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Diseases, Uses of Immune System

blood typing - analyzes class of antigens found on red blood cells 

  • must be matched for blood transfusions
  • A blood - A antigens, B antibodies
  • B blood - B antigens, A antibodies
  • AB blood - A and B antigens, no antibodies
  • O blood - no A or B antigens, A and B antibodies
  • different blood types of blood mixed together >> clumping is possible

Rh factor - another group of antigens found on red blood cells 

  • Rh-positive or Rh-negative (mostly Rh-positive)
  • baby can be born anemic if mother creates antibodies against the baby’s blood during birth

monoclonal antibodies - specific for only a single antigenic determinant 

  • antigens may have multiple determinants >> generates polyclonal antibodies when injected into organisms
  • created from hybridoma (fusion of cancer and B cells)

evolution of immune system - started w/ restriction endonucleases to degrade foreign DNA 

  • invertebrates developed self markers to figure out which cells to attack
  • phagocytes - attack microbes, found in all animals
  • lymphocytes - first originated in annelid earthworms
  • lectins = ancestors of antibodies
    • binds to sugar molecules
  • immune system fully evolved by sharks

AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome due to human immunodeficiency virus 

  • destroys CD4+ T cells >> body unable to respond to any foreign antigen
  • HIV-infected cells only die after releasing replicated viruses
  • HIV prevents cells from responding to HIV antigen, blocks transcription of MHC genes
  • die of infection, can’t die of HIV
  • inhibit protease >> inhibit viral assembly, possible treatment

antigen shifting - pathogen mutates frequently >> gets past immune system 

  • 2ndary immune response rarely comes into play
  • malaria - caused by Plasmodium falciparum
    • consumes hemoglobin
    • prevents blood cells from going to the spleen for repair
  • DNA vaccines - uses T cells instead of B cells to defend
    • uses plasmid to mark pathogen

autoimmunity - immune system = source of problem 

  • immune system fails to recognize self antigens
  • leads to organ damage, inflammation
  • stopped w/ corticosteroids, anti-inflammatory drugs

allergy - hypersensitivity to allergens 

  • antihistamine blocks histamine receptor >> inhibits inflammatory response
  • immediate hypersensitivity - B cell response, symptoms within seconds/minutes
    • IgE antibodies created instead of IgG
    • IgE do not circulate in blood, attaches to tissue cells >> makes cells secrete histamine
    • anaphylactic shock - uncontrolled blood pressure drop
  • delayed hypersensitivity - T cell response, symptoms within 48 hours
    • contact dermatitis - caused by poison ivy, oak, sumac
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