Lecture Notes: The Adaptive Immune System
Introduction
- Key Concept: Know your enemy to defeat it.
- Immune System Overview: Innate vs. Adaptive Immunity.
- Innate Immunity: Immediate response but lacks specificity.
- Adaptive Immunity: Specific and systemic response, slower but more effective over time.
Adaptive Immune System
- Activation: Requires introduction to specific pathogens.
- Memory: Remembers past pathogens for quicker future responses.
- Systemic: Can combat threats throughout the whole body.
Components of Adaptive Immunity
- Humoral Immunity: Involves antibodies.
- B Lymphocytes: Originate and mature in bone marrow.
- Antibodies: Proteins that patrol body fluids.
- Pathogen Recognition: Utilizes unique antibodies to bind specific antigens.
Antigen Recognition and Response
- Antigens: Foreign molecules that trigger immune response.
- B Lymphocyte Activation:
- NaĂŻve B cells encounter antigens, bind, and activate.
- Cloning: Creates effector (plasma) cells and memory cells.
- Effector Cells: Produce antibodies at high rates.
- Memory Cells: Ensure faster secondary responses.
Antibody Actions
- Neutralization: Block pathogens from binding to host tissues.
- Agglutination: Clump antigens together for easier destruction.
- Signalling: Attract other immune cells to destroy complexes.
Immunity Types
- Active Immunity:
- Natural: Through infection.
- Artificial: Through vaccination.
- Passive Immunity:
- Natural: Antibodies from mother to child.
- Artificial: Antibodies through serum transfusion.
Vaccination
- Function: Introduces weakened pathogens to stimulate immune memory.
- Benefits: Provides immunity against severe diseases.
- Challenges: Some viruses, like influenza, evolve quickly, requiring new vaccines.
Conclusion
- Summary: Discussed humoral response and its significance.
- Next Steps: Cellular immunity will be covered in the following episode.
Acknowledgments
- Production Team: Listed contributors and roles in producing the content.
Note: Further details on cellular immunity will be discussed in the next lecture.