Name: Bibek Biswakarma Date: 23 th Sep 2021

Student no. 19-2-02646 Course: BS BIO 4-1

Immunology
Assignment 1: Introduction to immune system

1. What are the two types of adaptive immunity, and what types of microbes
do these adaptive immune responses combat?
 The two types of adaptive immunity are cell-mediated immunity and
humoral immunity. Cell-mediated immunity, mediated by T cells, is
essential for protection against intracellular pathogens. Humoral or
antibody-mediated immunity provides protection primarily against
extracellular pathogens.

2. What are the principal classes of lymphocytes, how do they differ in

function, and how may they be identified and distinguished?
 B lymphocytes express surface immunoglobulin, which functions as their
antigen receptor and mediate humoral immunity. Following activation, B
lymphocytes differentiate into antibody-secreting plasma cells. T
lymphocytes express the T cell antigen receptor and either CD4 or CD8
and mediate cell- mediated immune responses. After activation by peptide
antigens displayed by cell surface MHC molecules, CD4+ T cells secrete
cytokines and express membrane- bound activating ligands, which induce
inflammation, enhance the functions of phagocytes, and promote B cell
antibody responses. CD8+ T cells produce cytotoxic proteins that induce
the death of infectedcells.
 T-lymphocytes can be distinguished from other lymphocytes like B cells
and natural killer cells (NK cells) by the presence of a T cell receptor
(TCR) on the cell surface.

3. What are the important differences among naive, effector, and memory T
and B lymphocytes?
 Naive lymphocytes are mature B or T cells that have not yet encountered
a foreign antigen. Following activation, naive lymphocytes proliferate and
differentiate into cells that acquire the ability to protect against or eliminate
pathogens. These lymphocytes are known as effector cells. Most effector
 cells die after the antigen is eliminated, but a subset of previously
activated lymphocytes known as memory cells live for extended periods.
Memory lymphocytes not only self-renew and survive indefinitely but also
respond more rapidly and vigorously when challenged byantigen.

4. Where are T and B lymphocytes located in lymph nodes, and how is their
anatomic separation maintained?
 B lymphocytes reside in follicles in peripheral (secondary) lymphoid
organs. T cells reside in the parafollicular cortex of lymph nodes. B and T
cells are maintained in these locations by specific cytokines called
chemokines, which are secreted by stromal cells in the follicle and the
parafollicular cortex,respectively.

5. How do naive and effector T lymphocytes differ in their patterns of

migration?
 Naive lymphocytes home from the blood into secondary lymphoid organs,
and then, via lymphatics, they migrate back into the blood and recirculate
through other secondary lymphoid organs. Effector lymphocytes are
generated in secondary lymphoid organs, and most migrate into the blood
and then home to the tissue site where the activating antigen may be
located.