Suggested Answers to Assignments
Chapter 15, Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Written Assignments / Learning Objective(s)1. Students’ answers should include the following:
· Emphasize that innate immunity has a quicker response time, but a shorter duration. Adaptive immunity takes time to develop, but is more effective. / 1, 2
2. Students’ answers should include the following:
· The student response should include that antigens, also referred to as immunogens, are substances that can stimulate an immune response in the host. They generate the immune response by stimulating formation of an antibody or by reacting with antibodies or T-cell receptors. / 3
3. The student response should refer to the fact that passive immunity offers immediate immunity for a short time and that although active immunity takes time to develop, it lasts for a lifetime in most cases. / 11
4. Students’ answers should include the following:
· changes in cell-mediated and humoral immune responses
– more susceptible to infection
– not as responsive to vaccinations
– increased prevalence of autoimmune disorders
– decreased size of thymus gland thus affecting T-cell function
– decrease in proportion of T cells to other lymphocytes
– decreased CD4+ and CD8+ cells / 14
Group Assignments / Learning Objective(s)
1. Students’ answers should include the following:
· Prior to beginning the educational session, the student must assess his level of education and his current knowledge about the treatment. The student’s answer will be based on the following information. The body must be able to differentiate between its own molecules and foreign antigens. MHC is responsible for this differentiation and is vital for cell-to-cell interactions among immune and body cells. When transplanting an organ, the closer the match between the MHC proteins, the less the risk of rejection. / 4
2. Students’ answers should include the following:
· T-lymphocytes mature in the thymus and offer cell-mediated immunity. B-lymphocytes mature in the bone marrow and are essential for humoral antibody-mediated immunity. / 5, 6
Clinical Assignments / Learning Objective(s)
1. Students’ answers should include the following:
· Natural killer cells: important in innate immunity. Activated without recognizing a specific antigen. Programmed killing is inhibited by contact with MHC self-molecules. Participate in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. May play a role in surveillance for cancerous or virus-infected cells.
· Central lymphoid structures: includes bone marrow and thymus. Necessary for immune cell production and maturation. Works with the peripheral lymphoid system.
· Peripheral lymphoid structures: includes lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, Peyer patches, and respiratory, GI, and reproductive systems. Connected by lymph channels, blood vessels, and capillaries. Traps and processes antigen. Promotes interaction between antigen and mature immune cells.
· Cytokines: Primarily made by immune cells, primarily act on immune cells (esp. activated helper T cells & macrophages). Bind to specific receptors on surface of target cells. Synthesis is initiated by new gene transcription secondary to cellular activation.
· Complement system: Primary mediator of innate and adaptive immunity. Normally circulate as inactive precursors and must be activated in sequence. Enables the body to produce inflammatory response, lyse foreign cells, and increase phagocytosis. / 7, 9, 10, 12
2. Students’ answers should include the following:
· Using therapeutic communication skills, the student would generate a response based on the following facts:
– He is a term baby.
– Maternal antibodies (IgG) cross the placenta and provide protection for a few months (starts to decline at 3–6 months).
– Baby J starts producing IgM shortly after birth and by 6 days of age, the level sharply increases.
– IgA is detected at 13 days of age.
– If she does breast-feed, IgA will be transferred in her breast milk. / 13
Web Assignment / Learning Objective(s)
1. Students’ answers should include the following:
· Overview of the function of each class of immunoglobulin:
– IgG
– IgA
– IgM
– IgD
– IgE / 8