Understanding Pathophysiology: Innate
Immunity UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Innate Immunity - CORRECT ANSWER - Natural or native immunity, includes natural
barriers (physical, mechanical, and biochemical) and inflammation. Innate barriers form the first
line of defense at the body's surfaces.
Inflammatory response - CORRECT ANSWER - The second line of defense that is
activated to protect the body from further injury, prevent infection of the injured tissue, and
promote healing
Adaptive immunity - CORRECT ANSWER - The body's third line of defense is induced in
a relatively slower and more specific process and targets particular invading microorganism for
the purpose of eradicating them. "memory"
Lysozyme - CORRECT ANSWER - Enzyme found in perspiration, tears and saliva that
attracts the wall of gram + bacteria
Cathelicidins - CORRECT ANSWER - Peptide that can insert itself into bacteria
membrane, disrupting it and killing them. Stored in neutrophils, mast cells, monocytes and can
be released during inflammation.
Produced by epithelial cells of the skin, gut, urinary tract and respiratory tract. Critical role in
mammalian innate immunity
Defensins - CORRECT ANSWER - Small, cysteine-rich cationic protein found in certs
and inverts. There are alpha and beta subtypes. Active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Cells of the immune system contain these peptides to assist in killing phagocytized bacteria.
Most function by binding to microbial cell membrane and form pores, efflux of essential
ions/nutrients
, Collectins - CORRECT ANSWER - Glycoproteins that react with carbohydrates on the
surface of a wide array of pathogenic microorganisms and helps cells of the innate immune
system (macrophages) to recognize and kill the microorganism
Inflammation - CORRECT ANSWER - The first response to injury. Occurs in tissues with
blood supply and is activated rapidly (within seconds) after damage occurs. Depends on the
activity of both cellular and chemical components and is nonspecific.
Opsonins - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that coat the surface of bacteria and
increase their susceptibility to being phagocytized and killed by inflammatory cells. Molecules
that activate the complement system
Chemotactic factors - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that diffuse away from the site of
inflammation and attract phagocytic cells to that site
Anaphylatoxins - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that can induce rapid degranulation
of mast cells
Most potent complement products - CORRECT ANSWER - C3b (opsonin)
C3a (anaphylatoxin)
C5a (anaphylatoxin, chemotactic factors)
Classical pathway - CORRECT ANSWER - Primarily activated by antibodies which then
activated the first complement, C1, which then leads to activation of C3 and C5.
Antibodies of the acquired immune response can use the complement system to kill bacteria and
activate inflammation
Alternative pathway - CORRECT ANSWER - Activated by several substances found on
the surface of infectious organisms.
This pathway uses unique proteins (factor B, factor D, and properdin) to form a complex that
activates C3. C3 then begins the whole complement pathway
Immunity UPDATED Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
Innate Immunity - CORRECT ANSWER - Natural or native immunity, includes natural
barriers (physical, mechanical, and biochemical) and inflammation. Innate barriers form the first
line of defense at the body's surfaces.
Inflammatory response - CORRECT ANSWER - The second line of defense that is
activated to protect the body from further injury, prevent infection of the injured tissue, and
promote healing
Adaptive immunity - CORRECT ANSWER - The body's third line of defense is induced in
a relatively slower and more specific process and targets particular invading microorganism for
the purpose of eradicating them. "memory"
Lysozyme - CORRECT ANSWER - Enzyme found in perspiration, tears and saliva that
attracts the wall of gram + bacteria
Cathelicidins - CORRECT ANSWER - Peptide that can insert itself into bacteria
membrane, disrupting it and killing them. Stored in neutrophils, mast cells, monocytes and can
be released during inflammation.
Produced by epithelial cells of the skin, gut, urinary tract and respiratory tract. Critical role in
mammalian innate immunity
Defensins - CORRECT ANSWER - Small, cysteine-rich cationic protein found in certs
and inverts. There are alpha and beta subtypes. Active against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Cells of the immune system contain these peptides to assist in killing phagocytized bacteria.
Most function by binding to microbial cell membrane and form pores, efflux of essential
ions/nutrients
, Collectins - CORRECT ANSWER - Glycoproteins that react with carbohydrates on the
surface of a wide array of pathogenic microorganisms and helps cells of the innate immune
system (macrophages) to recognize and kill the microorganism
Inflammation - CORRECT ANSWER - The first response to injury. Occurs in tissues with
blood supply and is activated rapidly (within seconds) after damage occurs. Depends on the
activity of both cellular and chemical components and is nonspecific.
Opsonins - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that coat the surface of bacteria and
increase their susceptibility to being phagocytized and killed by inflammatory cells. Molecules
that activate the complement system
Chemotactic factors - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that diffuse away from the site of
inflammation and attract phagocytic cells to that site
Anaphylatoxins - CORRECT ANSWER - Molecules that can induce rapid degranulation
of mast cells
Most potent complement products - CORRECT ANSWER - C3b (opsonin)
C3a (anaphylatoxin)
C5a (anaphylatoxin, chemotactic factors)
Classical pathway - CORRECT ANSWER - Primarily activated by antibodies which then
activated the first complement, C1, which then leads to activation of C3 and C5.
Antibodies of the acquired immune response can use the complement system to kill bacteria and
activate inflammation
Alternative pathway - CORRECT ANSWER - Activated by several substances found on
the surface of infectious organisms.
This pathway uses unique proteins (factor B, factor D, and properdin) to form a complex that
activates C3. C3 then begins the whole complement pathway
