The Adaptive Immune System
A hapten is a low-molecular-weight substance
1. Adaptive immunity is the body’s ability to react
specifically to a microbial infection.
2. The body’s response to the first contact with an
antigen is called the primary response.
3. Subsequent contact with the same antigen
results in a secondary or memory response to
that antigen.
Dual Nature of the Adaptive
Immune System
1. Humoral immunity involves antibodies, which
are found in serum and lymph and are
produced by B cells.
2. Lymphocytes that mature in red bone marrow
become B cells.
3. Cellular immunity involves T cells.
4. Lymphocytes that migrate through the thymus
become T cells.
5. T cell receptors recognize antigens presented
on MHC.
6. Cellular immunity responds to intracellular
antigens; humoral immunity responds to
antigens in body fluids.
Cytokines: Chemical
Messengers of Immune Cells
1. Cells of the immune system communicate with
each other by means of chemicals called
cytokines.
2. Interleukins (IL) are cytokines that serve as
communicators between leukocytes.
3. Chemokines cause leukocytes to migrate to an
infection.
4. Some interferons stimulate the immune
response; others protect cells against viruses.
5. Tumor necrosis factor promotes the
inflammatory reaction.
6. Hematopoietic cytokines promote development
of the white blood cells.
7. Overproduction of cytokines leads to a cytokine
storm, which results in tissue damage.
Antigens and Antibodies
Antigens
1. An antigen (or immunogen) is a chemical
substance that causes the body to produce
specific antibodies.
2. As a rule, antigens are proteins or large
polysaccharides. Antibodies are formed against
specific regions on antigens called epitopes, or
antigenic determinants.
3.
that cannot cause the formation of antibodies
unless combines with a carrier molecule,
haptens reacts with their antibodies
independently of the carrier molecule.
Antibodies
4. An antibody, or immunoglobulin, is a protein
produced by B cells in response to an antigen
and is capable of combining specifically with
that antigen.
5. Typical monomers consist of four polypeptide
chains: two heavy chains and two light chains.
They have two antigen-binding sites.
6. Within each chain is a variable (V) region that
binds the epitope and a constant (C) region that
distinguishes the different classes of antibodies.
7. An antibody monomer is Y-shaped or T-shaped:
the V regions form the tips, and the C regions
form the base and Fc (stem) region.
8. The Fc region can attach to a host cell or to a
complement.
9. IgG antibodies are the most prevalent in serum;
they provide naturally acquired passive
immunity, neutralize bacterial toxins, participate
in complement fixation, and enhance
phagocytosis.
10. IgM antibodies consist of five monomers held
by a joining chain; they are involved in
agglutination an complement fixation.
11. Serum IgA antibodies are monomers; secretory
IgA antibodies are dimers that protect mucosal
surfaces from invasion by pathogens.
12. IgD antibodies are on B cells; they may delete
B cells that produce antibodies against self.
13. IgE antibodies bind to mast cells and basophils
and are involved in allergic reactions.
Humoral Immunity Response
Process
1. B cells have antibodies on their surfaces, which
recognize specific epitopes.
2. For T-independent antigens: a clone of B cells
is selected by free antigens.
3. For T-dependent antigens: the B cell’s
immunoglobulins combine with an antigen, and
the antigen fragments, combined with MHC
class II, activate TH cells. The TH cells activate a
B cell.
4. Activated B cells differentiate into plasma cells
and memory cells.
5. Plasma cells produce IgM antibodies and then
produce other classes, usually IgG.
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The Adaptive Immune System
6. B cells that recognize self are eliminated by
clonal deletion.
7. Immunoglobulin genes in B cells recombine so
that mature B cells each have different genes
for the V regions of their antibodies.
11. Cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs), or CD8+ cells are
activated by endogenous antigens and MHC
class I on a target cell and are transformed into
effector and memory CTLs.
12. CTLs lyse or induce apoptosis in the target cell.

Antigen-Antibody Binding and Extracellular Killing by the

Its Results Immune System
1. Natural killer (NK) cells lyse virus-infected cells,
1. An antigen-antibody complex forms when an
tumor cells, and parasites. They kill cells that do
antibody binds to its specific epitopes on an
not express MHC class I antigens.
antigen.
2. Agglutination results when an antibody
combines with epitopes on two different cells. Antibody-Dependent Cell-
3. Opsonization enhances phagocytosis of the Mediated Cytotoxicity
antigen.
1. In antibody-dependent cell-mediated
4. Antibodies that attach to microbes or toxins and
cytotoxicity (ADCC), NK cells and macrophages
prevent them gaining access to the host or
lyse antibody-coated cells.
performing their action cause neutralization.
5. Complement activation results in cell lysis.
Immunological Memory
1. The relative amount of antibody in serum is
Cellular Immunity Response called the antibody titer.
Process 2. The peak IgG titer in the primary response
1. T cells mature in the thymus gland. Thymic occurs 10-17 days after exposure to an antigen.
selection removes T cell that don’t recognize 3. The peak titer in the secondary response
MHC molecules of the host and T cells that will occurs 2-7 days after exposure.
attach host cells presenting self proteins in
MHC. Types of Adaptive Immunity
2. Helper T cells recognize antigens processed by
1. Immunity resulting from infection is called
antigen-presenting cells and presented in MHC
naturally acquired active immunity; this type of
II.
immunity may be long-lasting.
3. Cytotoxic T cells recognize antigens processed
2. Antibodies transferred from a mother to a fetus
by all host cells and presented in MHC I.
(transplacental transfer) or to a newborn in
colostrum results in naturally acquired passive
Antigen-Presenting Cells (APCs)
immunity in the newborn; this type of immunity
4. APCs include B cells, dendritic cells, and
can last up to a few months.
macrophages.
3. Immunity resulting from vaccination is called
5. Dendritic cells are the primary APCs.
artificially acquired active immunity and can be
6. Activated macrophages are effective
long-lasting.
phagocytes and APCs.
4. Artificially acquired passive immunity refers to a
7. APCs carry antigens to lymphoid tissues where
humoral antibodies acquired by injection; this
T cells that recognize the antigen are located.
type of immunity can last for a few weeks.
5. Serum containing antibodies is often called
Classes of T Cells
antiserum.
8. T cells are classified according to their functions
6. When serum is separated by gel
and cell-surface glycoproteins called CDs.
electrophoresis, antibodies are found in the
9. T helper (CD4*T) cells differentiate into TH1
gamma fraction of the serum and are termed
cells, which are involved in cellular immunity;
immune serum globulin, or gamma globulin.
TH2 cells, which are involved in humoral
immunity and are associated with allergic
reactions and parasitic infections; and TH17
cells, which activate innate immunity.
10. T regulatory cells (Treg) suppress T cells against
self.
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The Adaptive Immune System
KEY CONCEPTS
 The adaptive immune system is divided into two parts, each responsible for dealing with
pathogens in different ways. These two systems function interdependently to keep the body free
from pathogens.
 Humoral immunity, also called antibody-mediated immunity, is directed at freely circulating
pathogens and depends on B cells.
 Cellular immunity, also called cell-mediated immunity, depends on T cells to eliminate
intracellular pathogens, reject foreign tissue recognized as nonself, and destroy tumor cells.

MICROBIOLOGY BIOL 122

The Adaptive Immune System