IMMUNOLOGY REVISION

CHAPTER 1 – Introduction to immunology

Learning outcome 3. Examples of innate immunity components – cells of innate,

barriers, processes etc.
Definition and concept of immunology
i. Cell of innate immune response
• Basic terminologies in immunology a) Leukocytes (WBC)
i) Natural killer (NK) cells
The study of our protection from foreign Attack host cells infected by microbes, but do
macromolecules or invading organisms (immunity) and not directly attack invading microbes.
how do we response to them (defense mechanisms). (1) Attack & destroy tumor cells & virally
infected cells.
• Two types of immune response: (2) NK cells are armed with granules filled with
potent chemicals.
i. non-specific (innate) immune systems
(3) But while killer T cells look for antigen
a. First line defense
fragments bound to self-MHC molecules, NK
b. Non-specific
cells recognize cells lacking self-MHC
molecules.
ii. specific (adaptive) immune systems
a. Second line defense
ii) Mast cells
b. Specific

iii) Eosinophils
Review Question
(1) Secrete highly toxic proteins & free radicals
effective in killing bacteria & parasites.
1. Brief history in immunology
(2) Responsible for tissue damage occurring
i) China (960 – 1280 A.D.) – variolation (deliberate during allergic reactions.
inoculation with smallpox).
iv) Basophils
ii) Edward Jenner, 1798 – immunization against (1) Release histamine when activated.
smallpox using cowpox material. (2) Important in defense against parasites & in
allergic reactions (asthma).
iii) Louis Pasteur (1870’s) – origin of the term
vaccination ð any type of protective inoculation. b) Phagocytic cells
‘vacca’ = cow i) Macrophages
ii) Neutrophils
2. Differences between innate & adaptive immunity iii) Dendritic cells
c) Complement System
Innate Adaptive i) Consists of > 20 serum glycoproteins.
ii) Components circulate in the serum as proenzymes
• Rapid response • Slow response (The inactive or nearly inactive precursor of an
Characteristics

(mins) (days)
enzyme, converted into an active enzyme by
• Not antigen specific • Antigen
proteolysis).
• No memory specific
• Some cellular • Memory iii) Important in inflammation & opsonization.
components may help • Some of its iv) 3 pathways: classical, lectin & alternative.
specific immunity products may help
• Short term memory non-specific
& not effective immunity ii. Barriers
• Long term
a. Physical & mechanical
memory & more
effective i. Tears, saliva & urine - Flushing action protects
surfaces from colonization.
Skin, B and T cells, ii. Mucous membranes - Entraps foreign
Immune

Complements, secreted microorganisms; Cilia propel microorganism

NK cells, molecules (antibody)
mechanically.
macrophages,
neutrophils
b. Chemical
i. Skin - Prevent entry of microbes; Acidic (pH 3-5)
retards growth of microbes
ii. Low pH - Acidity of stomach content
iii. Chemical mediators
• Lysozyme cleaves bacterial cell wall
• Interferon – inhibit viral replication
• Transferrin & lactoferrin deprive m/orgm

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IMMUNOLOGY REVISION

c. Phagocytic/Endocytic • Principal cells:

i. Various cells internalize (endocytose) & break
down foreign macromolecules. - Lymphocytes - B & T cells
ii. Cells (monocytes, neutrophils, macrophages) - Antigen-presenting cells (APC) – dendritic cells.
internalize (phagocytose), kill & digest whole - Effector cells – activated T lymphocytes,
microorganism. mononuclear phagocytes

d. Inflammatory 7. Characteristics of adaptive immunity

i. Tissue damage & infection induce leakage of
vascular fluid & influx of phagocytic cells into the Specific & diverse - Enables immune system to respond
affected area. specifically to large variety of Ag.
ii. Phagocytes (neutrophils) release factors that
Memory - Enhanced responses to repeated exposures to the
summon other leukocytes & lymphocytes.
same Ag.
iii. 5 Signs of Inflammation: Redness, Swelling, Heat,
Pain, Loss of function.
Specialization - Optimal defense against different types of
microbes (humoral & cell-mediated immunity – different
iii. Processes
classes of microbes).
i. Phagocytosis
a. The engulfment & digestion of foreign Nonreactivity to self - Prevents injury to the host during
particles by phagocytes. responses to foreign Ag.
b. The cell membrane invaginates to capture
the particle then forming a sac or vacuole.
(ada gambar dlm notes)
8. Overview of the basic arms of immunology
4. Recognition of self & non-self – how?
Immune response:
By using antibody!
i. non-specific (innate) immune systems
Soluble proteins produced by lymphoid tissues in response a. First line defense
to an antigen. Ab contains a receptor that specifically binds b. Non-specific
to one Ag.
ii. specific (adaptive) immune systems
Recognition – distinguish self from non-self a. Second line defense
Response b. Specific
• Effector
• Memory (same as above just trangkan laaa yeeeerrr)

5. Inflammation – association with vasodilation; signs 9. Cells involved in immune surveillance.

Tissue damage & infection induce leakage of vascular fluid
& influx of phagocytic cells into the affected area.
Phagocytes (neutrophils) release factors that summon other
leukocytes & lymphocytes.
- Natural killer (NK) cells
- Lymphocytes - B & T cells
- Antigen-presenting cells (APC) – dendritic cells.
- Effector cells – activated T lymphocytes, mononuclear
phagocytes

5 Signs of Inflammation: Redness, Swelling, Heat, Pain, Loss

of function.

6. Components of adaptive immune response

Humoral immunity

- Production of Ab by B lymphocytes (B cells).

- Defense against extracellular microbes.

Cell-mediated immunity

- Mediated by T lymphocytes (T cells).

- Defense against intracellular microbes.

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IMMUNOLOGY REVISION

CHAPTER 3 – Antigens

Learning Outcome

• Define & distinguish the characteristics of immunogen,

antigen & haptens

Antigen - molecule that sometimes stimulates an

immune response. Specifically bound by Ab @ T cell
receptor (TCR).

Immunogen - an Ag that induces immune response.

Not all Ags are immunogens; e.g. small molecular
weight molecules may not stimulate immune response
unless linked to macromolecules.

Hapten - A small molecule which could never induce

an immune response on their own but can become
immunogenic if joined to a carrier molecule (usually
protein).

• Describe the factors influencing immunogenicity

• Describe types of antigens

Review Questions

1. What differentiate antigens from own cells?

2. Epitopes = antigenic determinants; what are they

actually?

Antibody which binds to b-cell

3. Extracellular vs. intracellular antigens: which immune

components can recognize those antigens?

4. Why do some antigens need to be processed &

presented?

5. What presents antigens?

6. Difference between antigen, immunogen, allergen.

7. Terminologies: hapten, carrier etc.

8. Features/characteristics of antigens – e.g. size, dose etc