Immunology Immunology VocabularyVocabulary

AntigenAntigen

–a molecule that a molecule that stimulates stimulates an immune responsean immune response

–Any Any identifiableidentifiable moiety = moiety = “anything”“anything”

–99% 99% ProteinsProteins are are antigensantigens

EpitopeEpitope

It is the part of a It is the part of a macromoleculemacromolecule that is that is recognized by the recognized by the immune systemimmune system

HaptenHapten

Antigen that is Antigen that is too small too small to set to set off an immune response off an immune response (<6000 D)(<6000 D)

Viruses are a common hapten, Viruses are a common hapten, when they are small!!!when they are small!!!They soon replicate and grow They soon replicate and grow larger, thus setting off an larger, thus setting off an immune responseimmune response

AntibodyAntibody

antibodyantibody = = immunoglobulinimmunoglobulin

antibodyantibody = = glycoglycoproteinprotein

The antibody recognizes a specific The antibody recognizes a specific target, which is called an target, which is called an antigenantigen..

CytokineCytokine

CytokinesCytokines are a group of are a group of proteinsproteins and and peptidespeptides that that are used in organisms as are used in organisms as signaling compounds. signaling compounds.

are used to allow one are used to allow one cellcell to to communicate with anothercommunicate with another

InterleukinInterleukin

are a group of are a group of cytokinescytokines (secreted signaling (secreted signaling molecules) that were first molecules) that were first seen to be expressed by seen to be expressed by white blood cellswhite blood cells (leukocytes, (leukocytes, hence the hence the -leukin-leukin) as a means ) as a means of communication (of communication (inter-inter-). ).

Complement systemComplement system

The The complement systemcomplement system is a biochemical cascade of is a biochemical cascade of the immune system that the immune system that helps clear pathogens from helps clear pathogens from an organism, and promote an organism, and promote healing. healing.

Complement systemComplement system

It is derived from many small It is derived from many small plasma proteins that work plasma proteins that work together to form the primary end together to form the primary end result of cytolysis by disrupting result of cytolysis by disrupting the target cell's plasma the target cell's plasma membranemembrane

Things that can Things that can INCREASEINCREASE an immune responsean immune response

VariabilityVariability SizeSize

VariabilityVariability

Variability - Variability - is the #1 factor is the #1 factor in eliciting an immune responsein eliciting an immune response

How different do you look?How different do you look?– Think about Genetic Drift and Think about Genetic Drift and

Genetic Shift or HIVGenetic Shift or HIV– A virus or a toxin can contain an A virus or a toxin can contain an

enzyme that is very different to enzyme that is very different to your own!!!your own!!!

SizeSize

Beware of large molecules Beware of large molecules without variability b/c without variability b/c smaller molecules with smaller molecules with variability will still be variability will still be more immunogenic!!!more immunogenic!!!