BRAINCAKEResponse to Infection
Revision notes for Response to Infection in Edexcel Biology B (9BI0). Every lesson in BrainCake comes with R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps, a quick check and spaced reviews.
- Cell RecognitionThe immune system must tell apart the body's own cells (self) from anything foreign (non-self).
- Non-specific ResponsesNon-specific responses act in the same way against any pathogen.
- FeversA fever is a rise in core body temperature above the normal level of about 37 °C, as a non-specific response to infection.
- PhagocytosisPhagocytes are white blood cells that engulf and digest pathogens.
- LymphocytesLymphocytes are the white blood cells responsible for the specific immune response.
- B cellsB lymphocytes (B cells) are made and mature in the bone marrow.
- T CellsT lymphocytes (T cells) are made in the bone marrow but mature in the thymus, a gland in the chest.
- The Humoral ResponseThe humoral response is the part of the specific immune response that involves B cells and the antibodies they produce. 'Humoral' refers to body…
- The Effector StageIn the specific immune response, effector cells are the cells that actually carry out the attack on the pathogen.
- Clonal SelectionThe body contains millions of different lymphocytes, each with receptors complementary to a different antigen, but only a very few of them match any…
- AntibodiesAntibodies (immunoglobulins) are glycoproteins secreted by plasma cells.
- The Cell-Mediated ResponseThe cell-mediated response is the part of the specific immune response carried out by T lymphocytes.
- Cytotoxic T CellsCytotoxic T cells, called T killer cells in the Edexcel specification, are the effector cells of the cell-mediated response.
- Primary and Secondary Immune ResponseThe primary immune response happens the first time the body meets a particular antigen.
- Types of ImmunityImmunity is the ability of the body to resist infection by a particular pathogen.
- Artificial Passive ImmunityArtificial passive immunity is given by injecting ready-made antibodies into a person.
- Artificial Active Immunity - VaccinesA vaccine gives artificial active immunity.
- Herd ImmunityHerd immunity occurs when so many people in a population are immune to a disease that the pathogen can no longer spread easily.
- Eradicating DiseaseEradication means a disease has been removed from the whole world, so there are no more cases anywhere and control measures such as vaccination can…
- The Pros and Cons of VaccinationVaccination programmes have prevented millions of deaths, but deciding whether to vaccinate involves weighing up benefits, risks and ethical issues.
On the specification
- 6.6 Problems of controlling endemic diseases
- 6.7 Response to infection