complement pathway
network to extend pseudopodia around Prevents inappropriate activation of
the attached microbe cascade (when no infection is present)
Generation of respiratory burst- Minimizes damage to the host cell
increases the activity of the phagocyte
membrane NADPH oxidase 3 main biological functions of the alternative
Oxygen -> bactericidal reactive oxygen complement pathway
specie
o Superoxide anion 1. opsonization of microbial membrane
o Hydrogen peroxide Covalent binding of compliment
o Hydroxyl radicals proteins to the surface of the microbial
o Halogenated oxygen membrane
metabolites Promotes adherence
4. Enclosure C3b – complement protein (potent
Phagosome – membrane vesicle opsonin)
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2. activation of leucocytes
Protein acting on leukocytes
Raising the level of functioning of the
leucocytes in immune defense
3. Lysis of the target cell membrane
Membrane attack complex (MAC) –
Formation of membrane pores and
microbial lysis
