11 Immunity - Edited

Biology Student’s Companion Resources DB024_2023/2024
CHAPTER 11: IMMUNITY

11.1 Immune Response
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) Define immunity, antibody and antigen.
b) Describe the structure of antibody.
c) List the types of antibody based on its structure.
d) Describe the development of B and T lymphocytes.
MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES
Definition of Definition of Immunity:

Foreign organism:
immunity, Ability to recognize and destroy foreign or dangerous
pathogens e.g.:
antibody and macromolecules
bacteria, viruses,
antigen (Solomon 10th Edition)
fungi, protozoa
➢ Ability of organism to resist illness or infections caused by Foreign molecule:
foreign organisms or foreign molecules pollen, venom,
transplanted
➢ Ability of organism to recognize and defend itself against
tissues
foreign organisms or foreign molecules
Definition of Antibody (Immunoglobulin / Ig):

Protein secreted by plasma cells
that binds to specific antigen.
Antibody bind with antigen forming

antigen-antibody complex.
Definition of Antigen:
Any foreign organism or foreign molecule that
trigger / stimulate specific immune response
Biology Unit, KMPk | 1

• Antigen are usually proteins, glycoproteins

or polysaccharides
• Antigen are found on surface
of pathogens (e.g. bacteria, viruses,
fungus, parasites)
• Antigen may exist as free molecules
e.g. toxins release by bacteria
• Can stimulate immune response
by lymphocyte B or T
• Small region of an antigen to which

antibody or antigen receptor
binds to is called epitope.
• An antigen may have several different epitopes.
• Each epitope is recognized by different antibody.
• Different antibodies recognize
specific epitopes on the same antigen.

Structure of
antibody
• Antibody is a Y shaped molecule
• Antibody consist of FOUR polypeptide chains:

✓ TWO identical light chains
(Light chain refers to the short polypeptide chains)
✓ TWO identical heavy chains

(Heavy chain refers to the long polypeptide chains)
• All chains are linked by disulphide/disulfide bridge

• Each light and heavy chains contain:

✓ variable (V) region
✓ constant (C) region
• Constant regions of heavy chains

✓ form the base of antibody molecules
✓ determines the way antibody is secreted and
✓ how the antibody is distributed in body fluid
• Specificity of an antibody molecule is determined by amino

acid sequences on variable regions of both light chain
and heavy chain.
• Each antibody has TWO antigen-binding sites

✓ Antigen-binding sites is formed by the free tips of the two
variable regions of both heavy chain and light chain.
✓ Antigen binds to the antigen-binding sites
• Binding of a B cell antigen receptor to an antigen leads to

B cell activation and results in, formation of plasma cells that
secrete antibodies.
• Antibodies have same Y-shaped structure as B cell antigen

receptors but antibodies are free circulated and B cell antigen
receptor are membrane bounded.

Types of FIVE types of antibodies:

antibody based IgM
on its structure
IgA
IgG
IgD
IgE
i. IgG
• Provide naturally acquired passive
immunity
e.g. fetus receive maternal IgG through
placenta.
• Small monomer that can easily cross the
walls of blood vessel and enter tissue fluid.
• The major antibody secreted during
secondary immune response.
• Stimulate phagocytosis by macrophage.
ii. IgD
• Found in blood, lymph and on surface
of lymphocyte B cells
• Act as antigen receptor on surface of
lymphocyte B cells
• Stimulate proliferation and
differentiation of B cells into plasma
cells and memory B cells
iii. IgE
• Bind to basophil and stimulate the
cell to produce histamines
• Involve in allergic reaction by
trigger the release of histamine from
basophils

iv. IgA
• Found in mucous membranes
and body secretions (e.g. saliva,
tears, breast milk)
• Act as first line defense
• Prevent attachment of pathogen
(bacteria and viruses) to mucous
membranes
• Provide naturally acquired passive immunity from mother
to breastfeed baby
v. IgM
• Large size of five monomers.
• First antibody secreted during
first exposure to antigen
(primary immune response).
• Act as receptors on surface of
lymphocyte
• Stimulate agglutination by binding
with many antigens at once
Development
of B and T
lymphocytes

• Immune response relies on T cells and B cells, which are types

of white blood cells called lymphocytes.
• Lymphocytes originate from stem cells in bone marrow.
• Some lymphocytes migrate from bone marrow to thymus and

mature into T cells.
• Lymphocytes that remain and mature in the bone marrow

develop as B cells.
• Both lymphocytes circulate throughout blood and lymph.
• Both lymphocytes recognize specific antigen through receptor

on their plasma membrane.
✓ B cells responsible for humoral immune response
✓ T cells responsible in cell-mediated immune response

11.2 Types of Immune Response
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) Outline immune response: Humoral and Cell Mediated Immune Response.
b) List the types and functions of cells involved in Humoral and Cell Mediated Immune Response.
Outline of Humoral immune response

Humoral and
Cell Mediated
Immune
Response.
● An immune response that activates B cells / B lymphocytes

● Leads to production of antibodies.
● Defends against extracellular pathogens e.g. bacteria, viruses
and toxins in body fluids
● Macrophage engulf and digest antigen through phagocytosis.
● Macrophage become antigen presenting cell.
● Helper T (TH) cell binds to the antigen presenting cell.
● The binding cause antigen presenting cell to secrete
interleukin-1 (IL-1).

● IL-1 activate the TH cell.

● Once activated, TH cell proliferate (divide mitotically) and
differentiate into activated TH cells and memory TH cells.
● Antigen binds to antigen receptor on membrane of B cell.
● Activated TH cell secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2) to activate the B
cell.
● Activated B cell proliferate and differentiate into memory B
cells and plasma cells.
● Plasma cells secrete antibodies that circulate in body fluid.
● Antibodies will bind to antigen.
Cell mediated immune response
● An immune response that involves the activation of T cells

(cytotoxic T @ TC cells)
● This type of immune response defends against intracellular

pathogens e.g. bacteria and viruses within infected cells.

● Macrophage engulf and digest antigen through phagocytosis.

● Macrophage become the antigen presenting cell.
● Helper T (TH) cell binds to the antigen presenting cell.
● The binding cause antigen presenting cell to secrete
interleukin-1 (IL-1).
● IL-1 activate the TH cell.
● Once activated, TH cell proliferate (divide mitotically) and
differentiate into activated TH cells and memory TH cells.
● Infected body cell is another one of antigen presenting cell.
● Cytotoxic T (TC) cell migrate to infected area and binds to
the infected cell.
● Activated TH cell secrete interleukin-2 (IL-2) to activate the
TC cell.
● Activated TC cell proliferate and differentiate into activated
TC cells and memory TC cells.
● Activated TC cell involve in destruction of the infected cell.
Helper T (TH) cells stimulate

the humoral and cell-mediated immune response


Types and functions of cells involved in humoral

immune response
Types and
functions of CELLS FUNCTIONS
cells involved
in humoral Macrophage • Engulf and digest pathogen via phagocytosis
immune to acts as antigen – presenting cell
• Secrete interleukin-1 (IL-1) to activate helper
response and
T cell
cell-mediated
immune Helper T (TH) • Secrete interleukin -2 (IL-2) to activate B cell
response cells • Stimulate memory B cell during second
exposure to the same antigen
B cells / B • Proliferate and differentiate into plasma cell

lymphocyte and memory B cell
Plasma cells • Produce and secrete antibodies
Memory B cells • Initiate production of plasma cells during

second exposure to the same antigen
Types and functions of cells involved in cell-mediated

immune response
CELLS FUNCTIONS
Infected body • As antigen presenting cell

cells
Macrophage • Engulf and digest pathogen via phagocytosis

to acts as antigen – presenting cell
• Secrete interleukin-1 (IL-1) to activate helper
T cell
Helper T (TH) • Secrete interleukin -2 (IL-2) to activate

cells cytotoxic T cell
Cytotoxic T (TC) • Involved in destruction of infected cell

cells
Memory TC cells • Initiate secondary immune response during

second exposure to the same antigen

11.3 Development of Immunity
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
a) Describe the primary and secondary immune responses.
b) State examples of vaccination for health: BCG, HPV, Hepatitis and MMR.
Primary and • Primary immune response refers to proliferation and

secondary differentiation of lymphocytes during first exposure to an
immune antigen.
responses
• Secondary immune response refers to proliferation and
differentiation of lymphocytes during subsequent (second time
or more) exposure to same antigen.
Primary Immune Response
• During first exposure of B cells to an antigen e.g. when receive

1st dose injection during vaccination
• B cells proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells and memory
B cells.
- Before stimulation by an antigen, B cells are small
lymphocytes
- After activation, B cells proliferate and become large
lymphocytes
- Some of the enlarge cells become plasma cells.
- The others revert to small lymphocytes to become memory B
cells

• Plasma cells secrete antibodies.

• While primary immune response is developing, the individual may
become ill and show disease symptoms because at this time, the
antigen cause tissues damage.
• Symptoms of illness disappear when antibodies eliminate the
antigens from body
• Long-lasting memory B cells remain in body to trigger the
secondary immune response.
• IgM is the first antibody secreted (later, other types of antibodies
are secreted)
• The response of primary immunity is slow (peak up to 2 weeks)
and low concentration of antibodies are secreted at the early stage
- Because B cells that are specific for the antigen have to
proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells
• Low concentration of antibodies produced at early stage and peak
up one to two weeks after exposure
• Has lag time (slow reaction) during 3- 6 days after the exposure.
• Takes 3-14 days to produce enough antibodies to be effective
against antigen.
• Meantime, individual usually develops disease symptoms because
the antigen has had time to cause tissue damage.
• Antibody concentration rise and reach the peak in 10 -12 days.
• The effect of primary response is short-term
- Primary immune response lasts several days or weeks.
- Because the antibodies are short-lived
- Concentration of antibodies decrease due to the death of plasma
cells.

Primary and Secondary immune response

secondary
immune
responses
• Response of immune system due to the subsequent exposure

(second time or more infection) to the same antigen
• The response is faster
- Memory B cells can recognize the same antigen faster.
- Within hours after the subsequent exposure, memory B cells
rapidly proliferate and differentiate into plasma cells to secrete
antibody
- The main antibody secreted is IgG.
- Within 2 to 3 days, concentration of antibodies rises steeply
and higher than that in primary immune response
• The effect of secondary immune response is long-term.
- Plasma cells functioning for much longer.
- Concentration of antibodies remain high for weeks to months.
- Memory B cells persist in longer time (for many years and
probably for life). Able to recognize antigen for longer period.


Vaccination:
Examples of
vaccination for Is a process of acquiring immunity against particular disease through
health vaccine.
Small amount of antigen (vaccine) is injected into the body to

stimulate the immune response.
Vaccine:
• Dead or inactive or weakened pathogens that can induce B cells and

T cells responses and immunological memory (stimulate primary or
secondary immune responses)
• Vaccine act as antigen to trigger specific immune responses
Examples of Vaccination:
i. BCG
ii. HPV
iii. Hepatitis
iv. MMR (Measles, mumps and Rubella)

11 Immunity - Edited

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

11 Immunity - Edited

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Biology Student’s Companion Resources DB024_2023/2024

CHAPTER 11: IMMUNITY

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

Definition of Definition of Immunity:

Definition of Antibody (Immunoglobulin / Ig):

Antibody bind with antigen forming

Biology Unit, KMPk | 1

• Antigen are usually proteins, glycoproteins

• Small region of an antigen to which

Biology Unit, KMPk | 2

• Antibody is a Y shaped molecule

• Antibody consist of FOUR polypeptide chains:

✓ TWO identical heavy chains

• All chains are linked by disulphide/disulfide bridge

Biology Unit, KMPk | 3

• Each light and heavy chains contain:

• Constant regions of heavy chains

• Specificity of an antibody molecule is determined by amino

• Each antibody has TWO antigen-binding sites

• Binding of a B cell antigen receptor to an antigen leads to

• Antibodies have same Y-shaped structure as B cell antigen

Biology Unit, KMPk | 4

Types of FIVE types of antibodies:

Biology Unit, KMPk | 5

Biology Unit, KMPk | 6

• Immune response relies on T cells and B cells, which are types

• Lymphocytes originate from stem cells in bone marrow.

• Some lymphocytes migrate from bone marrow to thymus and

• Lymphocytes that remain and mature in the bone marrow

• Both lymphocytes circulate throughout blood and lymph.

• Both lymphocytes recognize specific antigen through receptor

✓ B cells responsible for humoral immune response

✓ T cells responsible in cell-mediated immune response

Biology Unit, KMPk | 7

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

Outline of Humoral immune response

● An immune response that activates B cells / B lymphocytes

Biology Unit, KMPk | 8

● IL-1 activate the TH cell.

Cell mediated immune response

● An immune response that involves the activation of T cells

● This type of immune response defends against intracellular

Biology Unit, KMPk | 9

● Macrophage engulf and digest antigen through phagocytosis.

Helper T (TH) cells stimulate

Biology Unit, KMPk | 10

Biology Unit, KMPk | 11

Types and functions of cells involved in humoral

B cells / B • Proliferate and differentiate into plasma cell

Plasma cells • Produce and secrete antibodies

Memory B cells • Initiate production of plasma cells during

Types and functions of cells involved in cell-mediated

Infected body • As antigen presenting cell

Macrophage • Engulf and digest pathogen via phagocytosis

Helper T (TH) • Secrete interleukin -2 (IL-2) to activate

Cytotoxic T (TC) • Involved in destruction of infected cell

Memory TC cells • Initiate secondary immune response during

Biology Unit, KMPk | 12

MAIN IDEAS EXPLANATION NOTES

Primary and • Primary immune response refers to proliferation and

Primary Immune Response

• During first exposure of B cells to an antigen e.g. when receive

Biology Unit, KMPk | 13