BRAINCAKEResponse to Infection
Revision notes for Response to Infection in Edexcel Biology (9BI0). Read the start of any lesson here, then sign in free for the whole lesson, the R.E.C.I.P.E. recall steps and the quiz.
- 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.