Download UNIVERSITY OF OSLO Faculty of Mathematics and Natural

UNIVERSITY OF OSLO
Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Exam in MBV4250/ MBV9250 Basic Immunology and immunological techniques
Day of exam: Friday April 17
Exam hours: 10.00 – 13.00
This examination paper consists of 1 page.
Appendices:None
Permitted materials: None
Make sure that your copy of this examination paperis complete before answering.
A) Use the B cell as example and describe how the great diversity of the lymphocyte receptors is
created during B cell maturation in the bone marrow.
B) Describe the socalled 2nd generation sequencing methods: 454 pyrosequencing and Illumina, with
regard to principle, read length, advantages and limitations.
C) Using 454 pyrosequencing, the antibody heavy-chain repertoire of two healthy individuals were
analyzed, and found to comprise 3-9 million different sequences. Discuss the result in light of the
mechanisms described in A. Are all gene segments utilized during rearrangement? Are all used
equally often?
D) Describe how somatic hypermutation can be the basis for affinity maturation of antibodies.
E) The B cell repertoire responses to varicella have been studied using sequencing in 4 sets of adult
identical twins. Were the twin responses similar in any way? How did they differ?
F) Is IgA an important part of the immune response? Argue your case based on your knowledge of
IgA, both its structure and function. What is the biodistribution of IgA?
G) Activated B cells differentiate into plasma cells or memory cells. Describe the two cell types with
regard to morphology, function and lifespan. How do the cell types differ depending on the isotype
of the B cell receptor?
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