Immunity Questions

1Describe three barriers which prevent pathogens from entering the body.

2Draw labelled diagrams of a macrophage and a neutrophil to the same scale.

3Describe phagocytosis by a neutrophil using the words: histamine, antibody, engulf and lysosome.

4Copy and complete the following table which summarises the origin, place of maturation and activities of some of the cells of the immune system.

Neutrophil / B lymphocyte / T lymphocyte
Produced in? / bone marrow
Mature in? / bone marrow
Action? / coordinate the immune system

5Describe the special feature of the cell membranes of B and T lymphocytes.

6Approximately how many different types of B lymphocyte does the human body possess?

7Describe what happens when an antigen binds to a complementary protein receptor on a B lymphocyte.

8Explain why the secondary response of the immune system is much faster than the primary response.

9Draw a labelled diagram of an antibody molecule.

10Which part of the antibody molecule binds to the antigen?

11Describe two ways in which T lymphocytes are involved in the immune response.

12Copy and complete the table below which describes different types of immunity:

Type of Immunity / How acquired? / Long or short lasting? / Slow or rapid protection?
Natural active / Infection with pathogen.
Natural passive / Short lasting.
Artificial active / Slow protection.
Artificial passive

13What is a vaccine?

14What is meant by “herd immunity”?

15List four reasons why vaccination is not completely successful.

16List four reasons why vaccination has eliminated smallpox.

17List three reasons why measles has not been eliminated by vaccination.

18What is an allergy?

19The following phrases describe an allergic reaction. Rearrange the phrases into the correct order.

Wrong order
1 / Allergens enter the body for a second time.
2 / Antigens on the allergens bind to antibodies attached to the mast cells.
3 / Antigens on the allergens cause specific B cells to produce antibodies.
4 / Airways become inflamed.
5 / Antibodies attach to mast cells lining the airways
6 / Mast cells secrete histamine.
7 / Allergens enter the body for the first time

20Suggest two reasons for the increase in cases of asthma in the UK.

Immunity Answers

1Describe three barriers which prevent pathogens from entering the body.

  • The epithelia which cover the airways
  • Hydrochloric acid which kills many bacteria in the stomach
  • Blood clotting which stops entry of pathogens through cuts in the skin.

2Draw labelled diagrams of a macrophage and a neutrophil to the same scale.

  • Drawings from fig. 16.1

3Describe phagocytosis by a neutrophil using the words: histamine, antibody, engulf and lysosome.

  • Cells which are infected by pathogens releases histamine which attracts neutrophils. Pathogens are then engulfed by the neutrophils. Antibodies may have become attached to the antigens on the surface of the pathogens. This makes it easier for the neutrophils to recognise the pathogens and adhere to their surface. Once engulfed, the pathogens are digested by enzymes from the neutrophil lysosomes.

4Copy and complete the following table which summarises the origin, place of maturation and activities of some of the cells of the immune system.

Neutrophil / B lymphocyte / T lymphocyte
Produced in? / bone marrow / bone marrow / bone marrow
Mature in? / bone marrow / bone marrow / thymus gland
Action? / phagocytosis / synthesise antibodies / coordinate the immune system

5Describe the special feature of the cell membranes of B and T lymphocytes.

  • The cell membranes of B and T lymphocytes have protein receptors which are similar to antibodies and have a complementary shape to specific antigens.

6Approximately how many different types of B lymphocyte does the human body possess?

  • There are approximately 10 million different types of B lymphocyte in the human body.

7Describe what happens when an antigen binds to a complementary protein receptor on a B lymphocyte.

  • When an antigen binds to a protein receptor on a B lymphocyte the B lymphocyte divides by mitosis to form a clone. Some of the B cells in the clone develop into short-lasting plasma cells which secrete antibodies into the plasma. Other B cells in the clone develop into long-lasting memory cells which rapidly form more plasma cells and memory cells on subsequent contact with the antigen.

8Explain why the secondary response of the immune system is much faster than the primary response.

  • The primary response of the immune system involves very few specific B cells so antibodies are produced more slowly and in smaller numbers. The secondary response involves much larger numbers of memory cells, so antibodies are produced in much larger numbers at a faster rate.

9Draw a labelled diagram of an antibody molecule.

  • See fig. 16.9

10Which part of the antibody molecule binds to the antigen?

  • The variable region of the antibody molecule binds to the antigen.

11Describe two ways in which T lymphocytes are involved in the immune response.

  • T helper cells release cytokines which stimulate the activities of the B cells and the macrophages.
  • T killer cells secrete toxins which destroy infected cells and their pathogens.

12Copy and complete the table below which describes different types of immunity:

Type of Immunity / How acquired? / Long or short lasting? / Slow or rapid protection?
Natural active / Infection with pathogen. / Long lasting. / Slow protection.
Natural passive / Via placenta or breast milk. / Short lasting. / Rapid protection.
Artificial active / Vaccination with antigen. / Long lasting. / Slow protection.
Artificial passive / Injection with antibodies. / Short lasting. / Rapid protection.

13What is a vaccine?

  • A vaccine is a preparation containing antigens, for example from live microorganisms, from dead or harmless ones, from harmless toxins, or from surface antigens only.

14What is meant by “herd immunity”?

  • Herd immunity occurs when a large number of people are vaccinated at the same time. This prevents the pathogen from being transmitted within the population because there are no longer any host individuals who act as reservoirs of infection.

15List four reasons why vaccination is not completely successful.

  • Some people do not respond to vaccination because they have a poor immune system. E.g., individuals with protein energy malnutrition.
  • Some pathogens mutate regularly to produce new strains with different antigens. E.g., the influenza virus.
  • Larger pathogens have so many different genes for their surface antigens that a single vaccine will not produce all the necessary antibodies. E.g. eukaryotic protoctists such as Plasmodium and Trypanosoma.
  • Some pathogens are hidden from the immune system by living inside the host’s cells. E.g. Plasmodium parasitises red blood cells and liver cells. Vibrio, which causes cholera, parasitises the intestines.

16List four reasons why vaccination has eliminated smallpox.

  • The variola virus causing smallpox was stable and did not mutate.
  • The vaccine was made from a harmless similar virus which was “live”.
  • The vaccine could be kept easily, even in tropical conditions.
  • Infected people were easy to identify.

17List three reasons why measles has not been eliminated by vaccination.

  • Many children show a poor response to the vaccine.
  • It can be difficult to give booster injections to children in large cities with high birth rate and mobile populations.
  • Measles is highly infectious and a very high percentage of the population needs to be vaccinated before herd immunity is achieved,

18What is an allergy?

  • An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a harmless antigen.

19The following phrases describe an allergic reaction. Rearrange the phrases into the correct order.

Wrong order / Correct order
1 / Allergens enter the body for a second time. / Allergens enter the body for the first time.
2 / Antigens on the allergens bind to antibodies attached to the mast cells. / Antigens on the allergens cause specific B cells to produce antibodies.
3 / Antigens on the allergens cause specific B cells to produce antibodies. / Antibodies attach to mast cells lining the airways.
4 / Airways become inflamed. / Allergens enter the body for a second time.
5 / Antibodies attach to mast cells lining the airways / Antigens on the allergens bind to antibodies attached to the mast cells.
6 / Mast cells secrete histamine. / Mast cells secrete histamine.
7 / Allergens enter the body for the first time / Airways become inflamed.

20Suggest two reasons for the increase in cases of asthma in the UK.

  • An increase in the amount of air pollution by sulphur dioxide.
  • An increase in cases of passive tobacco smoking.