Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Biology 2e

Key Terms

Biology 2eKey Terms

adaptive immunity
immunity that has memory and occurs after exposure to an antigen either from a pathogen or a vaccination
affinity
attraction of molecular complementarity between antigen and antibody molecules
allergy
immune reaction that results from immediate hypersensitivities in which an antibody-mediated immune response occurs within minutes of exposure to a harmless antigen
antibody
protein that is produced by plasma cells after stimulation by an antigen; also known as an immunoglobulin
antigen
foreign or “non-self” protein that triggers the immune response
antigen-presenting cell (APC)
immune cell that detects, engulfs, and informs the adaptive immune response about an infection by presenting the processed antigen on the cell surface
autoantibody
antibody that incorrectly marks “self” components as foreign and stimulates the immune response
autoimmune response
inappropriate immune response to host cells or self-antigens
autoimmunity
type of hypersensitivity to self antigens
avidity
total binding strength of a multivalent antibody with antigen
B cell
lymphocyte that matures in the bone marrow and differentiates into antibody-secreting plasma cells
basophil
leukocyte that releases chemicals usually involved in the inflammatory response
cell-mediated immune response
adaptive immune response that is carried out by T cells
clonal selection
activation of B cells corresponding to one specific BCR variant and the dramatic proliferation of that variant
complement system
array of approximately 20 soluble proteins of the innate immune system that enhance phagocytosis, bore holes in pathogens, and recruit lymphocytes; enhances the adaptive response when antibodies are produced
cross reactivity
binding of an antibody to an epitope corresponding to an antigen that is different from the one the antibody was raised against
cytokine
chemical messenger that regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, gene expression, and cell trafficking to effect immune responses
cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)
adaptive immune cell that directly kills infected cells via perforin and granzymes, and releases cytokines to enhance the immune response
dendritic cell
immune cell that processes antigen material and presents it on the surface of other cells to induce an immune response
effector cell
lymphocyte that has differentiated, such as a B cell, plasma cell, or cytotoxic T lymphocyte
eosinophil
leukocyte that responds to parasites and is involved in the allergic response
epitope
small component of an antigen that is specifically recognized by antibodies, B cells, and T cells; the antigenic determinant
granzyme
protease that enters target cells through perforin and induces apoptosis in the target cells; used by NK cells and killer T cells
helper T lymphocyte (TH)
cell of the adaptive immune system that binds APCs via MHC II molecules and stimulates B cells or secretes cytokines to initiate the immune response
host
an organism that is invaded by a pathogen or parasite
humoral immune response
adaptive immune response that is controlled by activated B cells and antibodies
hypersensitivities
spectrum of maladaptive immune responses toward harmless foreign particles or self antigens; occurs after tissue sensitization and includes immediate-type (allergy), delayed-type, and autoimmunity
immune tolerance
acquired ability to prevent an unnecessary or harmful immune response to a detected foreign body known not to cause disease or to self-antigens
immunodeficiency
failure, insufficiency, or delay at any level of the immune system, which may be acquired or inherited
inflammation
localized redness, swelling, heat, and pain that results from the movement of leukocytes and fluid through opened capillaries to a site of infection
innate immunity
immunity that occurs naturally because of genetic factors or physiology, and is not induced by infection or vaccination
interferon
cytokine that inhibits viral replication and modulates the immune response
lymph
watery fluid that bathes tissues and organs with protective white blood cells and does not contain erythrocytes
lymphocyte
leukocyte that is histologically identifiable by its large nuclei; it is a small cell with very little cytoplasm
macrophage
large phagocytic cell that engulfs foreign particles and pathogens
major histocompatibility complex (MHC) I/II molecule
protein found on the surface of all nucleated cells (I) or specifically on antigen-presenting cells (II) that signals to immune cells whether the cell is healthy/normal or is infected/cancerous; it provides the appropriate template into which antigens can be loaded for recognition by lymphocytes
mast cell
leukocyte that produces inflammatory molecules, such as histamine, in response to large pathogens and allergens
memory cell
antigen-specific B or T lymphocyte that does not differentiate into effector cells during the primary immune response but that can immediately become an effector cell upon reexposure to the same pathogen
monocyte
type of white blood cell that circulates in the blood and lymph and differentiates into macrophages after it moves into infected tissue
mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
collection of lymphatic tissue that combines with epithelial tissue lining the mucosa throughout the body
natural killer (NK) cell
lymphocyte that can kill cells infected with viruses or tumor cells
neutrophil
phagocytic leukocyte that engulfs and digests pathogens
opsonization
process that enhances phagocytosis using proteins to indicate the presence of a pathogen to phagocytic cells
passive immunity
transfer of antibodies from one individual to another to provide temporary protection against pathogens
pathogen
an agent, usually a microorganism, that causes disease in the organisms that it invades
pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP)
carbohydrate, polypeptide, and nucleic acid “signature” that is expressed by viruses, bacteria, and parasites but differs from molecules on host cells
pattern recognition receptor (PRR)
molecule on macrophages and dendritic cells that binds molecular signatures of pathogens and promotes pathogen engulfment and destruction
perforin
destructive protein that creates a pore in the target cell; used by NK cells and killer T cells
plasma cell
immune cell that secrets antibodies; these cells arise from B cells that were stimulated by antigens
regulatory T (Treg) cell
specialized lymphocyte that suppresses local inflammation and inhibits the secretion of cytokines, antibodies, and other stimulatory immune factors; involved in immune tolerance
T cell
lymphocyte that matures in the thymus gland; one of the main cells involved in the adaptive immune system
Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/biology-2e/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Sep 19, 2024 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.