Download Immune Responses

Primary & Secondary Immune Response
Name_________________
Part A: Memory Response
Law enforcement agents use a book of “mug shots” to help identify previous lawbreakers. The mug shots comprise a photo
library of individuals who were arrested for criminal acts. Like these agents, some cells of your immune system also maintain a
record of previous intruders. This recall is the basis of the memory response. The first appearance of an infectious agent
stimulates the primary immune response. During this response, the intruder is identified and eliminated. As part of this
process, Helper T cells activate antigen-specific T and B memory cells. A memory cell is dedicated to recalling only one type of
antigen. Since your body encounters thousands of antigens, its mug shot portfolio must contain an equal number of
different memory cell types. If an antigen reappears, the specific memory cells act quickly. Memory T cells become
active T cells. They produce a secondary immune response. Plasma cells produce higher levels of antibodies in a short period.
In addition, this second release of antibodies tends to be more effective in binding and deactivating the antigen.
Graphing Data
Graph the data from the table on the right on the graph provided on your sheet. Assume that the antigen was first introduced at
time 0 and later reintroduced on day 40.
Part B: Vaccination
The speed and effectiveness of the secondary immune response is the basis of vaccination. When someone is vaccinated, they
are injected with a microbial antigen that has marker proteins that are not identified as being part of the body. Although
vaccinations won’t cause severe disease symptoms, they will activate the primary immune response which will generate
memory B cells. Some vaccinations contain dead or weakened microbes. Other contain microbe fragments. Today, vaccinations
may contain genetically manufactured proteins that are identical to those found on the microbe.
Vaccination History: The Small pox connection
Small pox is devastating and deadly disease. It is caused by an infectious virus (Varioula) that heavily scars skin tissue.
Toward the end of the 18th century, Edward Jenner claimed that he could prevent small pox. This English physician’s claim was
based upon observations of people who had recovered from cowpox. It appeared as if a bout with cowpox, a milder version of
small pox, could protect a person from getting the more sever small pox.
In 1796, Jenner inoculated a healthy eight year old with cowpox. He later exposed the child to smallpox. To
the delight of Jenner (and the boy), the child did not get smallpox. Jenner called this technique vaccination. We now know that
cowpox and small pox share some common proteins. Jenner is credited with the discovery of vaccinations. However, 1,000
years earlier, the Chinese were protecting themselves against smallpox. Smallpox skin crusts were dried and inhaled. This
practice produced a mild version of smallpox. This less serious illness resulted in immunity from the severe disease symptoms.
Similar practices were adopted by the Brahmins in India, the Persians, and the Turks. In 1717, Lady Mary Wortlet Montague,
wife of the British Ambassador to Turkey, introduced in England the practice, called “variolation,” of placing fluid from
smallpox lesions into a scratch on the body of a non-immune person. George Washington ordered his troops to be variolated in
1777. Thanks to the improvements in vaccinations, the disease was eradicated in the world by 1977, but stocks of the virus were
held for study in laboratories. In 1996, the World Health Organization voted to destroy the last samples of the virus by 1999.
1. What is the function of our immune system?
2. Which immune cells contribute to the difference in response?
3. Vaccinations help prevent you from getting sick. Briefly explain how they do this.
4. What do vaccinations not do? What do vaccinations activate and create in your body? Explain why this is
beneficial.
5. How might today’s society react to Jenner’s technique of exposing an 8-year-old child to a potentially deadly
disease?
6. Do you think the last stocks of the smallpox virus should be destroyed? Why or why not?
Graph the information from the table below on to the graph provided. Compare the primary (first) and
secondary immune responses.
Immune Responses
Time
Antibody
(Days)
Units
0
0
2
10
4
30
6
70
8
120
10
120
12
100
14
80
16
50
18
20
20
15
22
10
24
5
26
0
28
0
30
0
32
0
34
0
36
0
38
0
7. Describe the primary and secondary immune response in terms of: (a)
40
0
speed, and (b) number of antibodies produced.
42
10
44
40
Primary Response: SpeedNumber of Antibodies46
90
48
150
Secondary Response: SpeedNumber of Antibodies50
250
52
300
54
280
56
260
58
230
60
200
Use your notes from our disease presentations & your books to answer the following questions:
8. Look at the different Cardiovascular diseases. List a few examples. In general what are the 3 major causes
of cardiovascular disease?
9. What is an autoimmune disease? Name a couple examples?
10. In Multiple Sclerosis your body’s own T cells (part of your ________ system) attack what part of your
nervous system?
11. An allergy is an ____________ response to a _________________ antigen
12. Antihistamines are drugs that block a ______________ reaction (allergic reaction). These are taken to
prevent or calm allergic reactions.