ABO blood groups - Answers Genetically determined classes of human blood; based on the presence or
absence of carbohydrates A and B on the surface of red blood cells. The ABO blood group phenotypes,
also called blood types, are A, B, AB, and O.
acquired immunity - Answers The kind of defense that is mediated by B lymphocytes (B cells) and T
lymphocytes (T cells). It exhibits specificity, memory, and self-nonself recognition. Also called adaptive
immunity.
active immunity - Answers Long-lasting immunity conferred by the action of a person's B cells and T cells
and the resulting B and T memory cells specific for a pathogn. Active immunity can develop as a result of
natural infection or immunization.
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) - Answers The name of the late stages of HIV infection,
defined by a specified reduction of T cells and the appearance of characteristic secondary infections.
anaphylactic shock - Answers An acute, whole-body, life-threatening, allergic response.
antibody - Answers A protein secreted by plasma cells (differentiated B cells) that binds to a particular
antigen and marks it for elimination; also called immunoglobulin. All antibody molecules have the same
Y-shaped structure and in their monomer form consist of two identical heavy chains and two identical
light chains joined by disulfide bridges.
antigen - Answers A macromolecule that elicits an immune response by lymphocytes.
antigen presentation - Answers The process by which an MHC molecule binds to a fragment of an
intracellular protein antigen and carries it to the cell surface, where it is displayed and can be recognized
by a T cell.
antigen receptor - Answers The general term for a surface protein, located on B cells and T cells, that
binds to antigens, initiating acquired immune responses. The antigen receptors on B cells are called B
cell receptors (or membrane immunoglobulins), and the antigen receptors on T cells are called T cell
receptors.
antigen-presenting cell - Answers A cell that ingests bacteria and viruses and destroys them, generating
peptide fragments that are bound by class II MHC molecules and subsequently displayed on the cell
surface to helper T cells. Macrophages, dendritic cells, and B cells are the primary antigen-presenting
cells.
apoptosis - Answers The changes that occur within a cell as it undergoes programmed cell death, which
is brought about by signals that trigger the activation of a cascade of suicide proteins in the cell destined
to die.