TORTORA • FUNKE • CASE

Microbiology
AN INTRODUCTION

B.E Pruitt & Jane J. Stein

Chapter 17, part A

Specific Defenses of the Host:
The Immune Response
 Specific Defenses of the Host:
The Immune Response
• Nonspecific Defenses against any pathogen
• Specific Immunity Specific antibody and lymphocyte
response to an antigen - also
called acquired or adaptive
immunity
• Antigen (Ag) A substances that causes the
body to produce specific
antibodies or sensitized T cells
• Antibody (Ab) Proteins made in response to an
antigen
 Innate vs Adaptive
• Innate vs Adaptive
 Terminology
• Serology Study of reactions between
antibodies and antigens
• Antiserum Generic term for serum
containing Ab
• Globulins Serum proteins
• Gamma () globulin Serum fraction containing Ab
Gamma Globulin Ab in Serum Proteins

Figure 17.2
 The Immune Response - Two arms

• Acquired immunity
• Developed during an
individual's lifetime
• Humoral immunity

• Involves Ab produced by B
cells

• Cell-mediated immunity
Involves T cells
 Acquired Immunity
• Naturally Acquired
• Artificially Acquired
• Active
• Passive

• Naturally acquired active immunity

• Resulting from infection
• Naturally acquired passive immunity
• Transplacental or via colostrum
• Artificially acquired active immunity
• Injection of Ag (vaccination)
• Artificially acquired passive immunity
• Injection of Ab
Figure 17.20 The dual nature of the adaptive immune system.

Humoral (antibody-mediated) immune system Cellular (cell-mediated) immune system

Control of freely circulating pathogens Control of intracellular pathogens

Intracellular antigens are

expressed on the surface of an
Extracellular antigens APC, a cell infected by a virus, a
bacterium, or a parasite.

A B cell binds to the

antigen for which it is
specific. A T-dependent B A T cell binds to
T cell
cell requires cooperation MHC–antigen
with a T helper (TH) cell. Cytokines activate T Cytokines activate complexes on the
helper (TH) cell. macrophage. surface of the
infected cell,
Cytokines Cytokines activating the T cell
(with its cytokine
receptors).
B cell

Cytokines from the TH

Activation of
The B cell, often with cell transform B cells into
TH cell macrophage
antibody-producing
stimulation by cytokines (enhanced
plasma cells.
from a TH cell, differentiates phagocytic activity).
into a plasma cell. Some B
cells become memory cells.

The CD8+T cell

Plasma cell Cytotoxic T becomes a cytotoxic
lymphocyte T lymphocyte (CTL)
able to induce
Plasma cells Memory cell apoptosis of the
proliferate and target cell.
produce antibodies
against the antigen. Some T and B cells differentiate
into memory cells that respond
rapidly to any secondary
encounter with an antigen.

Lysed target cell

Figure 17.8 Differentiation of T cells and B cells.
Stem cells develop in bone marrow or in fetal liver

Stem cell
(diverges into
Red bone marrow
two cell lines)
of adults

Thymus

Differentiate to B cells in
Differentiate to
adult red bone marrow
T cells in thymus

B cell
T cell

Migrate to lymphoid
tissue such as spleen,
but especially lymph
nodes
 Antigens: Antigenic Determinants
• Antigens: must have size and complexity.
• Antibodies recognize and react with antigenic determinants or
epitopes on an antigen.

Figure 17.3
 Haptens

Haptens: incomplete antigens, too small

Figure 17.4
Antibodies: Structure

Figure 17.5a-c
 Compare Ig classes

• Be able to
compare
classes
• See table
in text 17.1
 IgG antibodies

• Monomer
• 80% of serum antibodies
• Fix complement
• In blood, lymph, intestine
• Cross placenta
• Enhance phagocytosis;
neutralize toxins & viruses;
protects fetus & newborn
• Half-life = 23 days
 IgM antibodies

• Pentamer
• 5-10% of serum
antibodies
• Fix complement J
• In blood, lymph Chain

• Agglutinates microbes;
first Ab produced in
response to infection C4
• Half-life = 5 days
 IgA antibodies

Secretory J
Piece Chain

• Dimer
• 10-15% of serum
antibodies
• In secretions
• Mucosal protection
• Half-life = 6 days
 IgD antibodies

• Monomer
• 0.2% of serum antibodies
• In blood, lymph, on B cells
• On B cells, initiate immune
response
• Half-life = 3 days
 IgE antibodies

• Monomer
• 0.002% of serum
antibodies
• On mast cells and
basophils, in blood
• Allergic reactions; lysis of
parasitic worms
• Half-life = 2 days
 B Lymphocytes

• Bone marrow gives rise to B cells.

• Mature B cells migrate to lymphoid organs.
• A mature B cells recognizes epitopes.
• Upon clonal selection divide into memory B and
Plasma cells.
• Plasma cells produce antibodies
 Activation of B Cells

• Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expressed

on mammalian cells
• T-dependent antigens
• Ag presented with (self) MHC to TH cell
• TH cell produces cytokines that activate the B cell
• T-independent antigens
• Stimulate the B cell to make Abs
Figure 17.6 T-independent antigens. Polysaccharide
(T-independent antigen)

Epitopes

B cell receptors
 Clonal selection and differentiation of B cells.

Stem cell

Stem cells differentiate into mature B cells,

each bearing surface immunoglobulins
Antigen against a specific antigen.

B cells B cell III complexes with

its specific antigen and
I II III IV proliferates.

Memory cells

Some B cells proliferate into long-

lived memory cells, which at a
later date can be stimulated to
become antibody-producing
plasma cells. See Figure 17.17.
Other B cells
proliferate into
antibody-producing
plasma cells.

Plasma cells

Plasma cells secrete antibodies

into circulation.

Antigens in circulation now attached

to circulating antibodies

Cardiovascular system
T-dependent antigens

Extracellular
antigens
MHC class II
with Ag
fragment
MHC class II with displayed on Antibodies
Ag fragment
Ag fragment surface

B cell

B cell

Immunoglobulin
Plasma cell
receptors TH cell
coating
B cell B cell surface Cytokines

Immunoglobulin receptors
on B cell surface recognize
and attach to antigen,
which is then internalized
and processed. Within the
B cell a fragment of the
antigen combines with
MHC class II.
MHC class II–antigen-
fragment complex is
displayed on B cell
surface.
Receptor on the T helper cell
(TH) recognizes complex of
MHC class II and antigen
fragment and is activated—
producing cytokines, which
activate the B cell. The TH cell
has been previously activated by
an antigen displayed on a
dendritic cell (see Figure 17.10).
B cell is activated by
cytokines and begins
clonal expansion. Some
of the progeny become
antibody-producing
plasma cells.
 Self-tolerance

• Body doesn't make Ab against self

• Except in cases of Autoimmune diseases
• Clonal deletion
• The process of destroying B and T cells that react to
self antigens