An antigen is the protein shape on the
outside of a cell that stimulates an
immune response
An antibody is a large
y-shaped protein molecule
that has a specific shape,
complimentary to that of
one particular antigen
Cell identification
All types of cells have
specific molecules on
their surface that can be
used to identify them
This allows the immune
system to identify cells
as being self or non-self
Defence mechanisms:
Non-specific mechanisms
Primary defences (barriers to
pathogen entry)
1. The skin
The cells of the
epidermis
2. Mucous membranes
Goblet cells produce
sticky mucus which
traps pathogens
3. HCl in the stomach
This denatures
proteins/enzymes of pathogens
and kills them
4. Tears in the eyes
Contains lysozymes this
hydrolyses peptidoglycan in
bacterial cells
5. Wax in ear canals
Traps pathogens
Phagocytosis
When physical barriers are breached
by pathogens the non-specific
immune response takes place
Pathogens or infected body
cells release a chemical
alarm causing the dilation
of local blood vessels
causing the area to
become warm and red
The permeability of the capillaries also
increases causing swelling
This means
phagocytic white
blood cells move
to the area
REMEMBER
1. Phagocytes are attracted by
chemicals produced by pathogens
2. Phagocyte attaches to pathogen
3. It engulfs the pathogen to form vesicles called phagosomes
4. Lysosomes in phagocytes fuse with phagosomes
5. Hydrolytic enzymes released from lysosomes hydrolyse pathogens
6. Soluble products of digestion are absorbed into the cytoplasm of phagocytes
Specific Immune Response
This is a response to detection of pathogens or antigens
that involves white blood cells called B lymphocytes and T
lymphocytes
B cells and T cells
B lymphocytes originate and mature in
the Bone marrow
T lymphocytes originate in the bone
marrow and mature in the thymus
B and T cells have
specialised receptor
molecules on their cell
surface membranes
Each cell is capable of
recognising one specific shape
of antigen
Each has different protein receptor molecules on
its surface complimentary to the shape of one
specific antigen
There are not many lymphocytes
specific to one antigen
Clonal Selection is:
The lymphocyte with complimentary protein
receptors to those of the pathogen/antigen
will be "selected" and stimulated to divide to
build up numbers to a level where they can be
effective in destroying the pathogen
Cell mediated immunity - T cells
T cells respond to an organisms own
cells that have been infected by a
pathogen
1. Phagocytes and infected body cells place some
of the pathogen's antigens on their cell surface -
called antigen presentation
2. The helper T cells with the specific receptor for the
antigen come into contact with the infected cells and the
receptor on the T helper cells binds with the antigen, this is
the selection of the correct T lymphocyte
3. This stimulates the selected T cell to divide rapidly by mitosis
4. These cloned T helper cells will:
Form T memory cells
Stimulate phagocytosis
Stimulate B cells to divide and produce antibodies
Activate cytotoxic cells
5. Activated cytotoxic T cells kill infected
cells by producing a protein called perforin
that makes holes in the cell surface
membrane
This makes the CSM permeable
and water and solutes enter/exit
freely
Ideal for killing virus'
Humoral Immunity - B cells
B cells respond to infection by
producing antibodies, antibodies
are proteins that are soluble in
the blood and tissue fluid of the
body
1. An antigen enters the blood
2. There will be one B cell that has an antibody
on its surface whose shape fits the antigen, the
shapes of the antibody and antigen are
complementary
3. The specific B cells take in these antigens by
endocytosis and present them on the surface of the cell
4. Specific T helper cells attach and stimulate this
B cell to divide by mitosis to form a clone of B
cells that will produce antibodies to that specific
antigen
This process is called clonal selection
5. B cells develop into:
Plasma cells
These cells secrete antibodies
into the blood plasma this is
the primary response
B memory cells
These an enable an increased and more
rapid response to a second exposure to
infection (secondary response)
Multiplication of pathogens:
Bacteria multiply by binary fission
Virus multiplication:
They enter the host cell and use the host
cell's DNA replication and protein
production to produce new viral particles
Antibody structure
Made up of:
A constant region
Four polypeptide chains (two
light two heavy) held together
by disulphide bridges
A variable region, this has
a specific shape due to its
amino acid sequence.
The shape of the variable region
and antigen are complementary to
each other, this is the antigen
binding site
A hinge region that
enables antibodies
to attach to more
than one antigen
4 polypeptide bonds = quaternary structure
Antigen binding site = tertiary structure
Primary structure determines how polypeptide chains fold
Agglutination
Antibodies bind to antigens at
the ANTIGEN BINDING SITE at
the tip of the variable region
This prepares pathogens for
destruction
Pathogens clump together (loads of
antibodies joining to pathogens which
join together) and can no longer attack
host cells
The clumps are engulfed by phagocytic cells
Responses
Primary Response:
This is the first time the immune system
encounters a pathogen, the initial selection of
the correct B cell and subsequent cloning
take time as there is only one B cell specific to
the antigen
Antibodies are
secreted into
the blood
Antibodies attach to and
destroy pathogens and
any antigens they produce
Individual plasma cells only survive
for a few days and memory cells
survive for a long time
Secondary response
This is a much greater and quicker response
because of the memory cells
This is because the memory cells
remaining in the cells increase the
chance of the B cells of the correct
type meeting the pathogen
Vaccination
Vaccination produces immunity to specific
diseases by exposing someone to antigenic
material that has been rendered harmless
Active immunity
This is produced by the stimulation of
antibodies and memory cells by the
body's immune system
Natural active
immunity =
response by the
immune system to
infection
Artificial active immunities =
response by the immune
system to vaccination
Passive immunity
Produced when antibodies are
introduced from an outside source
Antibodies are not replaced by the body
and no memory cells are produced
Maternal antibodies are passed to
foetus from the mother across the
placenta
Anti-venom given to snake-bite victims
Herd immunity
When a large proportion of the
population is vaccinated it is
hard for the pathogen to spread
Ethics
Development
involves animals
Is it fair to make the
vaccine compulsory in
order to be effective?
Should expensive vaccines
continue when a diseases is
nearly eradicated