What is immunocompetence? Correct Answer-it is the extent to which
our immune system is functioning properly to ward off microorganisms
that invade our bodies.
What is psychneuroimmunology? What are the 3 components? Correct
Answer-It is the study of the relationship between psychological states
and the functioning of the immune system.
The 3 components are psychology, nervous system, and
immune/disease.
Relationship between: the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the
immune system.
How can we measure immunocompetence? Correct Answer-By counting
cells or measuring cell activity. Ca
What are some complications in trying to measure immunocompetence?
Correct Answer-Cells are located all over the body (in tonsils, appendix,
small intestine, spleen, and bone marrow)
Variety of forms this cellular activity can take, and these operate
independently from each other
, What are the two ways the we measure immunocompetence? (fancy
names) Correct Answer-Enumerative assay: counting immunity cells
(white blood cells) in the bloodstream. Researchers are looking for (1.)
minimum number of cells for an adequate immune function (2.) a
balance between various cells.
Functional Tests of Immunity (cells in action): measuring cell function
by removing them form the body and incubating them with other cells to
see how the immune system cells respond. This can be done in vitro
(outside the body) or in vivo (inside the body).
What is a common in vitro test? Correct Answer-Mitogen (combined
with a blood sample): substance that stimulates immune cell activity as
though the immune cells were acting against an invading cell, or antigen
(concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and pokeweed
mitogen (PWM)).
What is a common in vivo test? Correct Answer-Measuring the
production of antibodies.
HPV: when herpes virus specific antibodies are being measured. In this
case, the higher the antibody count for HPV, the poorer the immune
system function.
Injecting antigens: via nasal spray or injection. Injection sight: good
immune function is the skill swells and is red. Appropriate inflammation
= good immune response.