Correct Answers
What are antigens (Ag)? - correct answers ✔✔Anything that causes a specific immune response
(from B cells and T cells), ex. a pathogen or part of a pathogen; something viewed as foreign by
the immune system.
What are 2 features that characterize specific immunity? - correct answers ✔✔(1) Specificity -
the immune response is specific to the particular antigen that provokes it.
(2) Memory - the specific immune response creates memory cells that remember what an
antigen looks like and is able to make a bigger and better response upon subsequent exposure.
Active immunity: - correct answers ✔✔results when a person is challenged with antigen that
stimulates production of antibodies; creates memory, takes time, and is lasting.
Passive immunity: - correct answers ✔✔preformed antibodies are given to an individual; does
not create memory, acts immediately, and is short term. (mother to fetus, breastfeeding,
plasma donation)
Natural immunity: - correct answers ✔✔acquired as part of normal life experiences.
Artificial immunity: - correct answers ✔✔acquired through a medical procedure such as a
vaccine. (modern medicine)
Natural active immunity: - correct answers ✔✔Occurs upon infection and recovery.
Natural passive immunity: - correct answers ✔✔Infants acquire this through the placenta and
breast milk.
, Artificial active immunity: - correct answers ✔✔Acquired through inoculation with a selected
antigen (vaccination).
Artificial passive immunity: - correct answers ✔✔Administration of a preparation containing
specific antibodies, ex. Gamma globulin - given to temporarily boost a patient's immunity
against disease or to treat some immunological diseases. (plasma donation)
What type of cell activates B cells to produce antibodies or memory cells? - correct answers
✔✔T helper cells activate B cells
(T helper cell is boss of the B cell. T helpers are very important)
How do B cells know what to make specific antibodies and memory cells against (i.e., how do
they know what the invader looks like)? - correct answers ✔✔The antigen that the B cell is
exposed to is how the B cells know what shape to make the antibodies (to match up with the
antigen) and the receptors on the memory cells.
What 2 types of T cells can T helper cells make after they become aware of a foreign invader in
the body? - correct answers ✔✔They can make more T helper cells to assist in the memory and
fight or they can make cytotoxic T cells.
What role do T helper cells play in the immune system overall? - correct answers ✔✔They
coordinate the response; they are the "generals" of the army of immune system cells. (AIDS
destroy t helper cells and render immune system helpless)
What do cytotoxic T cells do? - correct answers ✔✔They put toxic chemicals on foreign invaders
and on our own cells that are infected (to prevent pathogens from completing their
multiplication cycles and spreading) to kill them. (better to lose a few of our own cells than to
let virus spread)