Terms For Lecture 12 Human Biology

Front 1

A form of acquired defense against disease-causing organisms in which the body produces its own antibodies against foreign antigens, instead of receiving antibodies from another individual such as from mother to child.

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active immunity

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A protein made by the immune system in response to the presence of foreign substances or antigens. Can serve as a receptor on a B cell or be secreted by plasma cells.

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antibody

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A molecule that is foreign to the host and stimulates the immune system to react. The name is short for “antibody-generating substances”.

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antigen

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A cell that displays foreign antigens on its cell surface in order to increase an immune response.

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antigen presenting cell (APC)

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Proteins in B- and T-cell membranes that bind to specific antigens.

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antigen receptor

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Any disease resulting from an attack by the immune system on normal body cells.

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autoimmune disease

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The type of white blood cell responsible for antibody-mediated immunity.

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B lymphocyte or B cell

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A single-celled prokaryotic (i.e. without a nucleus surrounding its DNA) organism.

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bacterium

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A leukocyte (white blood cell) that is involved in the nonspecific immune response and releases histamine. The least common of the 5 major types of leukocytes.

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basophil

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An asexual form of bacterial reproduction.

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binary fission

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The protein coat that surrounds a virus.

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capsid

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The gelatinous outer covering of bacterial cells that aids in attachment to host cells during an infection.

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capsule

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A type of specific immune response carried out by T cells.

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cell mediated immunity

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Tough but elastic structure surrounding bacterial cell membranes.

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cell wall

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Population of identical cells copied from the immune cell that first encounters an antigen. All cells in a in this population carry the same receptor on their membrane.

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clonal population

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A type of protein in the blood with which an antibody-antigen complex can combine in order to kill bacterial cells.

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complement protein

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In reference to a disease state, capable of being transmitted by an infected individual to others.

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contagious

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A type of T lymphocyte that attacks and kills virus-infected body cells before the virus has had time to replicate. Releases a chemical that causes the plasma membrane of the target cell to leak. Also called a CD8+ T cell.

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cytotoxic T cell

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A relatively uncommon type of white blood cell that helps the body respond to allergy and asthma.

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eosinophil

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The rapid and extensive spread of a contagious disease among many individuals; a widespread outbreak of an infectious disease.

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epidemic

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Scientist who attempts to determine who is prone to a particular disease, where risk of the disease is highest, and when the disease is most likely to occur.

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epidemiologist

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Abnormally high body temperature.

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fever

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A long cellular projection that aids in motility. The only example in human cells is on sperm, but motile bacteria use this means of locomotion.

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flagellum (plural: flagella)

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A type of T lymphocyte that enhances cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity by secreting a substance that increases the strength of the immune response. Also called a T4 cell or a CD4+ T cell.

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helper T cell

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A chemical released from mast cells and basophils; acts in the inflammatory response and in allergic reactions. Causes dilation of blood vessels and lowered blood pressure.

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histamine

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B-cell-mediated immunity that occurs when a B-cell receptor binds to an antigen. The B cell divides to produce a clonal population of plasma cells as well as memory cells.

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humoral immunity

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Ability of the body to respond to an infection resulting from increased production of B cells and T cells.

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immune response

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Adjective which applies to a pathogen that finds a tissue inside the body that will support its growth.

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infectious

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A line of defense triggered by a pathogen penetrating the skin or mucous membranes. The complex biological response of vascular tissues to pathogens; involves redness, warmth, swelling, pain, and loss of function.

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inflammatory response

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Type 1 diabetes mellitus, which results from inability to produce insulin.

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insulin-dependent diabetes

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An antiviral protein produced by virus-infected cells that helps other cells resist infection. A type of chemical signal from a virus-infected cell to other cells.

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interferon

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An inactive virus that is integrated into the host genome.

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latent virus

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An autoimmune disease affecting connective tissue. Causes fever, joint pain, and affects various organs.

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lupus

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White blood cells that are an important component of the immune system. Two major subtypes are B cells and T cells.

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lymphocyte

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Phagocytic white blood cell that swells and releases toxins to kill bacteria.

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macrophage

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A group of genes encoding individual and tissue-specific cell surface markers.

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major histocompatibility complex (MHC)

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A connective tissue cell involved in the inflammatory response.

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mast cell

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A subset of T cells and B cells that are programmed to respond quickly to a specific antigen when encountered sometime in the future.

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memory cell

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Microscopic organism, such as bacteria.

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microbe

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A chronic, degenerative nervous system disease caused by breakdown of myelin.

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multiple sclerosis

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A type of lymphocyte that attacks virus-infected cells or tumor cells without being activated by an immune system cell or antibody.

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natural killer (NK) cell

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The most common type of white blood cell. It is phagocytic.

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neutrophil

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Defense systems against infection that do not distinguish one pathogen from another. Includes the skin, secretions, and mucous membranes.

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nonspecific defense

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The region of a prokaryotic cell where the DNA is located. (Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus.)

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nucleoid region

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An epidemic that is geographically widespread.

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pandemic

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An organism that benefits from an association with another organism. The second organism is harmed by the association.

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parasite

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Immunity acquired when antibodies are passed from one individual to another, as from mother to child during breast-feeding.

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passive immunity

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Any disease-causing organism.

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pathogen

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A cell that engulfs or food, cell debris, or pathogens. The name literally means “eating cell”.

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phagocyte

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A hairlike structure on the surface of a microorganism.

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pilus

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A descendant of B lymphocytes, produced by a clonal population that secretes antibodies specific to an antigen.

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plasma cell

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A circular piece of bacterial DNA that normally exists separate from the bacterial chromosome and can make copies of itself.

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plasmid

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Normally occurring protein produced by brain cells that, when misfolded, causes spongiform encephalopathy; its name is the shortened form of proteinaceous infectious particle.

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prion

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Type of cell that does not have a nucleus or membrane-bounded organelles.

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prokaryote

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Cellular extensions of a phagocytic blood cell such as a macrophage, used to engulf pathogens. The name literally means “false foot”.

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pseudopodia

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A chronic autoimmune disease resulting in joint inflammation and deformation.

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rheumatoid arthritis

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Defense against pathogens that utilizes white blood cells of the immune system and is targeted at a particular pathogen rather than foreign invaders generally.

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specific defense

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Phenomenon of enzyme shape determining the reaction the enzyme catalyzes.

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specificity

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Immune system cell that matures in the thymus gland and recognizes and responds to body cells that have gone awry, such as cancer cells or cells invaded by viruses, as well as transplanted tissues and organisms such as fungi and parasitic worms. Provides an immune response called cell-mediated immunity.

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T lymphocyte or T cell

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A preparation of a weakened or killed pathogen, or portion of a pathogen, that will stimulate the immune system of a recipient to prepare a long-term defense (memory cells) against that pathogen.

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vaccination

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An organism that carries a pathogen from one host to another, such as a mosquito carrying West Nile virus.

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vector

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Layer formed around some virus protein coats (capsids) that is derived from the cell membrane of the host cell and may also contain some proteins encoded by the viral genome.

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viral envelope

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Infectious intracellular parasite composed of a strand of genetic material and a protein or fatty coating. It can only reproduce by forcing its host to make copies of it.

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virus